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6 New Members of Plug-In Hybrid Consortium
Dec 23, 2005 (From the CalCars-News archive)
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December 22, 2005 09:55 AM US Eastern Timezone

Southern California Edison Joins Plug-In Hybrid Consortium

PROVO, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 22, 2005--The Plug-In Hybrid Development Consortium (the "Consortium") announced that Southern California Edison ("SCE") (NYSE:EIX) has joined them as a founding member. The Consortium is made up of a growing number of automotive suppliers, manufacturers and other organizations working together to accelerate the commercial production of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles, ("PHEV").

Southern California Edison is one of the nation's largest investor-owned utility companies, and has been a leading supporter of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle technology. SCE and Pacific Gas & Electric (NYSE:PCG), the two largest investor-owned utilities in California, have joined the Consortium to help accelerate the development of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles. PHEVs are dual-fuel hybrids that have the ability to drive their first 25-50 miles on clean renewable electric fuel for about 1/4 the price of gasoline before turning on the combustion engine. Plug-in hybrids allow the choice of running on electric or gasoline. This kind of dual-mode hybrid has the potential to significantly reduce petroleum consumption and reduce emissions.

Ed Kjaer, Director of Electric Transportation at SCE is responsible for leading the company's efforts to evaluate the system impacts, safety and reliability of advanced clean electro-drive transportation technologies. These efforts are supported by the nationally recognized SCE EV Technical Center in Pomona, Southern California. Kjaer is an automotive veteran with more than 15 years in marketing and advertising management for leading brands such as Nissan, Acura and Mazda. Since joining Edison, Ed has been a leader in support of electric and hybrid technology and has worked with auto companies, the Electric Drive Transportation Association and other organizations to advance clean, sustainable transportation alternatives. "The Plug-In Hybrid Development Consortium can provide an important forum to bring together the many necessary participants and voices that will be needed to make Plug-In hybrid vehicles commercially viable," said Kjaer.

"We are pleased to welcome SCE as a founding member to the Consortium," said David West, co-founder of the Consortium and VP Marketing, Raser Technologies, Inc. (PCX:RZ). "The support of SCE along with the leadership of Ed Kjaer are valuable additions to this young but growing organization."

Another new member joining the Consortium recently is Enax, makers of advanced Lithium batteries from Japan, lead by Dr. Ozawa, formerly a leading magnetics research scientist at Sony. Enax is also known for their high power battery technology capable of 5 minute rapid recharge and robotic manufacturing techniques. "We are anxious to demonstrate our high power battery technology in Consortium vehicle projects and look forward to close cooperation with other component makers to help us better meet the needs of the next generation hybrids," said Dr. Ozawa.

The following companies have also joined the Consortium: Daiken, a leading Japanese chemicals company and maker of a proprietary ceramic-metallic powder used in high power Lithium batteries; Delta-Q Technologies (www.delta-q), a supplier of light scalable onboard battery charging systems, that can recharge high power lithium batteries overnight at home from a standard 110V outlet; International Battery and Thunder Sky one of the leading high volume manufacturers of advanced Lithium batteries used in US military and in the hybrid electric fleet of buses built for the Beijing Olympics in China; and A123 is a leader in advanced battery technology using nanoscale science to create ultra high power batteries (www.A123systems.com). A123 System's battery technology is specifically suited for plug-in electric drive systems with one of the highest power to weight ratios available and well established high volume manufacturing.

Hank Masuda, US representative for Daiken added, "This Consortium helps bring important new technology breakthroughs to market, making important new battery advancements available to automakers for new vehicle designs to take advantage of."

The Consortium was organized to help reduce the R&D gap between component suppliers and OEMs; and to coordinate and accelerate the development of critical new solutions while reducing the development time for the next generation hybrid vehicles. The members of this growing Consortium plan to develop compatible components and cost-effective working designs, that would enable a plug-in hybrid that achieves 100-200 total mpg petroleum economy by driving its first 25 - 50 miles in all electric zero emission mode. This "Dual Mode" PHEV will then continue to operate in a high-efficiency hybrid electric mode to achieve conventional range of operation.

An Edison International company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation's largest electric utilities, serving a population of more than 13 million via 4.6 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within central, coastal and Southern California.

About the Plug-in Hybrid Development Consortium

The Plug-in Hybrid Development Consortium is made up of key component suppliers who intend to work together with participating automobile manufacturers to coordinate and accelerate the development of key hybrid components and demonstrate these advanced technologies in "next generation" plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Membership is divided into two groups, developers, made up of component suppliers, and advisors, made up of complementary organizations with compatible goals, who will benefit mutually from Consortium research & development. Phase 1 membership is not exclusive. Further information on the Plug-in Hybrid Development Consortium may be found at: www.hybridconsortium.org.

Contacts

Plug-in Hybrid Development Consortium Raser Technologies, Inc. (PCX:RZ) David West, 801-765-1200 or Pacific Gas & Electric (NYSE:PCG) Brian Stokes, 415-260-3145 or Electrovaya (TSX:EFL) Dr. Shankar Das Gupta, 905-855-4610 or Maxwell Technologies (Nasdaq:MXWL) Robert Tressler, 858-503-3325 or Southern California Edison (NYSE:EIX) Ed Kjaer, 626-302-1324


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