CEES Event: Unveiling Our Transportation Future: Colorado's First Plug-In Hybrid

Colorado's First Plug-In Hybrid: CU Law’s Center for Energy and Environmental Security and the University of Colorado’s Energy Initiative are pleased to host an event featuring Colorado’s first plug-in hybrid. The evening event will be held at 5 p.m. on October 24 in the Wittemyer Courtroom of the new Wolf Law building. In addition to the converted plug-in hybrid Toyota Prius, the event will also feature a series of prominent speakers discussing the economic, environmental and national security implications of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. 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.

Colorado's First PHEV Photo by Davide Andrea

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. A123Systems generously provided the batteries at a discount rate for this demonstration vehicle. The design takes some of the space occupied by a storage tray now in the trunk, but allows access to the spare tire. The event will feature the vehicle, which was first unveiled at the Clean Energy Partnerships in Fort Collins on September 18th, as well as three distinguished speakers addressing PHEV issues ranging from the details of the conversion to the national implications of widespread adoption. Carl Lawrence, founder and CEO of Hybrids Plus will discuss the project’s development and the PHEV conversion. Keith Parks of National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Strategic Energy Analysis Center will present results from a study by Xcel Energy and NREL to assesses the collective effects of widespread PHEV adoption on environmental emissions and the electrical generation in Colorado. Finally Joel Swisher, the managing director of the Rocky Mountain Institute will speak about the long-term potential and national implications of PHEVs. Following the presentation there will an interactive questions and answer session during which the Office of Energy Management of Conservation will have the car available for public viewing. For more information, please contact Victoria Ravenscroft by email at Victoria.Ravenscroft@colorado.edu.