ipro 356: plug-in hybrid electric vehicle - Community List - Illinois ...

Isopomoto IIT EnPRO-356, Fall 2006
2.3.2 Solving the problem
Isopomoto‘s product addresses the problems of increasing oil prices and pollution
by cutting down the fuel consumption and reducing emissions. Assuming average
driving patterns (see table 1), a plug-in with an electric-only range of 20 miles could be
expected to reduce fuel consumption by about one-third as compared to a current hybrid.
A plug-in with a 60 mile range could cut gasoline consumption by about two-thirds,
though battery cost would be nearly three times that of the 20 mile plug-in.
Electric-Only
Range (miles)
Table 1: Electric-Only Range and Gasoline Savings for an Average Driver 6
Gasoline Savings Assuming All-
Electric within Range
11
Gasoline Savings Assuming
50% Electric over 2X Range
10 21% 19%
20 37% 30%
30 50% 36%
40 60% 40%
50 67% 42%
60 72% 44%
With regard to greenhouse gas emissions, the advantage of plug-ins over
conventional hybrids is greater in areas where electricity is generated with low-carbon
fuels, and much more modest elsewhere. In California, where electricity is
comparatively low-carbon, a plug-in with a 40 mile range could cut carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions by one-third. Using the typical U.S power generation source mix, the CO2
reduction of the plug-in relative to a hybrid would be about 15%. In most locations,
achieving a major CO2 advantage from plug-ins will require greatly reducing power
sector carbon emissions. 7
From a public health perspective, the benefits of plug-ins are, again, highly
dependent on electricity generation source. Charging on the grid today, a plug-in would
emit 5% to 40% less oxides of nitrogen (NOX) than a hybrid, depending on geographic
location. Sulfur oxide (SOX) emissions associated with a plug-in would be much higher
6 Source: ACEEE based on 2001 NHTSA data, as tabulated by ORNL (2006)
7 Source: American Council for Energy-Efficiency Economy