Pihef: Plug-In Hybrid Electric Factor

Growing consumer expectations, legislations pushing for higher fuel economy and lower emissions, higher fuel prices, and the realization that petroleum is a finite resource are leading to groundbreaking changes in the automotive industry, such as drive train electrification. Depending on the degree of electrification, the combination of the internal combustion engine with an electric motor offers a wide range of benefits from reduced fuel consumption and emissions to enhanced performance. The potential of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) to operate in electric and hybrid modes and their ability to supplement the energy storage off the grid has made them a front runner in alternative fuel vehicle development. There is however currently no widely-accepted standard classification that provides an accurate description of the optimal size to ratio of the energy storage system. This paper presents a classification which embodies the definition of a PHEV, energy consumption, and supply from the electric power grid.