Transitions to Alternative Transportation Technologies: Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles

摘要

The nation has compelling reasons to reduce its consumption of oil and emissions of carbon dioxide. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) promise to contribute to both goals by allowing some miles to be driven on electricity drawn from the grid, with an internal combustion engine that kicks in when the batteries are discharged. However, while battery technology has made great strides in recent years, batteries are still very expensive. This report builds on a 2008 National Research Council (NRC) report on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs). In accordance with the committee's statement of task, the present report: 1. Reviews the current and projected technology status of PHEVs. 2. Considers the factors that will affect how rapidly PHEVs could enter the marketplace, including the interface with the electric transmission and distribution (T&D) system. 3. Determines a maximum practical penetration rate for PHEVs consistent with the time frame and factors considered in the 2008 Hydrogen Report. 4. Incorporates PHEVs into the models used in the hydrogen study to estimate the costs and impacts on petroleum consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.