sfenvironment.org

Plug-In Hybrids in San Francisco

You've seen a lot of hybrid electric vehicles on the road lately, but you haven't seen anything like a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) In February 2006, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors adopted resolution 107-06, affirming the city's support of actions to help make PHEVs available commercially. In February 2008 Mayor Newsom held a press conference at Pat's Garage in San Francisco to announce the addition of three advanced technology demonstration PHEVs (Toyota Priuses from the City's existing fleet that were converted to PHEVs with grant assistance from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District) thereby making San Francisco one of the most "plugged in" municipal fleets in the nation. Mayor Newsom, in conjunction with Plug-In Bay Area (PIBA), also announced a new initiative calling for Bay Area cities to place a collective, regional fleet purchase order to show auto companies that a market exists for PHEVs.

PHEV FAST FACTS:

• They get up to 100 miles per gallon


• You can recharge the PHEV by plugging it into a standard 110-volt outlet with an extension cord


• They dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional hybrids


• San Francisco's PHEVs use advanced lithium batteries that are added to the Priuses existing battery pack and were supplied by A123 Systems/Hymotion, Inc.


• Pat's Garage, a certified "Clean and Green" San Francisco business converted them


• When they become available commercially, they'll cost about $3,000 more than a conventional hybrid because of the cost of the PHEV battery

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