Today's News by Jack Nerad for Driving Today

California Launches Electric Vehicle Trial

Thursday, February 11, 2010

How do plug-in hybrids do in the real world? California’s Department of General Services (DGS) intends to find out. With funding from the California Energy Commission and taxpayers like Driving Today’s managing editor, DGS will launch a two-year plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) demonstration project.

Deploying 50 converted Toyota Priuses, California’s DGS will analyze potential efficiencies gained through the use of gasoline-electric vehicles and evaluate their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Gaining a deeper understanding of PHEV performance across a wide range of terrain, climate and drivers is of particular interest. The Priuses will be deployed throughout California, from Sacramento to San Diego, as state fleet vehicles. GridPoint data logging solution will be used to gather the data. Performance reports will enable analysis of fuel economy, carbon emissions, travel distance, charging location, charging duration and more. Individual vehicle reports and fleet comparisons will allow the DGS staff to quickly and easily monitor vehicle activity across the state, so drivers should watch where they park.

“With the rich information gathered during this trial, DGS will be well-positioned to make solid recommendations for reducing greenhouse emissions and reliance on petroleum-based fuels across the state’s fleet of more than 50,000 vehicles,” said Kathy Hicks, chief of the Office of Fleet and Asset Management for the California DGS. “The information captured with GridPoint’s data logging solution will be of tremendous help to California as it works to meet its emissions and fossil fuels reduction goals.”

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