Francfort is involved in the research, development, and validation of technologies for alternatively fueled vehicles in the AVTA department of the laboratory and has experience with PHEVs.  “INLs’ AVTA is our first choice for the data validation,” says Ron Johnston-Rodriguez, Director of Economic Development at the Port of Chelan County and AVI project leader.  “AVTA tests are reputed to produce unbiased information about vehicles with advanced transportation technologies; this is essential to the advancement of plug-in hybrids that are powered by both the grid and a variety of combustible fuels ”.

Other key participants in the day-long series of meetings include: Tim Stearns, WA Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development’s Energy Division and lead for the state’s PHEV Pilot Project initiative; Pilot Project Research Design Co-chairs - Dr. Jim White, Chelan County PUD, and Dr. David Granatstein, WSU; Jim Richardson, Wenatchee Valley College (WVC) President; Blake Murray, Automotive Program Director, WVC; Scott Logan, Director of Pupil Transportation, Lake Chelan School District and President of the WA State Pupil Transportation Directors Association. 

One of the first Plug-in Hybrid Electric school buses in the nation will provide a shuttle service for participants in the series of meetings scheduled at various Wenatchee locations during the day.  The bus, recently acquired by the Lake Chelan School District, is fueled by electricity from the grid and a bio-diesel blend.  It will be available for viewing by the general public at the Confluence Technology Center in the Olds Station Business Park between 10:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. on January 30.  Scott Logan, Director of Pupil Transportation for the district and an active AVI member, will describe the bus’s technology and performance.

Exploring Potential Collaboration between Idaho National Laboratory

Wednesday January 30, 2008  ~  9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

A series of presentations & discussions featuring

Jim Francfort, Principal Investigator, Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity, INL

Note: Transportation to the various meeting locations will be provided on the Lake Chelan School District’s recently acquired Plug-in Hybrid Electric School Bus

AGENDA / ITINERARY

9:00 a.m.           CTC                 Welcome & Summary of WA PHEV Pilot Project

                                                Ron Johnston-Rodriguez & Tim Stearns (WA State CTED)

9:15 a.m.           CTC                Idaho National Lab’s Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity, PHEV Research & Potential Collaborative Role with the WA PHEV Pilot Project  ~  Jim Francfort, Principal Investigator

10:15 a.m.         CTC                 Break/View PHEV School Bus ~ Scott Logan, Lk. Chelan School Dist.

10:30 a.m.         CTC                 About the PHEV School Bus  ~  Scott Logan, Lk. Chelan School Dist.

10:45 a.m.         CTC                 Board & ride PHEV school bus to Chelan County PUD

11:00 a.m.         CCPUD           Discussion: PUD, PHEVs, Grid, and the PilotProject~Dr. Jim White

11:45 a.m.         Inna’s               Lunch (No Host) – General discussion re: Pilot, INL, AVI

1:15 p.m.                                   Board & ride PHEV School Bus to Wenatchee Valley College

1:30 p.m.           WVC               Meet with WVC President Jim Richardson (Pres. office)

2:00 p.m.           WVC               Wenatchee Valley College Auto Shop Tour / Conversion plans

                                                Blake Murray, WVC Automotive Program Director

2:30 p.m.           WVC               Board & ride PHEV School Bus back to CTC

2:45 p.m.           CTC                 ADJOURN

Locations:  CTC = Confluence Technology Center; CCPUD = Chelan County PUD headquarters; Inna’s = Inna’s Restaurant, Downtown Wenatchee; WVC = Wenatchee Valley College

Contact:  Ron, Aimee, or Szilvia at the Port of Chelan County: (509) 663-5159;  Email:

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

WA PHEV Pilot Project

  In 2007, with assistance from Senator Linda Parlette, the Washington legislature directed the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) to conduct research on plug-in hybrid vehicles to address questions about grid interaction, emissions, energy storage, charging cycles, fuel consumption, economics and driver behavior (ESSHB 1303, Section 408).  In mid-November 2007, the AVI consortium (with Port of Chelan County as ‘lead’ agency) submitted a proposal for the pilot project to CTED.  The proposal has been well-received, and negotiations are underway to forge an agreement that will allow for the project’s implementation in the first quarter of 2008. 

‘Pilot’ activities include  converting 10-20 government and utility-owned Toyota Prius hybrids into plug-in hybrids.  The conversions will be conducted via a Continuing Education class conducted at Wenatchee Valley College’s automotive training program facility.  At present, the Port of Chelan County and Chelan County (government) have each committed to enrolling at least one PHEV in the Pilot.  AVI is pursuing agreements with other government entities from throughout the state for PHEV conversions and enrollment in the pilot project.   

The Pilot is characterized by evolving relationships with outstanding partners, a few of which include: A123 and Hymotion, leaders in lithium battery design and PHEV conversions; Southern California Edison, a utility with 15 million miles of electric vehicle testing experience; Pacific Northwest National Lab for grid-integration research; and Wenatchee Valley College, perhaps the first community college in the nation to recognize the need for a future workforce trained in hybrid, electric, and PHEV systems.  Dr. Jim White of the Chelan County PUD, and Dr. David Granatstein, of Washington State University serve as co-chairs of the Research Design Committee for the Pilot. 

The AVI and Washington State are hopeful that Idaho National Laboratory will join the partnership, contributing their experience and services related to with PHEV testing. 

 Idaho National Lab & the Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity (AVTA)

Jim Francfort, Principal Investigator for INL’s AVTA, is meeting with AVI and WA PHEV Pilot organizers on January 30, 2008 to assess a potential role for AVTA in collection and analysis of core vehicle data for the Pilot.  

The Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity (AVTA) is conducted jointly by the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).  The AVTA is part of the Department of Energy’s FreedomCAR & Vehicle Technologies Program .  The primary goal of AVTA is to provide benchmark data for technology modeling and research and development programs.  It accomplishes this goal by benchmarking and validating the performance of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles that feature one or more advanced technologies, including:

Internal combustion engines burning advanced fuels, such as 100% hydrogen and hydrogen/compressed natural gas-blended fuels

Hybrid electric, pure electric, and hydraulic drive systems

Advanced batteries and engines

Advanced climate control, power electronic, and other ancillary systems.

By benchmarking the performance and capabilities of advanced technologies, the AVTA supports the development of industry and DOE technology targets. The testing results are also leveraged as input to component, system, and vehicle models, as well as hardware-in-the-loop testing.

The AVTA develops vehicle test procedures with input from industry and other stakeholders to accurately measure real-world vehicle performance. These test procedures are then used to test production and pre-production advanced technology vehicles on dynamometers and closed test tracks as well as in government, commercial, utility, and industry fleets. The AVTA tests produce unbiased information about vehicles with advanced transportation technologies, which reduces the U.S. dependence on foreign oil, while improving the nation’s air quality.

The AVTA also produces information resources that support the decisions fleet managers and the public make when acquiring advanced technology vehicles. The testing results are presented in easy-to understand formats that allow users to compare the performance of different types of vehicles.

LINKS

Links to additional information: http://avt.inl.gov/  The data on this web site only reflects the analysis results for the testing activities directed by the INL.

For more information about the AVTA and it’s other testing activities, visit http://www.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/avta. 

To view reports specific to PHEVs: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/avta/light_duty/phev/phev_reports.html