Pepco Holdings: EV future is bright

Pepco Holdings (PHI), has joined the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA). According to PHI, this is an opportunity to be a part of a tremendous source of information, networking and education primarily among the policymakers with the objective of preparing for electric transportation deployment and to showcase its benefits to our country.

PHI has partnered with General Motors to acquire 10 Chevy Volts in its fleet. Here are the first of those Volts charging at PHI headquarters in Washington, D.C. The "smart" charging station can communicate with PHI's smart grid technology.

PHI, which has been involved with electric transportation since 1990, believes that electric transportation has a bright future. In 1990, PHI partnered with DOE, General Motors (PrEView Program), Ford (Ranger Electric Truck) and Toyota (RAV 4) programs to test drive electric vehicles (EV).  In mid 2000, PHI also worked with other utilities to develop the first hybrid electric bucket truck. The 2010s and beyond will be no different.

"In the past, the primary challenge was the limited range of electric vehicles," a representative of PHI told FierceEnergy. "Now with existing battery technology that made possible, plug in hybrids, extended range vehicles and all electric vehicles the future for electric transportation gets brighter every day."

For more than one year, PHI has been test driving a Ford plug in hybrid vehicle (Escape SUV). 

"We will receive a Plug in Hybrid bucket truck in 2012 as a result of our work with EPRI, Ford and Eaton and will continue to evaluate partnership opportunities with other vehicle manufacturers that will be deploying plug in vehicles in our service territory," the representative said.

For more:
- see this release

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