Background
In 2008, DECC funded the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) to convert one of their Toyota Prius HEV pool cars into a grid interactive PHEV. The project was a joint collaboration between ISF and the UTS Faculty of Engineering. This project was conceived to build on and complement the work of Country Energy's Intelligent Community Project
About the DECC PHEV aka SWITCH
SWITCH is the first vehicle to grid (V2G) interactive vehicle that can both be charged from, and feed power back into, the main electricity grid. The key advantage of V2G is the potential to store electricity in the batteries and feed energy back to the main power grid in times of generation supply shortage or network capacity constraints. We have successfully implemented this technology in the DECC PHEV, making use of their existing grid-tie wall mounted inverter to accept the DC output from the car.
SWITCH will be trialled as a fleet vehicle by staff at the Department. The progress of the car, its fuel efficiency and electricity tariffs will be monitored in partnership with EnergyAustralia and posted on the department's website at: www.environment.nsw.gov.au.
Specifications
- Base model: 2006 Toyota Prius
- Charged off standard 240V power using on board battery charger with charge time of approximately 3 hours
- Can feed energy back to the grid at 1.7kW through a standard solar type inverter
- 4.1kWh K2 Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) additional battery pack (35kg)
- Range in electric only vehicle mode of over 35km at low speeds
- Cost to recharge on Green Power at $0.22 per kWh is less than $1
- Fuel economy of under 2L/100km in city driving (depending on conditions and driving style). This gives a fuel cost equivalent of under $0.40 per litre of petrol compared to a conventional mid size car (with petrol at $1.50 per litre)
- More than 2000 charge cycles/discharge cycles down to 80% capacity
- Maximum battery discharge rate of 80A (20kW)
- Interfaces seamlessly with the Toyota Hybrid System and Toyota OEM battery
- Embodied energy in batteries estimated at approximately 1 ton of CO2-eq (paid off in 1 year if charging using renewable energy)
For further information see Switch on to the future - UTS launches new plug-in hybrid: A newstory about the launch of SWITCH by NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, Carmel Tebbutt.
Media coverage:
Plug-in feeds power back to grid
CarsGuide, 29 April 2009
The SWITCH prototype was adapted by the UTS research team from a standard Toyota Prius by adding extra batteries, controls and connections.
http://carsguide.news.com.au/site/news-and-reviews/story/plug_in_feeds_power_back_to_grid/
Electric car that pumps energy back into grid
CNET.com.au, 24 April 2009
Australian engineers have developed a plug-in hybrid electric car that not only generates power but can pump it back into the grid, potentially reducing running costs.
http://www.cnet.com.au/electric-car-that-pumps-energy-back-into-grid-339296130.htm?feed=rss
Electric car that pumps energy back into grid
smh.com.au, 24 April 2009
Australian engineers have developed a plug-in hybrid electric car that not only generates power but can pump it back into the grid, potentially reducing running costs.
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/energy-smart/electric-car--pumps-energy-back-into-grid-20090424-ahgj.html
Hybrid car feeds electricity back into power grid
Yahoo! News Australia, 23 April 2009
Imagine a world where cars not only consume energy, but also become a source of energy for the electricity grid. Researchers at the University of Technology in Sydney (UTS) say that time is coming, with the launch of the first Australian prototype hybrid car that can feed power back into power grid.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/local/5518734/hybrid-car-feeds-electricity-power-grid/
Hybrid car feeds electricity back into power grid
ABC Online, 23 April 2009.
The SWITCH has a fuel economy of less than two litres per 100 kilometres of city driving.
Includes Video: Hybrid car powers up (ABC News) and Audio: New electric car could be asset in a blackout(PM)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/23/2551039.htm