PSU selected as test site for Toyota's plug-in Prius
Portland State University announced Tuesday it was selected by Toyota as one of six groups nationally to demonstrate and evaluate the next-generation Prius Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles.
Toyota will place 10 of its new Prius PHVs, equipped with lithium-ion batteries, in Oregon later this spring as part of the company’s global demonstration program. Portland State University will administer the program which will assign the vehicles out to drivers for 60-day tests. George Beard, senior instructor at PSU and a liaison between the university and Portland General Electric, its corporate partner on electric vehicles and energy management technology, said two of the cars will likely be assigned for use by car-sharing service Zipcar.
Other U.S. program partners for Toyota include Qualcomm, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Southern California Air Quality Management District, University of California, Berkeley, and University of Colorado.
The Prius plug-in hybrid, unlike the Nissan Leaf which is a pure electric vehicle, is equipped like other Prius cars with a hybrid engine. But unlike the hybrids currently available, the plug-in Prius will be able to take trips of up to 15 miles on an electric charge without engaging the gas engine. “For Portland, where most average trips are fewer than 15 miles, it’s the best of both worlds,” Beard said.
Beard said Portland is also in the running to be an early, second-round market for the launch of the General Motors Volt. “We’re beginning to get a lot experience with the care and feeding of electric vehicles,” Beard said.
PSU is working closely with PGE to build out the infrastructure for electric vehicles.
“The Portland and Salem metro areas are excellent locations for Toyota’s Prius Plug-in Hybrid global demonstration project,” said Jim Piro, president and CEO of PGE, in a press release. “Oregonians have already shown great commitment to being early adopters of sustainable transportation options and welcome the opportunity to participate in shaping future electric vehicle programs.”
Toyota's program aims to confirm, in a variety of real-world applications, the overall performance of Toyota's first-generation lithium-ion battery technology, while spurring the development of a charging station infrastructure that's accessible and available to drivers.
Data from the 150 U.S. demonstration vehicles will be posted to Toyota’s program website and to Oregon’s electric vehicle website.
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