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$3M PHEV Research Program at Institute for Transportation Studies/UC Davis funded by CA Energy Commission
Dec 16, 2006 (From the CalCars-News archive)
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Here's the California Energy Commission's announcement; details of the plans for the three-year project will follow. This new Center will be separate from the existing PHEV program at UC Davis: the Hybrid Vehicle Driveline Research and Design Center http://www.team-fate.net, founded and directed by Prof. Andy Frank, inventor of the modern plug-in hybrid. (That Center is also affiliated with the sponsor of this new program, the Institute for Transportation Studies http://www.its.ucdavis.edu, directed by Prof. Daniel Sperling.)

Energy Commission Awards $3 Million to UC Davis for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Research http://www.energy.ca.gov/releases /2006_releases/2006-12-14_pier_hybrid_award.html
December 14, 2006 Sacramento - Demonstrating its commitment to explore new technologies, California Energy Commission yesterday approved $3 million to University of California, Davis for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) research center. The funds will be allocated over three years and use the UCD Institute of Transportation Studies as its hub.

"Funding this technology represents a significant milestone for California," said Energy Commission Vice Chair James Boyd. "The center will serve as a magnet for innovative research by advancing and demonstrating technology which will greatly reduce our dependence on petroleum."

The goals of the research center are to: enhance the commercial viability of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles; identify strategies to accelerate an effective adoption of PHEVs; support demonstration and related activities; and provide information on decision making and alternative vehicle and transportation technologies. These goals will be achieved by creating a "roadmap" which will identify, conduct, and contract the necessary R&D; developing an advisory council to provide strategic direction; establishing partnerships with other institutions; and fostering connections with stakeholders.

This funding comes from the Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program. The PIER program, the largest in the nation, awards up to $84 million to conduct energy research annually. The program supports energy research, development and demonstration projects that improve the quality of life in California.
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The PIER program's mission focuses research that improves the quality of life in California by providing environmentally sound, safe, reliable and affordable energy services and products. The program includes the full range of research, development, and demonstration activities that advance science or technology not adequately provided by competitive and regulated markets

Created by the Legislature in 1974, the California Energy Commission is the state's primary energy policy and planning agency. The Energy Commission has five major responsibilities: forecasting future energy needs and keeping historical energy data; licensing thermal power plants 50 megawatts or larger; promoting energy efficiency through appliance and building standards; developing energy technologies and supporting renewable energy; an planning for and directing state response to energy emergency. Members of the Energy Commission are Chairman Jackalyne Pfannenstiel; Vice Chair James D. Boyd; Commissioners Jeffrey Byron; John Geesman; and Dr. Arthur H. Rosenfeld.

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