Plug-In Electric Cars for Work Travel

Abstract

Vehicles with electrified powertrains such as hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and all-electric vehicles (AEVs, which use grid-supplied battery energy exclusively) are potentially marketable because of their low operating costs. However, each vehicle type incurs a significant initial cost penalty compared with a conventional vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine. Three PHEV cars and an AEV car are selected to assess cost-effectiveness from the consumers' perspective. Daily travel to and from work is isolated from other vehicle travel data from the U.S. National Household Travel Survey, and five daily distance categories are investigated. Three driving cycle runs are used: one developed by following cars in Los Angeles, California, in 1992, the Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Test Cycle, and a real driving record selected from the Kansas City metropolitan area in Kansas and Missouri. Probable charging patterns for each PHEV and the AEV are investigated for three of five daily distance categories. Overnight charging and workplace charging also are examined. The possibility for multiple charges at work is considered, as is the possibility of a charge after work, before the day's end. The degree of importance of spending a given pool of money to upgrade a residential (versus workplace) charging station is discussed. Two indicators of effectiveness of battery pack utilization are developed [a charge-depleting effectiveness factor and grid kilowatt-hours used per day per dollar of incremental vehicle expense (cost-effectiveness)], and target markets for cars used for work for each powertrain type are suggested.