Ford on Thursday announced it will work together with the non-profit Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) on a three-year project to evaluate integrating plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the U.S. electric grid. EPRI will form utilities in and around New York and New Jersey whose customers will use in a trial of Ford’s Escape plug-in hybrid. Similar testing was also recently suggested by the Michigan Public Service Commission.
In California, Ford is conducting a similar test in conjunction with Southern California Edison, with 20 Escape PHEVs developed for the purpose. Findings from the two trials will be compared to see what, if any, differences exist due to the region.
The tests will provide technical information that will allow the development of common standards and strategies among involved utilities, not to mention cross one hurdle that automakers say makes them unable to meet California’s proposed laws that call for a quota production of zero emission vehicles. This is the first such move by an automaker to advance PHEV development and integration, although Subaru will test its all-electric R1e in New York.
Data pertaining to battery technology, vehicle systems, customer usage, and grid infrastructure will be documented and analyzed during the three-year collaboration with EPRI. The process will explore potential stationary and secondary uses for advanced batteries as well.
