One of several plug-in hybrid vehicles on display; this one is from lithium-ion battery maker A123 Systems. Photo by Ben Zweig

They’re all the rage in Silicon Valley. Electric utilities are welcoming them with open arms—but not a single one has yet rolled off a production line. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have a lot of benefits, including reducing fuel costs, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and, potentially, stabilizing the electric grid.

But first, they need to be better understood. The many aspects and challenges of PHEVs were covered in a daylong symposium held on 19 September in Washington, D.C. Organized by IEEE-USA, the “Plug-In Hybrids: Accelerating Progress 2007” symposium attracted close to 100 participants and included a full slate of presentations that blended lofty phrases (“revolutionizing the energy paradigm”) with hard-core technical concerns (Can automakers work with electric utilities to set standards?).

The emphasis was on the research and development under way at universities, component suppliers, automakers, and electric utilities. So far, most of the few PHEVs that have reached ordinary drivers have been production Toyota Priuses modified by adding more batteries and hacking the control software.

Speakers from organizations as diverse as Google, the National Resources Defense Council, and the U.S. Senate came together to discuss the challenges. Former CIA Director James Woolsey even gave a fiery—and surprisingly funny—presentation on energy security. Referring to his stated goal of “destroy[ing] oil as a strategic commodity” and its impact on the largest Arab oil exporter, he told that nation, tongue in cheek, “We don’t want to destroy Saudi Arabia, but we do think you all ought to get work.”

When Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) gave a keynote address she wasted no time in plunging into the fray of public policy surrounding PHEV technology. “Many of us on Capitol Hill see the potential of plug-in hybrids,” she said, describing a bill (S.1617) she had introduced in June with Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and four other senators to encourage early production and purchase of plug-ins. Thus far, the bill has not emerged from committee.

IEEE-USA President-Elect Russell Lefevre with Senator Maria Cantwell at the symposium on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Photo by Ben Zweig

A second keynote speech was from Jon Wellinghoff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, who described his vision of a “cash-back hybrid” that would save its owners money—not only in operating costs but also by selling small amounts of energy or grid-balancing services back to local electric utilities. A portion of many plug-in cars’ energy storage might be used to alleviate peak afternoon demand on the grid, for instance. Although some attendees questioned Wellinghoff’s data, clearly the concept intrigued the audience, which peppered him with questions after the presentation.

Panel discussions covered electrification and the environment, the impact of plug-ins on the electric grid, and the technology challenges and opportunities. A look at what kind of federal action might be warranted to support and accelerate PHEV innovation rounded out the day.

Google said at the symposium that it now lends six plug-in Priuses to its staff, with plans for 100 altogether. Pacific Gas & Electric said it is developing pricing to encourage its customers to charge vehicles during off-peak hours. And Hymotion, owned by battery maker A123 Systems of Watertown, Mass., revealed it is putting its PHEV conversion kit for the Toyota Prius through the full array of U.S. certification, safety, and emissions testing required of all new vehicles.

IEEE-USA plans to publish the transcripts of the presentations and question-and-answer sessions in a series of e-books coming out next May, June, and August.

IEEE-USA INNOVATIONS The symposium was one component of a much broader goal for IEEE-USA: keeping the United States at the forefront of technology innovation. Its Innovation Institute program offers U.S. members technical inspiration from resources such as conferences and workshops, as well as mentoring and networking programs and an online community that can connect them with successful innovators. The goal is to help turn members into technology leaders.

Next up on the innovation front: a two-day seminar for midlevel technology professionals, the Innovation Forum, to be held from 6 to 8 November in Falls Church, Va. Group discussions, small-team problem-solving exercises, and case studies at the forum will focus on:

• How leadership and culture affect innovation.

• The impact of an organization’s size.

• Personal styles that work to encourage innovation.

• Methods for leveraging new technologies.

For more information on the Innovation Institute, visit http://www.innovation-institute.org.