October 24, 2006
Today, Colorado Law's Energy and Environmental Security Initiative and University of Colorado's Energy Initiative hosted an event featuring Colorado's first plug-in hybrid in the Wittemyer Courtoom.
A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is a vehicle that can charge its expanded battery capacity from a standard electrical outlet, thereby utilizing electricity as a secondary fuel source and doubling the average miles per gallon.
Hybrids Plus Inc., a Boulder based company converted the Toyota Prius to a plug-in with the support of the Colorado Governor's Office of Energy Management and Conservation. Hybrids Plus is only the second company in the United States to undertake such a conversion.
The batteries used in the conversion are a new generation of high power lithium ion. Such batteries are also used for cordless power tools, and have been installed as a self-contained battery pack in the rear of the vehicle.The design takes some of the space occupied by a storage tray now in the trunk, but allows access to the spare tire. A123Systems generously donated the batteries for this demonstration vehicle.
In addition to, distinguished speakers came to speak at the groundbreaking event: Carl Lawrence (Founder and President of Hybrids Plus), Keith Park (Analyst at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory), and Joel Swisher (Managing Director of Rocky Mountain Institute). Speakers discussed the economic, environmental and national security implications of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
Carl Lawrence, founder and CEO of Hybrids Plus discussed the project's development and the PHEV conversion.
Keith Parks of National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Strategic Energy Analysis Center presented results from a study by Xcel Energy and NREL to assess the collective effects of widespread PHEV adoption on environmental emissions and the electrical generation in Colorado.
Joel Swisher, the managing director of the Rocky Mountain Institute spoke about the long-term potential and national implications of PHEVs.
Following the presentation there was an interactive Q&A session, then the showing and the demonstration of the converted plug-in hybrid Toyota Prius. The plug-in hybrid was first unveiled at the Clean Energy Partnerships in Fort Collins on September 18th, 2006.
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| Professor Lakshman Guruswamy, Colorado Law |
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| Carl Lawrence, Founder & CEO of Hybrids Plus |
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| Keith Parks, National Renewable Energy Laboratory |
