Popular media and even researchers commonly assume that ownership of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) provides consumers less performance and mobility than consumers expect. A common claim is that consumers have constant worry about the range of their BEVs, often termed “range anxiety.” BMW converted 450 Mini Coopers to all-electric drive (named the Mini E) and leased them to fleets and 235 private households in the Los Angeles, California, and New York–New Jersey regions from spring 2009 to spring 2010. Through the course of the 1-year lease, University of California, Davis (UCD), researchers conducted multiple online surveys and in-person interviews and administered weeklong driving diaries. This paper explores the reactions of Mini E drivers to the driving distance of the Mini E through the framework of a lifestyle learning process. Over time, Mini E drivers learned how the 104-mi range of the Mini E fit into their lifestyles. Drivers adapted and explored with their Mini E through activities such as altering driving behavior (such as speed and trip routes), optimizing charging opportunities, planning trips, and educating themselves on distances to destinations with the help of online and mobile mapping tools. In the course of the UCD Mini E consumer study, researchers found evidence suggesting that the driving range was not a major concern for these early adopters. Even with no public charging available to their vehicle, 100% of survey respondents stated that BEVs were suitable for daily use. The results of this study will be of interest to policy makers and practitioners interested in expanding the BEV market.

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Yosemite is an advanced hybrid electric vehicle built on the Ford U152 Explorer platform. The University of California, Davis FutureTruck team designed Yosemite to meet the following objectives: 1. Maximize vehicle energy efficiency 2. Reduce petroleum consumption by 80% 3. Reduce fuel cycle greenhouse gas emissions by 67% 4. Achieve California Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) target 5. Deliver best-in-class performance Yosemite meets these goals with an efficient hybrid powertrain, improved component systems, and an advanced control system. The primary powertrain combines a 1.9L flexible fuel engine with a 75kW brushless DC motor. A 60kW AC induction motor and reduction transaxle gearbox drives the front wheels. This powertrain configuration is compact, reliable, provides 4WD, and allows flexibility in control strategy. A 16.5kWh nickel metal-hydride traction battery pack powers the electric motors, providing up to 45 miles (72.4km) of all-electric range and the ability to tow crosscountry without recharging. The high power hybrid powertrain allows Yosemite to achieve high efficiency under normal operating conditions while exceeding V8 Explorer performance in all categories. Yosemite's superior fuel economy, low operating cost, and high performance, combined with advanced composites and telematics make it a desirable and competitive vehicle in today's growing market for advanced vehicles.

A plug-in, charge-depleting, parallel hybrid powertrain has been developed for a high performance sport utility vehicle. Based on the Ford U152 Explorer platform, implementation of the hybrid powertrain has resulted in an efficient, high performance vehicle with a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 7.5 seconds. A dual drive system allows for four-wheel drive capability while optimizing regenerative braking and minimizing electric motor cogging losses. Design of the system focused on reducing petroleum use, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing criteria tailpipe emissions. Additionally, this vehicle has been designed as a partial zero emissions vehicle (PZEV), allowing the driver to travel up to 50 miles in a zero emission all-electric mode. High-energy traction battery packs can be charged from the grid, yielding higher efficiencies and lower critical emissions, or maintained through the internal combustion engine (ICE) as with a traditional hybrid vehicle. The ICE is primarily used to provide average power and maintain state of charge (SOC). The ability to use the electric energy from the grid allows the most inexpensive way of driving the vehicle and reduces the dependence on petroleum. Electric power created at a large-scale power plant is produced more efficiently than by an ICE. However, to allow a long range and the option (rather than requirement) for using the plug, one has the capability to utilize liquid fuel through the ICE as well. Fuel consumption is reduced by more than 80% over the stock vehicle, resulting in average city usage of roughly 29 mpg (gasoline equivalent). Full functionality of the stock vehicle has been maintained, including four wheel drive, tow, and acceleration capabilities, as well as driver comfort, with no loss in cabin space and a small increase in vehicle weight. Analysis shows a final cost lower than comparable performance competitors. This paper details the design and implementation of this powertrain, and compares the hybrid vehicle response to that of the stock vehicle.

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