Green Driving Tips

Article published Nov 16, 2008  Full Article
By Christine Pratt
World staff writer  

WENATCHEE — Thirteen ordinary Toyota Prius hybrids drove into the Wenatchee Valley College auto shop early last week.
They drove out with even better gas mileage, a direct link to the feds and the hopes of many for a future less dependent on fossil fuels.
“This is all about a convergence of the auto industry with the electric-utility industry,” said Ron Johnston-Rodriguez, economic development director at the Port of Chelan County. “It used to be just about Detroit and oil.”
All 13 of the cars, and the port’s own Prius, are part of the port’s “PHEV Pilot Project.”
Starting this week, they’ll be part of a U.S. Department of Energy data-collection program designed to track the performance of some 130 modified Priuses nationwide under normal road conditions.
All the cars in the test, including the 14 in the port’s pilot project, have been converted into “PHEVs” — plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
Priuses already run on electricity at low speeds and for short distances. Their gasoline engine adds some kick for higher speeds and longer trips.
Plug-in hybrids are fitted with an additional set of long-life lithium ion batteries that extend their all-electric range to about 30 miles. Gas mileage can increase to 100 miles per gallon or more, depending on the driver.
The extra battery pack charges by plugging it into a standard wall outlet — the connector is installed in the cars’ rear bumpers.
Expert installers from the Green Car Co. of Bellevue were in town to convert all 13 of the port program’s Priuses.
The cars are part of regional fleets belonging to the program’s 12 regional “enrollees,” that include the city of Wenatchee, Chelan County, Wenatchee Valley College and the Douglas County PUD.   Full Article