Toyota Motor Sales USA is teaming up with the University of Colorado at Boulder’s Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, to launch a field study into plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in a smart grid environment.
As part of the venture, Toyota will supply 18 Prius plug-in hybrid electric vehicles which will be circulated in three-month stints over a two year period among 108 randomly selected Boulder households that volunteered to be part of the smart grid pilot tests.
Data will be gathered on vehicle performance and electricity usage as well as on how households interact with feedback through smart grid technology. Researchers will also monitor the performance of Toyota’s lithium-ion battery at high altitudes and in cold weather thanks to the Boulder location.
The Prius plug-in hybrid electric vehicle can be charged in around three hours from a standard 110V electrical outlet, or in one and a half hours with a 220V electrical outlet. It can also cruise in electric-only mode for around 13miles and for longer distances it reverts to hybrid mode and operates like a regular Prius.
The 18 vehicles being supplied by Toyota are part of its 150 vehicle demonstration programme throughout the United States.
