Southern California Edison (SCE) has joined the Plug-In Hybrid Development Consortium as a founding member. The Consortium is made up of a growing number of automotive suppliers, manufacturers and other organizations working together to accelerate the commercial production of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles, (PHEV).
The Consortium was organized to help reduce the R&D gap between component suppliers and OEMs; and to coordinate and accelerate the development of critical new solutions while reducing the development time for the next generation hybrid vehicles. The members of this growing Consortium plan to develop compatible components and cost-effective working designs, that would enable a plug-in hybrid that achieves 100-200 total mpg petroleum economy by driving its first 25 - 50 miles in all electric zero emission mode. This "Dual Mode" PHEV will then continue to operate in a high-efficiency hybrid electric mode to achieve conventional range of operation.
Southern California Edison is one of the nation's largest investor-owned utility companies, and has been a leading supporter of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle technology. SCE and Pacific Gas & Electric, the two largest investor-owned utilities in California, have joined the Consortium to help accelerate the development of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles. PHEVs are dual-fuel hybrids that have the ability to drive their first 25-50 miles on clean renewable electric fuel for about 1/4 the price of gasoline before turning on the combustion engine. Plug-in hybrids allow the choice of running on electric or gasoline. This kind of dual-mode hybrid has the potential to significantly reduce petroleum consumption and reduce emissions.
"We are pleased to welcome SCE as a founding member to the Consortium," said David West, co-founder of the Consortium and VP Marketing, Raser Technologies, Inc. "The support of SCE along with the leadership of Ed Kjaer are valuable additions to this young but growing organization."
