Plug-in hybrids have electric appeal
Car makers are starting to roll out plug-in hybrids that rely solely on the battery and power grid. But to understand how to get the most out of an all-electric vehicle, pay attention to how they're driven. Jennifer Collins reports.
Part of a Hummer H3, a plug-in hybrid SUV (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
More on Sustainability, Auto Industry
TEXT OF STORY
Steve Chiotakis: Today, Congress is looking at the idea of rebating gas-guzzling car and truck owners up to $4,500 for trading for something a little more fuel-efficient. There are separate measures in the House and in the Senate.
The plan is being debated as the next generation of eco-friendly cars are being marketed. Toyota's planning to trot out its new plug-in Prius later this year, and other car makers aren't far behind. But what kind of appeal will these cars really have? From the Marketplace Sustainability Desk, Jennifer Collins reports.
Jennifer Collins: Edward Kjaer wants to introduce to you something greener than your average hybrid:
Edward Kjaer: This is the Ford Plug-in Hybrid Escape.
Kjaer works for Southern California Edison testing electric vehicles. Conventional hybrids run on both electricity and gas. This plug-in can go further on its electric motor.
Kjaer: Here we are, nice and smooth. Now we're up to about 30 mile an hour -- still electric.
In a conventional hybrid, the gas eventually has to kick in to recharge the battery. But in a plug-in hybrid, you recharge the battery by connecting the car to the grid.
Kjaer: What plug-in hybrids technology is doing is it's really going to start to unlock the true potential of hybridization. The gas hybrid gets it to a certain point. The plug will take it to the next level.
So the car will be able to run at higher speeds, for longer periods, on pure electricity.
James Francfort tracks plug-in hybrids for the Department of Energy:
James Francfort: We've demonstrated the potential to get 100, 200, 300, up to 400 miles-per-gallon depending on how the vehicles are driven.
Trouble is in early tests, Francfort found plug-ins hybrids weren't necessarily getting much better gas mileage than conventional hybrids.
Paul Scott of Plug in America says it's all about teaching consumers how to drive the cars.
Paul Scott: You have to obviously charge the batteries.
Some test drivers weren't, and that meant the cars relied more on gas. And gunning the engine does the same thing. So if the cars are sold without any thought to consumer training:
Scott: Well, in that case then people might not buy them.
But if consumers are properly educated, Ed Kjaer says drivers could change their priorities.
Kjaer: Our parents, you know, it was all about miles per minute. Now it's all about miles per gallon. So it's all about how do you squeeze more and more and more efficiency out of the system?
That may depend on how efficient the auto industry is at teaching consumers a new way of driving.
I'm Jennifer Collins for Marketplace.
Comments
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From Long Beach, CA, 06/10/2009
SCE is already using 18% alternative energy and working feverishly to raise that number. They are already ahead of the mandates. No need for insults Pickett.
Ed is one of those rare "experts" who is unbiased and impartial, and in many ways, does more at furthering the quest towards carbon neutrality and the electric drive then insults do.
We hope to hear more stories on electric vehicles as the technology in this market segment has outpaced almost all others and has surely given us a breath of fresh air compared to the lazy last decades of little gas engine innovations.
The Electricnick.com team.
From Santa Monica, CA, 06/09/2009
It's good some of the comments ask about the pollution from electricity. It shows their concern about true "well-to-wheels" pollution cycles. However, in every study that's looked at this question, it was clear that electric vehicles were far cleaner than gas vehicles until the grid mix exceeded about 95% coal, and at that point the CO2 was about even with a gas car. That only occurs in a few states back east. So, worse case scenario, the pollution level might be equal to a gas car, but there are other factors to consider. All of our electricity is domestic to North America, so none of our money goes to the middle east countries where some of it is spent on bombs and bullets that are killing our soldiers. I think this is just as important as the pollution issue. Further, if you are concerned about the pollution from coal and natural gas, you shouldn't be using that dirty energy to run your house. You use a lot more electricity in your house than you would use in an EV. As a matter of fact, most Americans waste more electricity in their homes than they'd use in an EV. So, get efficient at home, tell your utility to offer a green energy program and switch to that. Then once you are running your home on renewable energy, when you get your EV, you'll be completely pollution-free. As for the cost of kilowatt hours, the U.S. average is about 10 per kWh. My Toyota RAV4 EV can travel between 3-5 miles on a kWh. Future EVs will get in that range, so you can figure out how far you drive and do the math. It's easily under a dollar/gallon equivalent.
From Portland, OR, 06/09/2009
Tim, I have heard reports that in CA you actually save on $/mile, where $ is cost of fuel or electricity you are putting in. But you have to pay a high upfront cost in the purchase of the vehicle. This is difficult to say with certainty since gas and electricity prices may not change at the same rate, and also depend on your location.
