Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle developments in the US: trends, barriers, and economic feasibility

There is a growing interest in Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) concepts for private, public, and utility services across the USA. This has encouraged the establishment of a number of small companies providing expertise and components for evaluation and demonstration system vehicles, and interest by auto manufacturers in future mass-produced PHEVs. In this paper, we present the principles of Plug-in hybrid electric operation, discuss the practical implementation issues associated with the various technology platforms, and propose power-train options for various classes of vehicle. We also discuss current US hybrid and PHEV trends, summarize major national and state projects, the charging impact on the power grid, vehicle-to-grid technology (V2G) and other related technologies.