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Dr. Andrew Frank

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Andrew Frank - 2012

Professor Andy Frank at University of California, Davis and his Team FATE students have been engineering advanced vehicle technologies since 1971. Andy is widely recognized as the father of the modern plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). A new subcategory of the PHEVs is the PHEVLER.

Replacing our gasoline-powered vehicles with electric-powered vehicles will become necessary as we pass beyond the era of peak oil production. Use of electric vehicles will reduce our need for increasingly expensive imported crude oil and will allow our vehicles to be fueled with clean, green, renewable electricity from local power sources such as wind and solar. Renewable biofuel should replace gasoline and diesel as the liquid fuel for PHEVs. Dr. Frank was also an early advocate for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology which will enable the electric cars to provide an additional benefit by helping to stabilize our electrical smart grid. These characteristics make PHEVs ideal as our vehicles of the future.

Andy is currently designing and marketing continuously variable drivetrains for EVs as Chief Technology Officer for Efficient Drivetrains Inc (EDI). Simplified low cost PHEVs engineered by EDI have reached parity with the costs of internal combustion engine vehicles of comparable size and performance.

Andy advocates building more Level 1 EV charging stations as the most efficient and lowest cost method for promoting greater adoption of electric vehicles throughout society.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles PHEV

  • 2007 - conversion of an 8 ton delivery step van for the US Air Force to a PHEV.
  • 2005 - Trinity - 2006 Chevy Equinox, participating in the Challenge X competition. Trinity video 1 Trinity video 2.
  • 2002 - Yosemite - 2002 Ford Explorer converted to a battery dominant hybrid electric vehicle.
  • 2000 - Sequoia - 2000 Chevrolet Suburban with a Parallel Hybrid Powertrain. Sequoia video.
  • 1998 - Coulomb - hybrid-electric Mercury Sable AIV. Coulomb video.
  • 1997 - Joule - 1996 Ford Taurus converted to a hybrid electric vehicle.
  • 1993 - AfterShock - "Ground-up" hybrid electric vehicle.
  • 1991 - Side F/X- Super mileage vehicle at 3313 MPG on Gasoline.
  • 1991 - Shamu- Super mileage vehicle at 2200 mpg on M85 (methanol/gasoline mix).
  • 1979 - Flywheel drive Ford Pinto - Flywheel hybrid with a Continuously Variable Transmission, CVT.
  • 1971 - Urban car Contest " ground-up" Hybrid Electric Vehicle.

Andy at Efficient Drivetrains, Inc.

Andy Frank at the Efficient Drivetrains, Inc. (EDI) Research, Development & Demonstration Center in Dixon, California working with fellow employees to construct the latest plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV a.k.a. REEV or EREV). Andy and his team of coworkers at EDI are working to apply this hybrid electric vehicle technology to personal and commercial vehicles of all sizes.


EDI prototype PHEV, 2013.

The PHEV truck prototype demonstrates EDI's capability to construct a modern PHEV with currently available automotive qualified components to exceed driveability and durability requirements expected of the industry. The prototype vehicle is expected to achieve 1/2 the fuel consumption and have better performance than the conventional vehicle. At the same time this PHEV truck will be able to drive the first 50 km or more on electricity alone thus saving 70% to 80% of the gasoline used annually by the conventional vehicle of the same size and performance.


Father of the Modern PHEV Award - Dr. Andy Frank & Team Fate

Electric Auto Association award to Dr. Andy Frank & Team Fate, 2004.
Andrew Frank and the Chevy Volt PHEV that he drives, 2012.


In 2004 the Electric Auto Association Keith Crock Award was presented to Dr. Andy Frank & Team FATE for outstanding contributions to electric transportation as the modern day father of the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV).


See also

Dr. Andy Frank in the News