|
Benefits |
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles |
|
Economics - Emissions - US Dependence on Foreign Oil The PHEV includes a battery pack in addition to a smaller
sized internal combustion engine. Stored electricity in the batteries
provides better fuel economy, while the internal combustion engine allows
extended range of travel. The battery pack is the main contributor to the
vehicle’s increased upfront cost. Current prices of
PHEV batteries with 20 to 60 miles of storage capacity range between $2,700
and $5,800. These prices will decrease over time as production volumes
increase and battery manufacturers receive production contracts. Furthermore,
a recent study by EPRI found that current technologies are capable of
designing PHEVs’ nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries that would last
the entire lifetime of the vehicle (EPRI Journal). The overall price of a PHEV is 10-20% greater than its
hybrid counterpart. The research organization CalCars demonstrates some of
these prices. For a Saturn compact sedan, the projected cost gap between a
current HEV and a conventional vehicle (CV) is $2,500 and between a PHEV and
a CV is $4,500. For an Explorer mid-size SUV, the cost gap is estimated to be
$4,000 between a current HEV and a CV and $6,400 between a PHEV and a CV (CalCars’
Vehicles). The following figures demonstrate the total energy cost per year of driving vehicles, as well as the distribution of the miles from gasoline and electricity. The PHEV batteries were assumed to run at 0.33 kWh per mile (EPRI). Gasoline and electricity prices were $1.80/gallon and $0.03/kWh, respectively. The traveler was assumed to drive 25 miles each weekday, 20 miles each weekend day, and 500 miles on 8 occasions during the year.
PHEVs have the potential for long-term cost recovery. In the
study by EPRI, it was found that the combination of fuel and maintenance cost
savings would allow PHEVs to reach cost parity with conventional vehicles.
From the data in the figures above, the difference in energy costs for the CV
and PHEV-20 was approximately $700. The savings over 7 years would be nearly
$5000, nearly equal to the initial cost of the batteries. Automobile owners gain additional benefits from PHEVs.
Vehicles that run on electricity have lower maintenance costs than conventional
vehicles. Unlike purely electric vehicles, PHEVs can run even if they have
not been recharged. When the batteries are charged, they can provide a source
of electricity, or backup power. Another welcomed advantage is the need for
fewer trips to the gas station. After a PHEV battery has charged through the
night, it is ready to provide 20-60 miles of driving from the stored
electricity alone. This allows the owner to save on both time and money.
Driving on stored electricity provides another benefit, lower emissions from
the vehicle (CalCars’ Vehicles). ·
Pollutants from
combustion of gasoline and diesel fuels ·
Carbon
dioxide and global warming ·
US emissions
of carbon equivalent ·
Reduced
emissions at power plants A PHEV’s mileage while running on the battery is
called ZEV miles, or Zero Emission Vehicle miles. While the engine runs from
battery charge, the internal combustion engine is shut off. The electricity
from the battery provides energy for the car to run, without releasing any
pollutants from the vehicle. Conventional vehicles, diesel or gasoline, combust fuel in
the engine for energy. Petroleum products contain hydrocarbon molecules, as
well as some nitrogen and sulfur. When the fuel combusts, the oxygen reacts
with the carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur elements to yield smaller hydrocarbons,
carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur oxides.
Catalytic converters convert the hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen
oxides to carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, and nitrogen gas. This prevents many
pollutants from entering the atmosphere, but does not hinder the release of
the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. The level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere continues to
increase. One source of carbon dioxide output is the combustion of fuels. In
the atmosphere, carbon dioxide is capable of absorbing, and thus trapping,
the sun’s heat. This is a potential cause of global warming, a gradual
trend of increasing temperatures over the Earth. Evidence of global warming
is seen especially in the arctic regions. A recent study found that arctic
temperatures are rising at a rate twice as fast as other areas on Earth. More
data shows that 15 to 20 percent of the ice at the North Pole has melted in
the past 30 years (CNN.com-Study). Currently, the Reduced Emissions at Power Plants Producing electricity at power plants releases less pollution than combusting fossil fuels for conventional vehicles. This can be seen in two ways. PHEVs use grid electricity to charge their batteries. The majority of this charging time occurs at night when owners are home from work. When the demand for nighttime electricity increases, power plants have a new incentive to increase base load capacity. Power plants waste the greatest amounts of fuel when they produce electricity during peak demand. An economical choice for increasing base load capacity involves increasing the efficiency of the power plant from the typical 30-40% efficiency to 50-60% efficiency, a level that is attainable by combined cycle plants. At higher efficiency, power plants would be consuming less fuel while producing more electricity. The second way that reduced emissions can be seen is through nuclear power plants. These power plants use the energy released through the fission process of uranium to generate electricity. No pollutants are emitted from nuclear power plants. Reduction of US Dependence on Foreign Oil ·
US
vulnerability from high demand on foreign oil ·
PHEVs role
in reducing US dependence on oil ·
Domestic
opportunities through PHEVs Currently, the Currently, the The option to power a car with electricity also creates
greater diversity of sources. When a particular market experiences high
demand, price increases are likely. Competition between more energy providers
helps to keep prices low for the consumer. PHEVs allow the driver to choose
between paying electricity or gasoline prices. In addition, some of the money
that would have been paid to foreign countries for oil would instead go to domestic
power plants to produce electricity. The entry of PHEVs into the market provides an opportunity for US manufacturers to pursue the production of batteries, the generation of more efficient electricity, and other industries associated with PHEVs. The money that would have been spent solely on foreign oil now has the chance to remain in the |
