Alternative+Vehicles

Many people in the triangle are looking into alternative vehicles for added efficiency. These programs look into different fuels and technologies to increase efficiency and decrease related pollution. These are two of the places with such initiatives and purposes. AVRC: Advanced Vehicle Research Center The AVRC facility is a new 16,000 square foot headquarters including a research and design center located in Cyber Park, Danville, VA. AVRC's project office is located in Raleigh, N.C. AVRC has a commercial initiative to convert Priuses into Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), and have done more PHEV conversion than any other company on the east coast, working for clients such as Duke Energy, Progress Energy, and the city of Raleigh. They're also working on other initiatives for natural gas conversion and hydrogen mobile generation. Starting with a grant from the Us Department of Energy, the AVRC has worked on an assortment of alternative fuels and systems. The AVRC has led the southeast in plug-in hybrid conversion. The new facility will also harbor equipment for engine bio-fuels and emissions testing. The company is currently developing a closed loop neutral terrain track on a 266 acre site for testing manned and unmanned military and off road vehicles.This track will also be used to test electric, hybrid, flex-fuel, and autonomous vehicles. The AVRC does Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle conversions(for Priuses and ford escape hybrids), gas->hybrid conversions(must be rear wheel drive + automatic), electric vehicle conversions, and CNG/LPG natural gas conversions. ​ NCSU Clean Transportation The Clean Transportation program at the NCSU Solar Center mainly focuses on alternative fuels and advanced transportation technologies. The Clean Transportation group strives to improve energy security and air quality by diversifying fuels and promoting the local resources and cleaner technologies. Their projects promote increased use of ethanol, bio-diesel, propane, natural gas, electricity, and advanced technologies such as idle reduction and diesel retrofits to help cut down on gas consumption. The program provides outreach through fact sheets, news, events, research, and projects. The Clean Transport program’s aim is to bring awareness of alternative fuels and fuel efficiency increasing technologies. Not only does the Clean Transportation group work on their own programs, but they also secure funding to give to other organizations in the state for clean transportation vehicles, alternative fuel, and other mobile emission reduction technologies. Current projects: Clean Fuel Advanced Technology (CFAT): This group is focused on reducing transportation related emissions in NC areas with air quality concerns. The project is funded by the NC Department of Transportation and State Energy Office, and covers three main areas, education and outreach, project funding, and recognition of excellent activities(Mobile CARE Awards). Clean Transportation Education Project(CTEP): CTEP is a two year program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to provide 48 alternative-fuel and advanced-transportation workshops across the U.S. The N.C. Solar Center has partnered up with Wake Technical Community College and several industry partners to provide content and deliver 48 half-day workshops over the two year period. These workshops include one workshop for each of the following four subjects. -Bio-diesel -Ethanol -Compressed natural gas and Propane -Idle reduction and Fuel economy NCSC’s BioEnergy Program: This program has developed a plan for N.C.’s future biomass utilization, and are investing in new crops and crop-variants specifically for bio-fuel/bio-energy use, and are researching more efficient methods of biomass->bio-fuel/bio-product conversion.  N.C. State University Alternative Fuel Vehicle Garage(AFVG) The NCSU AFVG is a demonstration facility next to the NCSU Solar House where visitors can learn about alternative fuels such as ethanol, bio-diesel, natural gas, hybrid-electric, electric, and hydrogen. Demonstrations include display shows of bio-diesel and ethanol production, and a CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) conversion kit and distribution unit. The electric vehicles and facility are run by 24 integrated uni-solar photovoltaic panels, producing about 3kW. The power can be run through a converter to supply AC power for vehicle charging and facility power, or can connect to an electrolyzer that will create hydrogen for use in a fuel cell system.