Greening Vehicles
For nearly two decades, PG&E has pushed for cleaner, more efficient vehicles for our customers. We have also demonstrated leadership with our own vehicles — currently operating the nation’s largest natural gas utility fleet.
Driving Innovation
PG&E is a leader in plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) technology. Not yet commercially available, these innovative vehicles differ from conventional hybrids because they contain a larger battery that can be plugged into a standard outlet. This increases fuel efficiency and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. We are currently testing a Plug-In Prius, which can achieve 100 miles per gallon when fully charged.
PG&E is proud to work with Plug-In Partners, Plug-In Bay Area, and other organizations to promote plug-in hybrid and dedicated electric vehicles.
PG&E’s fleet of natural gas vehicles is the largest owned and operated by any utility in the country and, last year, we added four electric drive vehicles to our fleet—a Ford Escape PHEV, Scion e-box battery electric vehicle, Mitsubishi i-Miev and our second Toyota Prius PHEV. PG&E was also one of 14 fleets in the nation to assess a hybrid diesel-electric bucket truck, which we have shown can cut fuel consumption by 30 to 60 percent and potentially save $5,000 a year in fuel costs.
Additionally, we are testing a first-of-its-kind PHEV bucket truck and are helping to develop the first all-electric bucket truck. We also plan to test and deploy multiple hybrid technology designs in our bucket trucks and add a minimum of 15 dedicated-electric vehicles. Finally, we are working with several major auto manufacturers to incorporate light-duty hybrid work trucks into our fleet.
PG&E is testing Mitsubishi’s i-Miev, a dedicated electric vehicle.
Through field tests, we are helping to demonstrate the increased efficiency of electric vehicles. We are also helping to understand the impact on the grid of charging electric vehicles—and the need for a robust “smart charging” infrastructure to enable vehicles to recharge batteries automatically when ample electric supply is available. Doing so will help ensure that, as more electric vehicles are commercially introduced, we ensure effective integration with the grid.
To support the development of a smart charging infrastructure, PG&E is actively engaged with the Electric Power Research Institute and Society of Automotive Engineers to develop and revise both the important codes and standards related to charging of electric vehicles and the protocols needed to allow electric vehicles to communicate with the grid.
Partnering with Customers
PG&E's Clean Air Transportation Program continues to support the use of alternative fuel vehicles by our customers with fleet vehicles. For example, we helped fund the purchase of California's first plug-in hybrid diesel-electric school bus in the Napa Valley Unified School District, which operates an entirely natural gas-powered school bus fleet. PG&E has also used its expertise to help airport authorities, including San Jose International Airport, take advantage of alternative fuel vehicles.
Providing a Fueling Network
PG&E’s network of natural gas fueling stations includes 39 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and 2 Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) stations, most of which are open to the public and serve transit districts, private refuse haulers, school districts, municipalities, air/seaports and other operators (taxi, package delivery, military and personal-vehicle owners).
Getting Results
The combined use of natural gas in PG&E's vehicle fleet, along with the fleets of our customers, avoided the use of more than 16.9 million gallons of petroleum last year, which equals the avoidance of approximately 815 tons of NOx, 60 tons of particulate matter, and 61,900 tons of CO2 on a well-to-wheel basis.
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2009
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