Amit.
From Anchorage, AK, 06/09/2009
Marketplace....
Where is the real analysis of the issue?
It is not "all about miles per gallon" for me and, I believe, a lot of other people. The critical question is mostly about $ per mile. While miles per gallon is a large part of that equation in a conventional gasoline powered vehicle, when you are talking about using electricity as fuel you need to question the source and cost of the electricity. I am at a loss to understand the true value of owning any kind of plug-in electric car unless I know the answer to the cost and convenience of ALL of the fuel going in. I am disappointed that wasn't part of the story you tell.
From Portland, OR, 06/09/2009
There are issues both in favor and against the impacts of Plug-ins. The answer to the question of plug-ins being clean lies in the quantification of total emissions from automobiles vs. power plants and the electric power generation mix. According Dept of Energy studies the total emissions do reduce to 50% as compared with regular cars and a somewhat lower reduction compared with regular hybrids.
Amit.
06/09/2009
I am somewhat impressed by the Tesla Roadster I saw this last weekend at a local energy fair, in that it is not only the fastest (125 mph, 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds, possible 400 miles on a charge) but recharges in 3.5 hours. It is a convertible roadster with that handles well, great for me, but still a bit on the expensive side...$105,000 for the base model. More for additional features. The batteries are the big expense for the car's construction. However, they have shown what electric cars are capable of and leading the way to the ultimate...whatever that will be. It is obvious there are many small manufacturers that are doing the breakthrough accomplishments to get to the next level. Left up to the major car manufacturers, their ties to oil and other big business monopolies it is no surprise to me that they haven't really given us the ultimate. The biggest obstacle is battery design. Mainly the expense, but weight is concern too. Science has broken many perceived former barriers through history. I think the ultimate (as we now see the ultimate being) will be reached...then they'll get even better...barring nuclear disaster for the planet due to war.
06/09/2009
It's misleading to report to the public mileage of 100-400 miles with plug-in vehicles - doesn't the electricity in nearly all instances generated by use of other fuels, coal, natural gas, etc.? Generation of electricity also creates a carbon footprint, to say nothing of sulfur dioxide, mercury and other pollutants. Are real journalistic service will come the day stories give us enough information to knowledgeably compare the benefits and detriments of each vehicle, thanks,
06/09/2009
The electricity from his outlet most likely comes primarily from natural gas-50%. 21% from nuclear, 16% from renwables, 5% from large hydro. Only 8% comes from coal. The chances are that the electricity DOESN'T come from coal. Use facts more, invective less, okay?
From Rochester, NY, 06/09/2009
The story was good and to the point. I have some grammatical comments to make.
Use of the phrase "gunning the engine" is slang and may not be understood by all. Use of "futher" (vs. farther)is acceptable in some quarters, but farther is preferred in the sentence "This plug-in can go further on its electric motor."
From Pittsburgh, PA, 06/09/2009
Great story, however how can we trust Ford's long term intentions, when the same company rolled out a program in the early 2000's where they had a fleet of all electric Ford Rangers that were meant as fleet vehicles. After the program was complete most of the vehicles meant an early death with little fanfare.
It's not like Ford has a new and novel approach - though they should be commended on recycling (the idea that is!) - but more spin on an old idea that was tossed once before.
What also wasn't mentioned was how long it would take to charge the battery from near empty to achieve those outstanding mileage rates mentioned in the story. The fleet vehicles from the past could easily have taken up to 6 hours to charge. How does that charge time (hopefully improved in these new vehicles) affect actually usability of the vehicle? Especially in a state like California where driving everywhere is almost a necessity?
Last and most important point, you're still stuck driving a Ford! No offense to Ford drivers, this comment comes from my own personal experience.
From Hicksville, OH, 06/09/2009
My clock radio is set every morning for 5:45, so I catch Marketplace every morning before I get out of bed. I enjoy it and feel it's a good source of market news.
Heard your plug-in hybrid story this morning. We hear more and more about these cars, BUT no one ever tells us HOW MUCH the electricty will cost to charge the battery??????? As in, HOW MUCH per mile vs. how much per mile of gas????? It would seem no one wants us to know the bad news.....
06/09/2009
" Kjaer: What plug-in hybrids technology is doing is it's really going to start to unlock the true potential of hybridization. The gas hybrid gets it to a certain point. The plug will take it to the next level.
So the car will be able to run at higher speeds, for longer periods, on pure electricity."
...uhhhhh, pure electricity??? Where do you think the electricity in your outlet comes from? Chances are it's a coal fired powerplant. zipperhead.
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