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INL supporting Seattle plug-in hybrid project

Toyota Priuses converted to plug-in hybrids will be able to recharge their batteries from electrical outlets.

A plug-in car partnership between Idaho National Laboratory, Seattle-area agencies and a new Seattle company demonstrates the economic benefits one Washington senator envisions from green energy investments. Two of the project's cars were on display last week when U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) met with Seattle-area representatives to discuss green investments.

"This partnership is a here-and-now example of what's possible for the future; a future of more efficient cars and trucks and reduced dependence on fossil fuels," Cantwell said. "This type of technology means that consumers could use the existing electricity grid to power most of the vehicles on our roads at the equivalent cost of less than a dollar a gallon."

In the Seattle demonstration partnership with INL, new "grid-aware" technology from a year-old Seattle company called V2Green will be used to monitor the performance of 13 plug-in hybrid vehicles and control their charging. Under a contract with INL, V2Green will provide a logging system to collect real-time vehicle performance data. A cellular modem uploads the data to the V2Green server where it is archived and made available for the lab's analysis.

The lab will monitor fuel efficiency, electricity usage and other vehicle performance measures on each of the 13 Toyota Priuses being converted so they can plug in to a standard electrical outlet and operate on battery power until the charge is used up and the vehicle resumes standard hybrid operations.

On Feb. 20, Cantwell met with representatives from the city of Seattle, industry, and education in King County to discuss the value of extending the green energy tax credits program, investing in alternative energy sources and technologies, and creating new, high-paying green jobs. Cantwell has long advocated for an increased investment of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and programs that provide workers with the education and training they need to succeed in green collar industries.

Last year, Mayor Greg Nickels announced that the city of Seattle and other agencies would participate in project testing the performance of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in an urban area. The City of Seattle, King County, the Port of Seattle and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency are Converting 13 Toyota Priuses.

The demonstration project, which is the largest of its kind in the country, is also helping to create local green-collar jobs, said Lynn Best, the utility's director of environmental affairs. "V2Green's selection for the metering technology shows how environmentally friendly operations can promote local economic development."

Seattle City Light will operate three of the vehicles in the test. The City of Seattle will operate one, the Port of Seattle will operate two, the Puget Sound Clear Air Agency will operate three and King County will operate four.

"We believe this project will show how plug-in hybrid technology can reduce our dependence on oil and cut greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change," Seattle City Light Superintendent Jorge Carrasco said.

In addition to monitoring vehicle performance, V2Green's technology also provides the capability of "smart charging." By providing intelligent, two-way communication between plug-in vehicles and the electric grid, Seattle City Light can control the timing, pace and extent of vehicle charging within driver-specified requirements. That means the utility can control its load requirements, ensuring that charging takes place during light load hours, protecting the distribution system and avoiding the need to buy power.

"V2Green is proud of Seattle's position at the forefront of efforts to reduce global warming," said John Clark, chief executive officer of V2Green. "The Seattle demonstration project is an excellent example of the region's visionary leadership and desire to use clean energy technology to cost-effectively operate a smart electrical grid, diminish our reliance on fossil-fuels and positively impact the climate."

V2Green technology also is being used to test two plug-in hybrids in Austin, Texas, and six from the fleet of Xcel Energy.

Source: V2Green and Sen. Cantwell's office

For more information, see the October 29, 2007 feature story.