Potential to Electrify Miles with Different Plug-in Vehicle Innovation Paths
With their high energy and power capabilities, lithium ion batteries allow many powertrain combinations and permutations. California regulators credit two plug-in technology innovation paths: (1) plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) spun off from hybrids (HEVs); (2) battery electric vehicles (BEV) and “range extender” (REX)/BEVx spun off from BEVs, where x signifies limited gasoline engine range extension. A third path is the “Super EV” with 200+ mile range and >302 hp, far more than otherwise available BEVs. Data on 2014 commercial plug-in vehicles is presented. Past cost of ownership studies focusing on path 1 PHEVs and path 2 BEVs are discussed. Price and marketability implications are examined. A thought experiment is derived, informed by marketability and financial payback considerations, assuming regular use of 50-100% of a BEV battery pack and 100+% of a PHEV or REX/BEVx pack. The BEV is chosen by customers driving less miles than the hypothetical maximum electric range; PHEVs and REX/BEVx vehicles by those driving further. Promising potential to electrify miles nationwide is estimated with modified option 2 BEVx designs. Financially, the best path 2 market segment is new, low density single family construction where the vehicle makes long commutes at relatively high average speed. The REX/BEVx range extension feature can be effective because a significant proportion of total national miles (42%) is caused by a relatively few vehicles (12%) driving beyond the range of most currently available BEVs (~ 70 miles). Some 45% of those miles could be electrified by a BEVx with 70 miles of electric range with one charge per day. Adaptation of BEVx range extension would enhance REX/BEVx marketability, increasing national fleet-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) and oil use reduction.
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Supplemental Notes:
- This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ADC80 Alternative Transportation Fuels and Technologies.
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Corporate Authors:
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Authors:
- Santini, Danilo J
- Zhou, Yan
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Conference:
- Transportation Research Board 94th Annual Meeting
- Location: Washington DC, United States
- Date: 2015-1-11 to 2015-1-15
- Date: 2015
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
- Features: Figures; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 17p
- Monograph Title: TRB 94th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Costs; Electric vehicles; Market assessment; Plug-in hybrid vehicles; Prices; Vehicle range
- Geographic Terms: California
- Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01554403
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: 15-3263
- Files: PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI
- Created Date: Feb 26 2015 9:49AM