Progress Energy Plugs In To New Car Technology

Raleigh , NC - Progress Energy has added a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle to its fleet to evaluate its potential as a service vehicle for the company. The car reduces emissions while getting up to 100 miles per gallon.

"Plug-in hybrid vehicles generally use electricity during off-peak hours, which helps make more efficient use of our power plants while reducing emissions significantly," said Lloyd Yates, president and CEO of Progress Energy Carolinas. "We want to be part of demonstrating the application of these vehicles on a broader scale."

The plug-in Toyota Prius, delivered to the company in mid-July, is similar to standard hybrid vehicles but can run twice as long with lower emissions due to an enhanced battery pack. The batteries are charged by plugging the car into any standard electric socket. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles get between 70-100 miles per gallon -- double the fuel economy of regular hybrid cars.

Progress Energy partnered with Raleigh-based Advanced Energy and Advanced Vehicle Research Center to convert its hybrid Prius into a plug-in vehicle. The vehicle will be charged at night when the demand for electricity is lower and it will be ready to run when the workday starts. The same advanced technology is used in a new hybrid school bus sponsored by Progress Energy and Advanced Energy for the Wake County school system.

In the coming months, employees will drive the plug-in Prius across Progress Energy's service area to shows and events to promote this new technology. The car's performance will be closely evaluated to determine future plug-in opportunities and applications for the company's fleet.

According to a recent assessment by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), extensive use of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in the United States could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and potentially improve air quality. The assessment concluded that widespread adoption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles would diminish petroleum consumption by three to four million barrels per day and shrink vehicle greenhouse gas emissions by more than 450 million tons per year by 2050. This comprehensive emission reduction would be the equivalent to removing 82.5 million passenger cars from the road.

SOURCE: Progress Energy