| March 2, 2007 The South
Coast Air Quality Management District Board today awarded $2.6 million for
the development and demonstration of 30 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles
using Ford Escape and Toyota Prius hybrids.
“AQMD’s early demonstrations of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles have
shown potential for producing zero emissions during battery-only operation,”
said William Burke, Ed.D., AQMD’s Governing Board Chairman. “This new,
larger fleet of vehicles will help gather important operational data to
assist battery providers and help accelerate the commercial viability of
plug-in hybrids.”
In April 2006 AQMD’s Governing Board approved a plan to expand its
plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) program by increasing efforts in the
areas of technology development and public awareness.
Today’s action awards funding to Quantum Technologies and Hymotion to
convert new hybrid vehicles -- available on the market today -- to plug-in
hybrid electric vehicles. Quantum Technologies will receive about $2
million to convert 20 new Ford Escape hybrid vehicles and Hymotion will
receive about $560,000 to convert 10 new Toyota Prius vehicles. During the
five-year program the vehicles will be demonstrated at up to 15 sites
throughout the four-county area.
A plug-in hybrid vehicle is similar to commercially available hybrids but
has a larger battery and is plugged in overnight to recharge. Plug-in
vehicles can travel an equivalent of 20 to 30 miles using battery power with
zero emissions. Early PHEVs are showing fuel economy values of 100 miles
per gallon.
AQMD has supported plug-in hybrid vehicles since 2000 through funding for
development and demonstration of numerous plug-in hybrid vehicle projects.
Today’s award will help demonstrate a larger fleet of PHEVs to help gather
data important to improving the technology, understanding the emissions
benefits, and accelerating the commercial availability of PHEVs.
In other action today, the Board:
- Established a new Mobile Source Division at AQMD as proposed by AQMD
Chairman Burke in his 2007 Mobile Source Fair Share Initiative announced
in January. The new division will oversee development of mobile source
rules and participate more actively in state and federal mobile source
rulemaking;
- Awarded funding for a fenceline monitoring pilot program to
demonstrate the feasibility of using remote sensing equipment to monitor
emissions from refineries; and
- Set a public hearing for May 4 to adopt Rule 445 – Wood Burning
Appliances – to reduce fine particulate matter emissions from wood burning
fireplaces and stoves.
AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major
portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
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