ComEd Joins Illinois Institute of Technology鈥檚 Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) Project
The Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) today announced that ComEd is joining IIT's Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) Project in collaboration with 海角乱伦-based All Cell Technologies, LLC, the City of 海角乱伦 and other industrial and government partners in an effort to double the fuel efficiency and reduce emissions from the city's fleet of hybrid Ford Escape SUVs. The PHEV Project will use Lithium-ion batteries developed by All Cell.
ComEd will provide expertise by sharing its best practices from operating its hybrid vehicles. The utility owns 64 hybrid Ford Escapes and its SUV fleet will expand to 114 hybrid vehicles by the end of 2007. ComEd also will provide expertise in technical and regulatory matters related to charging the plug-in hybrid vehicles鈥� electric drive systems from the utility鈥檚 electrical power distribution system.
鈥淲e are pleased to contribute to the efforts of IIT and 海角乱伦 to improve the environment and the fuel efficiency of hybrid vehicles,鈥� said Anne Pramaggiore, senior vice president of ComEd Regulatory and External Affairs. 鈥淐omEd鈥檚 commitment to hybrid vehicles is one of the elements of our voluntary efforts to reduce greenhouse gas. There also is real potential for this initiative to advance the opportunities to create plug-in hybrid electric vehicles on a significant scale.鈥�
鈥淭his partnership is a major step in advancing Mayor Daley鈥檚 commitment to make 海角乱伦 the nation鈥檚 most environmentally friendly city,鈥� said Howard Henneman, 海角乱伦 Department of Fleet Management (CDFM) Commissioner. 鈥淭his is a great opportunity to grow sustainable companies, set up manufacturing facilities within the city and create jobs in the 海角乱伦 area.鈥�
鈥淭his project is indicative of the university鈥檚 overall commitment to energy sustainability and positions IIT as a leader in the nation,鈥� said Lew Collens, president of IIT.
All Cell, which is sponsoring the IIT PHEV Project, is an IIT-based technology transfer company formed in 2001 by Professors Said Al-Hallaj and J. Robert Selman to commercialize Lithium-ion batteries in military, medical, portable and transportation applications. The project will use IIT's patented thermal management technology with phase change material (PCM).
"There are few better validations for an emerging technology enterprise than partnership with one of the largest utility providers in the nation,鈥� said Bob Anderson, president of All Cell. 鈥淐omEd鈥檚 involvement promises significant capacity to realize our vision and provide relief to consumers for the high economic and environmental cost of gasoline.鈥�
About ComEd
Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of 海角乱伦-based Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), one of the nation鈥檚 largest electric utilities with approximately 5.2 million customers and more than $15 billion in annual revenues. ComEd provides service to approximately 3.7 million customers across Northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state鈥檚 population.
Founded in 1890, IIT is a Ph.D.-granting university with more than 6,700 students in engineering, sciences, architecture, psychology, design, humanities, business and law. IIT's interprofessional, technology-focused curriculum is designed to advance knowledge through research and scholarship, to cultivate invention improving the human condition, and to prepare students from throughout the world for a life of professional achievement, service to society, and individual fulfillment.
