South Coast AQMD Awards Fleet Contracts

California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) has awarded Hymotion of Concord, Ontario, Canada, and A123Systems of Watertown, Massachusetts, a contract to provide 10 converted plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicles. The South Coast AQMD PHEV program will evaluate and help identify a recommended PHEV-conversion method for California.

The Hymotion solution incorporates A123Systems’ batteries into a highly advanced PHEV module. Due to its plug and play installation, the system does not require removal of the OEM battery pack and can be installed in less than two hours. It uses A123Systems’ nanophosphate technology and is expected to get up to 220mpg in city driving and cut carbon dioxide emissions in half. The solution also includes power processing and rapid chargers provided by AeroVironment Inc. of Monrovia, California.

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide Inc. of Irvine, California, has also been awarded a $2.1 million contract by AQMD to develop, manufacture, and deploy 20 Ford Escape PHEVs for demonstration in California. Quantum will use its OEM system engineering and vehicle integration methodologies to develop a plug-in hybrid version of the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid. The PHEV system will be based on integrating a Li-ion battery pack and management system from Advanced Lithium Power Inc. (ALP), a partner of Quantum. ALP’s plug-in hybrid battery system will be designed to achieve a target of 35-40 miles of battery-only range. Extensive analysis and testing, including vehicle crash testing as well as fuel mileage and emissions performance, will be completed.