Earlier this week we told you about a rumored partnership between the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and General Motors. Today EPRI confirmed the research and development venture that they, GM and 34 other top utility providers will work on in an effort to make plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) more mainstream and accessible to consumers than they currently are.

These type of vehicles are seen as the most likely solution to reducing society's dependency on traditional gasoline, as they not only substanially reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but cost less to fuel as well. The project will also seek to find solutions for safe and convenient vehicle charging, educating the public and creating public policies  that will help aid the transition to alternative-fuel vehicles. Both major players in the collaboration commented on the importance of the sectors working together to achieve this.

“The EPRI-GM-utility effort is the result of many years of work by EPRI and its members to advance plug-in hybrids and related infrastructure technology to a point of feasible implementation and eventual commercialization,” said Arshad Mansoor, EPRI’s vice president of Power Delivery and Utilization. “Seamless integration of PHEVs into the electric grid will require close collaboration between the automobile and electric sectors.”

“Electrically powered vehicles are going to provide tremendous benefit and excitement for the customer, while also hastening the move to a more diverse choice of energy alternatives,” said Jon Lauckner, GM vice president of Global Programs. “But we know that there are some key elements that need to be understood and put in place so customers can enjoy those benefits and get maximum use of these vehicles when we bring them to market. That’s why this relationship with EPRI and the utility partners is so important.”

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