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CSIRO Energy Transformed Flagship and Victorian energy distributor SP AusNetare evaluating the impact and benefits of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles on the electricity network, and how this low emission transport option could be integrated into our homes and cities in the future.M

Three standard Toyota Prius’ have been converted into PHEVs by fitting a battery charger into each vehicle and replacing the existing battery pack with a battery five times larger than the original. This larger battery will enable the cars to be driven at highway speeds on electric power, and then recharge directly by plugging into the electricity grid.

Data collectors were fitted into each vehicle to collect information, over a three-month trial period, on the how the cars perform under normal driving conditions. The road trial was designed to give a view of the travel patterns of users, and an understanding of the capacity left in the batteries after a normal day of motoring use, which

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