Manitoba Hydro Testing Prius Plug-In Hybrid-Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
11 November 2006
Manitoba Hydro (canada) recently launched a research and development project to review the potential of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and the possible impact that the new technology could have on future Manitoba Hydro electrical load growth and energy markets.
Manitoba Hydro worked with EnergyCS to convert a 2005 Toyota Hybrid Prius to a PHEV. EnergyCS replaces the original Prius battery pack with a 9 kWh Valence Saphion lithium-ion battery pack. (Earlier post.) EnergyCS developed plug-in hybrid conversion kits that are manufactured, marketed and distributed by EDrive Systems, LLC.
This new technology has potential to offer multiple benefits to Manitobans including significantly reducing driving costs and vehicle emissions. Manitoba is well positioned to take advantage of plug-in vehicles because of our low-cost clean energy advantage.
—Greg Selinger, minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro
One of our goals at Manitoba Hydro is to be a national leader in implementing cost-effective energy conservation and alternative energy programs. We have taken a proactive approach by conducting research into alternative transportation fuels, such as biodiesel, as well as alternative transportation technologies, some of which are becoming available and suitable to Manitoba, including the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.
—Bob Brennan, President and CEO of Manitoba Hydro
Manitoba Hydro is monitoring the vehicle in everyday use as commuter transportation. As well, it will be evaluating data such as power system information like voltage and current harmonics, as well as ambient temperature, kWh consumption and gasoline consumption. One aspect of interest to Manitoba Hydro in this research is battery performance in the province’s cold weather conditions.
Manitoba Hydro believes that because of Manitoba’s low cost, clean electricity and high cost of gasoline, there is the potential for considerable demand for PHEV usage over the next 10 to 20 years. Therefore, Manitoba Hydro will look at the possible impact that this new technology could have on the province’s power system.
Someone actually thinking ahead! Manitoba ... now that's cold weather testing. They can test the batteries resistance to mosquitoes while they're at it. :)
Posted by: Neil | 11 November 2006 at 07:38 PM
Manitoba Hydro really does produce almost all of its electricity from hydro dams, so PHEVs there would really be zero-emission when operating off energy obtained from the grid.
http://www.hydro.mb.ca/about_us/ar_2005/ar_2005_source_electrical.pdf
Posted by: Rafael Seidl | 12 November 2006 at 04:41 AM
Hummm... This is purely green spining.
Manitoba is one of the provinces in Canada least accommodating of green values. This is evidenced by a good number of those who have been given cease-and-desist court orders on behalf of utilities designed to fend off greening initiatives & challenges.
This is a hick truck loving province with a selfish and cheap care for the future and an incomprehensible love for idling gas-guzzling vehicles.
Adding to that, no goverment incentives to buying and acting green. NADA.
Sad, very SAD indeed.
ML
Posted by: MLS | 14 November 2006 at 11:18 AM
Hummm... This is purely green spining.
Manitoba is one of the provinces in Canada least accommodating of green values. This is evidenced by a good number of those who have been given cease-and-desist court orders on behalf of utilities designed to fend off greening initiatives & challenges.
This is a hick truck loving province with a selfish and cheap care for the future and an incomprehensible love for idling gas-guzzling vehicles.
Adding to that, no goverment incentives to buying and acting green. NADA.
Sad, very SAD indeed.
ML
Posted by: MLS | 14 November 2006 at 11:24 AM
ML, you have a remarkable talent at getting things entirely wrong. First of all, Manitoba is not a 'hick truck loving' province. Our trucking industry is a result of Manitoba being in the 'MIDDLE' of the country and is a predictably important corridor for North-South as well as Northwest-Southeast commercial traffic. Second, several of Manitoba's trucking firms have won national recognition and awards for their anti-idling policies and practices. Third. you fail to understand that the Capital region has no electric mass transportation, if people in this province want to WORK, a word you are likely unfamiliar with, then they need to drive there. If you are 'green' as your comments seem to suggest, then you must realize that electricity derived from a hydro-infrastructure is vastly more desirable than power generation in areas without Manitoba's natural advantages, I speak of Coal burning plants, and our courts' have a knowledge on this that obviously overshadows yours. Perhaps you would prefer Manitoba jump on the 'lets build a coal burning plant' bandwagon. Blog all you want ML, and leave the decision making to the ones with the smarts, and the facts.
Posted by: Tim | 13 May 2007 at 03:55 PM
If your truly want to cold weather test you need to come to thompson for real world outdoor cold weather testing. Thompson's weather is what CWET engineers describe as the last 95th percentile environment; that is to say less than 5% of tsted products will be used in a climate as demanding as the thompson experience.
Posted by: manfred boehm | 21 July 2007 at 09:51 AM
Thanks for sharing your comments.
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