FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2008

Converted vehicles can increase fuel economy to more than 100 miles per gallon…
Advanced Energy drives greater fuel efficiency as gas prices rise

RALEIGH, N.C. (June 26, 2008) — Advanced Energy, a resource for innovative and market-based approaches to energy issues, will host a Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle Demonstration to help educate legislators and the public on environmental and cost benefits of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The event will take place in downtown Raleigh in front of the N.C. Museum of History on July 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. In response to rising gas costs, the demonstration will showcase passenger-sized converted PHEVs and a plug-in hybrid electric school bus. Technology experts will be on hand to explain how PHEVs can have an immediate impact on the growing national gas crisis. PHEV technology is a sensible solution that is viable right now, and North Carolina is playing a significant role in leading this change in the transportation industry.

North Carolina House of Representatives’ Speaker of the House Joe Hackney and North Carolina State Senate’s President Pro Tempore, Marc Basnight are confirmed to speak at the event at 1 p.m.

“As fuel prices continue to rise with no end in sight, it is important to educate both consumers and legislators about alternative solutions that are possible right now,” said Ewan Pritchard, hybrid program manager at Advanced Energy.

PHEVs can increase fuel economy to more than 100 miles per gallon while reducing harmful emissions and maximizing the use of cleaner energy. A Toyota Prius hybrid, available from the manufacturer, uses both a gas engine and electric motor to power the vehicle, but the retrofitted PHEVs use an added lithium ion battery (recharged using a standard 110-volt house outlet), allowing the vehicle to rely on electric motors more to consume less gasoline. Plug-in hybrid electric school buses can improve fuel economy by 70 to 100 percent depending on the route, and substantially reduce emissions.

A study conducted by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) concludes that use of PHEVs can improve nationwide air quality and reduce dependency on nonrenewable resources. The study results show that “there is an abundant supply of electricity for transportation” and that “widespread adoption of PHEVs can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles by more than 450 million metric tons annually in 2050—equivalent to removing 82.5 million passenger cars from the road.”

“At a time when North Carolina’s school districts are reallocating their budgets in order to pay for next year’s fuel supply, the relevance of this technology cannot be disputed,” said Pritchard. “We need to educate decision-makers on the possibilities PHEVs present to public and individual transportation, and the transformation it could make in today’s economy.”

Pritchard expects significant interest from legislators and the public, as North Carolina is poised to dedicate more attention and resources to PHEVs and similar technologies. Earlier this year, Governor Mike Easley announced the creation of a new Advanced Transportation Energy Center (ATEC) with proposed funding to develop, deploy and demonstrate transportation related technologies. This center will provide opportunities to harness state, local and national resources to collaborate on cutting edge transportation initiatives and promises to be instrumental in the drive to commercialize plug-in hybrids.

Pritchard expects significant interest from legislators and the public, as North Carolina is poised to dedicate more attention and resources to PHEVs and similar technologies. Earlier this year, Governor Mike Easley announced the creation of a new Advanced Transportation Energy Center (ATEC) with proposed funding to develop, deploy and demonstrate transportation related technologies. This center will provide opportunities to harness state, local and national resources to collaborate on cutting edge transportation initiatives and promises to be instrumental in the drive to commercialize plug-in hybrids.

Advanced Energy, founded in 1980, has been seeking energy-efficient transportation methods for years. Today it is helping transform the transportation industry by facilitating technologies and markets dedicated to meeting the demand for cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles. The passenger PHEVs provided by Advanced Energy, Duke Energy, Progress Energy, Four County Electric Membership Corporation, and the City of Raleigh for the demonstration as well as the plug-in hybrid electric school bus are projects initiated and facilitated by Advanced Energy. The non-profit facilitated the conversion of the vehicles and in the past year delivered a total of 15 buses to school districts in Arkansas, California, Florida, Iowa, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Washington through the nationwide initiative called the Plug-In Hybrid Electric School Bus Project. Advanced Energy initiated a buyer’s consortium of school districts, state energy agencies and student transportation providers to facilitate the project.

About Advanced Energy
Advanced Energy is a Raleigh, N.C.-based nonprofit serving as a North Carolina and national resource that focuses on industrial process technologies, motors and drives testing, and applied building science. Its facility houses state-of-the-art laboratories for testing and applied research in all three of these evolving disciplines. Advanced Energy creates economic, environmental and societal benefits through innovative and market-based approaches to energy issues. For more information, visit www.advancedenergy.org.

Advanced Energy
909 Capability Drive, Suite 2100
Raleigh, NC 27606
919-857-9000