Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc. has announced that it is supporting the University of Southern California (USC) and the institution's Viterbi School of Engineering as they develop a campus-wide Smart Grid Living Laboratory project, which will include the use of Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric vehicles (EVs).
According to Mitsubishi, the demonstration project will work to further develop and improve various phases of EV infrastructure to accommodate widespread EV usage in the future. This program, developed by the USC Energy Institute, will simulate a city with a population between 50,000 to 60,000 citizens, tourists, visitors and two hospitals as they document their experiences operating a fleet of EVs under a wide range of conditions and simulations over a period of two years.
For the project, Mitsubishi will be providing 12 i-MiEV vehicles and several Level 2 EVSE charging systems, as well as consult with the USC throughout the course of the research program.
"We are excited to build a partnership with Mitsubishi Motors in the area of electric vehicle integration into the smart grid that demonstrates that USC and Mitsubishi Motors are serious about the future of electric vehicles," says Dr. Yannis Yortsos, dean of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. "This is a substantial electric vehicle fleet that will not only provide a useful pool of data for technical and behavioral research projects, but will also have a highly visible impact on the USC community due to interaction with students, faculty, staff, alumni and the surrounding neighborhood."
