SCE’s Electric Transportation Department assists our Transportation Services Department in ensuring the optimal performance of the nation’s largest and most successful fleet of pure battery-electric vehicles.

Comprised predominantly of Toyota RAV-4 EVs, SCE’s fleet of almost 300 electric vehicles – currently used for meter readers, field representatives and security patrollers, among others – travels over 100,000 electric vehicle miles monthly.

SCE’s long-term use of electric vehicles also enables us to continue meeting the requirements of the national Energy Policy Act (EPAct), which is designed to help reduce dependence on foreign oil and enhance energy security.

Under EPAct, alternative-fuel providers (like electric utilities), along with certain federal and state fleets in major metropolitan areas, must ensure that 90% of their annual new light-duty vehicle purchases be alternative-fueled.

Hybrid Vehicles

As part of cutting-edge work to evaluate additional electro-drive technologies for SCE fleet use, our EV Technical Center currently is testing and evaluating next-generation plug-in and non-plug-in hybrid light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks and vans through collaborative industry partnerships. Such technologies also may play an important role in future compliance with federal and state regulations.

Plug-in hybrid technology specifically shows considerable promise. It offers a natural progression from today’s gasoline-dominant hybrids, with just a larger energy storage battery and plug-in capacity. This allows the vehicles to partially “fuel” through a connection to the electric grid and operate in either a pure electric mode or a “blended” mode, with the potential to dramatically improve fuel economy.

Hybrid projects at the EV Technical Center include:

• Light-Duty Plug-In Hybrid Van: SCE now is testing DaimlerChrysler plug-in hybrid-electric Sprinter vans, the nation’s first plug-in hybrid commercial vehicle prototypes. The vans, with about a 20- to 30-mile all-electric range, are being evaluated through a partnership with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the South Coast Air Quality Management District and DaimlerChrysler to gain additional knowledge about the value of plug-in hybrids in real-world applications. Details on the Sprinter van project are located at www.epri.com/corporate/discover_epri/news/2004/092104_sprinter.html.
• Medium-Duty Plug-In Hybrid Utility Truck: SCE is partnering with EPRI, other utilities and supplier and technical advisor Eaton Corporation to establish a program for plug-in hybrid troubleman trucks, with prototypes due by early 2007. Smaller than boom trucks, the troubleman trucks will have easier access to hard-to-reach work locations. They also will offer the ability to drive in a zero-tailpipe-emission all-electric mode, and to operate in a stationary mode (without idling) for a much longer time than non-plug-in hybrid trucks. Information on EPRI programs is available at www.epri.com.
• Heavy-Duty Hybrid Utility Boom Truck: SCE is working with other fleet operators through the Hybrid Truck Users Forum to place prototype heavy-duty hybrid trucks in operation, with a goal of leading to production commitments and expanded purchases. Based on initial testing of the trucks at an independent facility, these vehicles are projected to cut air emissions by up to 50%, and use 40% to 60% less fuel, compared to similar diesel-powered trucks. For more information on the Hybrid Truck Users Forum, visit www.calstart.org/programs/htuf/?p=programs.

The EV Technical Center already played a significant role in demonstrating the benefits of “hybridizing” heavy-duty trucks through its field test of a utility work truck converted to operate on plug-in hybrid technology in a first-of-its-kind project. This project was conducted with the help of the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

With these types of electro-drive evaluations, the center conducts battery and reliability testing, along with performance characterization. Then the center works in partnership with SCE’s Transportation Services Department to place the vehicles into appropriate fleet applications and collect data on fuel economy, electric energy use and other operational factors.

Hydrogen and Fuel Cells

Looking ahead, SCE’s EV Technical Center is exploring the use of hydrogen – the potential transportation “energy end-game” – and its capabilities to achieve a clean, sustainable transportation future. SCE is conducting tests and evaluations to understand the safety and electrical system impacts of hydrogen generation, compression, storage and delivery for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).

SCE also is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s national hydrogen fuel cell demonstration program, designed to showcase hydrogen and fuel cell technology in real-world applications. In late 2006 SCE plans to begin operation of a hydrogen refueling station currently under construction at our headquarters by program partner Chevron Hydrogen Company, a division of Chevron USA. Other SCE program partners include Hyundai•KIA and UTC Power.

The refueling station will generate hydrogen through an “electrolyzer” by passing electricity from the grid through water to split the hydrogen from oxygen. This process will generate enough hydrogen to power a small test fleet of FCEVs. Even though hydrogen, by its nature, is very safe (because its lightness causes it to quickly disperse straight up), the station is being built to meet or exceed all safety requirements. As with other facilities, safety remains No. 1 in our design criteria.

Under the national demonstration program, SCE, in partnership with Hyundai•KIA, will operate and evaluate Hyundai•KIA’s FCEV prototypes and assess the technology for future use.

Besides providing vital insight into FCEV performance, participation in the evaluation program will help SCE obtain knowledge about hydrogen fuel cell applications for distributed generation, including on-site generation, emergency backup power and more.

Additional information on the Department of Energy’s hydrogen fuel cell program is available at www1.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/.

For more information on electro-drive technologies, visit www.electricdrive.org.

To learn more about the electro-drive testing and evaluation services of SCE’s EV Technical Center, call (909) 469-0315 or e-mail Darcy.Skaggs@sce.com.