July 30, 2008
Raser Developing 100 MPG Plug-in Hybrid Light Truck for Initial Release to Utility and Government Fleets
PROVO, UTAH – Raser
Technologies is developing a 100 mile per gallon (mpg) light truck in addition
to a 100 mpg SUV. Raser’s plug-in electric drive system is designed to allow
light trucks such as the Chevy Silverado, Ford F-150, or Dodge Ram to achieve more
than 100 mpg in typical local daily driving with near zero emissions, by using
electricity instead of petroleum as the primary fuel, according to
www.marketwatch.com.
The announcement comes as Raser nears completion of a 100
mpg SUV demonstration vehicle, built in cooperation with a leading global OEM,
using the same drive system. Unlike most hybrid or even plug-in hybrid vehicles
that still rely mainly on a combustion engine, an extended range electric truck
(E-REV) using Raser’s drive system is propelled entirely by a powerful 200 kW
peak electric motor using lithium ion batteries. The truck is being developed
in cooperation with the Plug-In Hybrid Consortium Development
(www.HybridConsortium.org) and is designed to operate with zero direct
emissions during typical local daily driving.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) of California will test and
demonstrate one of the first E-REV pick-up trucks from Raser Technologies. In
February, PG&E signed an agreement with Raser Technologies to purchase two
plug-in hybrid SUVs using Raser’s electric drive system for early testing and
demonstration.
Raser’s plug-in hybrid trucks are expected to cut
operational fuel costs up to 75 percent by driving in all-electric mode during
typical daily fleet routes of up to 40 miles. When driving beyond the 40-mile
battery electric range, the E-REV trucks may continue up to 400 miles by
generating their own electricity.
Raser has already established a development agreement with a
leading global automaker and a leading automotive integrator to build a 100 mpg
plug-in hybrid electric SUV using Raser’s proprietary electric drive system and
award-winning Symetron technology.