Reliant Energy, City of Houston Unveil Electric Vehicle Project
Published:17-November-2009
By Staff Reporter
Helps to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
The City of Houston and Reliant Energy, has launched a program to bring plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to demonstrate the role that electric cars play in the city’s clean energy future.
The company said that the "Power of the Plug-In", includes converting 10 city owned Toyota Prius cars to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and installing 10 vehicle charging stations to power them. The 2009 Toyota Prius hybrids which are already used by the city are selected for conversion. The plug-in conversion module is the Hymotion L5 which is provided by A123 Systems.
The converted plug-in hybrid electric vehicles can deliver up to 100 miles per gallon, which helps to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, electric vehicles are expensive due to the high cost of lithium-ion batteries, do not require typical engine maintenance such as oil changes, and are less expensive to operate and provide affordability.
Recently, Reliant and Nissan has reached an agreement to work together to make Houston a launch city for the broader use of electric vehicles by the american public, businesses and public organizations. Earlier, Reliant’s parent company, NRG, joined with automakers, utilities, battery manufacturers, smart grid and infrastructure companies to form the electrification coalition.
