RALEIGH, N.C., October 30, 2008 --Advanced Energy, in partnership with Duke Energy
and Progress Energy, will initiate a smart charging trial of plug-in hybrid
electric vehicles (PHEVs). Twelve converted Toyota Priuses will be equipped
with charging management technology from Seattle-based V2Green and deployed
in North Carolina and Florida. The trial will assess the potential of
plug-in vehicles to positively impact electric grid operations, maximize use
of clean energy and prove PHEVs are a viable alternative to today's
carbon-emitting cars.
"This is the nation's first PHEV trial to involve multiple utilities," said
Ewan Pritchard, hybrid program manager at Advanced Energy, the organization
that will lead the design and implementation of the charging management
scenarios to be explored in the trial. "Our collaboration will lay the
foundation for the wide-scale adoption of plug-in vehicles to deliver
cleaner, more cost-effective transportation and diminish our dependence on
foreign oil."
Each of the Priuses involved in the trial will be equipped with a V2Green
Connectivity Module (VCM) to establish two-way communication with the
electric grid and make the vehicles grid-aware. V2Green server software will
be used to manage the flow of electricity to the Priuses, successfully
meeting the needs of both drivers and the grid. When renewable energy, such
as wind or solar power is available, charging behavior can be altered to
maximize the use of cleaner energy. In periods of peak demand, charging can
be delayed or slowed to avoid grid congestion and the need to provide
electricity from high cost sources.
"Developing the necessary infrastructure to enable widespread use of
electric vehicles is part of our balanced strategy to address the challenge
of global climate change, while meeting growing energy needs," said Bill
Johnson, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Progress Energy
and co-chairman of the Edison Electric Institute CEO Taskforce on Electric
Transportation.
The involvement of both Progress Energy and Duke Energy will allow the trial
to explore the billing and operational requirements of supporting plug-in
vehicle "roaming" between adjoining utility service areas. Many plug-in
vehicle owners will charge their vehicles at home in one service area, then
commute to work and connect to the grid in a different service area.
Valuable insight into driver behavior will result from the PHEV trial,
informing future consumer programs and inter-utility information exchange.
Progress Energy will operate six of the grid-aware vehicles, deploying four
in North Carolina and two in Florida. Duke Energy will utilize three plug-in
Priuses in North Carolina. The University of Florida's Program for Resource
Efficient Communities, along with UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural
Sciences extension service, will also participate with one vehicle.
Similar to the hybrid vehicles available today, plug-in hybrid electric
vehicles use both a gasoline engine and an electric motor. The primary
difference lies in the PHEV's larger lithium ion battery that can be
"plugged in" and charged at a household electrical outlet. The battery pack
functions as a second fuel tank that can be cost-effectively filled with
electricity. PHEV technology has enabled vehicles to travel 100 miles or
more on a gallon of gas, while producing significantly lower greenhouse gas
emissions.
About Advanced Energy
Advanced Energy is a Raleigh, N.C.-based non-profit committed to a future in
which energy needs are met at reasonable costs and with the least negative
consequences. The organization continues to work collaboratively to
demonstrate that industry, government and non-profits can successfully work
together to improve the environment and encourage the economy. For almost 30
years, Advanced Energy has created economic, environmental and societal
benefits through innovative and market-based approaches to energy issues.
For more information, visit www.advancedenergy.org.
About Progress Energy
Progress Energy, headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 250 energy
company with more than 21,000 megawatts of generation capacity and $9
billion in annual revenues. The company is observing its 100th anniversary
in 2008. Progress Energy includes two major utilities that serve more than
3.1 million customers in the Carolinas and Florida. The company is the 2006
recipient of the Edison Electric Institute's Edison Award, the industry's
highest honor, in recognition of its operational excellence. The company
also is the first utility to receive the prestigious J.D. Power and
Associates Founder's Award for customer service. Progress Energy serves two
growing areas of the country, and the company is pursuing a balanced
strategy for a secure energy future. That balance includes aggressive
energy-efficiency programs, investments in renewable energy technologies and
a state-of-the-art electricity system. For more information about Progress
Energy, visit www.progress-energy.com.
About Duke Energy
Duke Energy, one of the largest electric power companies in the United
States, supplies and delivers electricity to approximately four million U.S.
customers in its regulated jurisdictions. The company has approximately
35,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity in the Midwest and the
Carolinas, and natural gas distribution services in Ohio and Kentucky. In
addition, Duke Energy has more than 4,000 megawatts of electric generation
in Latin America, and is a joint-venture partner in a U.S. real estate
company.
About V2Green
V2Green builds and deploys smart grid solutions for utilities. Our
technology establishes intelligent, two-way communication between the
electrical grid and distributed power resources. The flow of electricity to
and from significant sources of load, power storage and generation can then
be adaptively managed to avoid damaging grid stress, cost-effectively
produce essential grid services and increase the integration of renewable
energy in power generation. V2Green's solutions are currently being deployed
in plug-in vehicle field trials with leading U.S. energy companies,
including Xcel Energy, Austin Energy and Seattle City Light. To learn more
about Seattle-base V2Green, please visit www.v2green.com.
Media Contacts:
Advanced Energy:
Camden Watts
919-857-9048
Duke Energy
Dave Scanzoni
704-382-2543
Progress Energy:
24-Hour Media Line
877-641-6397
V2Green:
Mike Brennan
206-283-6908
