VIA Motors International, Inc. a technology leader of Green Logistic Vehicles, has engaged in a test and evaluation Project with EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute). The program, sponsored by the United States Department of Energy (DOE), had as its purpose the development of a path to migrate plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) technology to light and medium duty vehicles by demonstrating and evaluating vehicles in diverse applications and suitability for widespread commercial vehicle use. 

VIA Motors deployed a total of 177 vehicles (52  3/4T Vans, 125  1/2T pickup trucks) to 47 customer test fleets in 20 different States across the country.

“A large database for analysis was established with data collected on each participant's vehicle(s) in areas related to: electric motor application, battery usage, charger functionality, motor/engine torque, export power, fuel usage, mileage, etc.” noted Mark Kosowski, Technical Executive of EPRI. 

“There were more than 34,000 events and over 203,000 miles and 58,000 hours of data collected on the VIA vehicles. On 80% usage of the battery’s 23 kWh capacity, the Pickup truck delivered a combined fleet average of 36.1 miles of electric range and the Van 33 miles. Combined battery/charge sustain efficiency delivered an overall fleet 63 mpg equivalency for the truck and 51 mpg for the Van, which numbers will increase with more frequent charging and electric miles driven” confirmed Mr. Kosowski.

“The program accomplished a number of favorable results.” stated Mr. Kosowski.

For example:

• The design, development and certification of PHEVs in the Light Duty class
• Deployment across the country to a large number of test fleet customers
• Confirmation that producing these vehicles reduces greenhouse gas emissions, improves fuel economy, and expands application of PHEV technology to a larger range of vehicle classes
• Implementation of state-of-the art telematics for analysis and diagnostics
• Completion of a sizeable operator survey with positive results
• Export power capability resulting higher customer acceptance of the technology.

The findings from the EPRI program and our ongoing interface with all of our  Fleet customers has provided our VIA team with valuable feedback for improvement of the technology and application to our next generation drive systems and vehicles as VIA pursues its mission: To accelerate the transition to ‘Green Logistics Vehicles’ through electrification of commercial fleets which will reduce operating costs, improve environmental footprints, and ensure fleet continued access to major urban centers and rural routes.

They had expired, but now they’re back… a 30% federal tax credit is available again in the US for EV charging equipment, and can be applied to purchases made in 2015 as well as through the end of the 2016. The DOE’s Alternative Fuels Data Center tracks incentives including those for electric vehicle charging infrastructure on federal, state, utility and municipal bases.
Government and utility incentives can make owning EV charging stations even more rewarding. Check out what grants, rebates and tax credits are available for purchasing and installing stations in your region by clicking the button below.
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Additionally as they were leaving, an electric BMW needed a charge, so Mr. Kings charged the BMW also with the VIA Motors Xport Power Module and clipper creek portable charger.