Dr. Andrew Frank

Dr. Andrew Alfonso Frank of W:University of California, Davis and his teams of students have been experimenting with various advanced vehicle technologies since 1971. Andy is widely recognized as the father of the modern plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). These are also sometimes called Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) or Range Extended Electric Vehicle (REEV). See PHEV Definitions.

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. 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 grid in the future.

Andy is currently designing and marketing continuously variable drivetrains for EVs as Chief Technology Officer for Efficient Drivetrains Inc (EDI). See Andy's Tech Talk column in the EDI Newsletter.

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.

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  Dr. Andy Frank, 2012.

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  EDI Powertrain Dynamometer used to develop the control system to insure smooth driveability and automatic and seamless mode shifting.

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  EDI 2 electric motor Plug In Hybrid powertrain.

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  Andy Frank and EDI staff solving prototype vehicle construction problems.

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

• Why Vehicles Need to use Electricity
• Andy Frank faculty page at UC Davis
• Dr. Andy Frank on Davis wiki

Dr. Andy Frank in the News

• 2013.12.09 - Low cost PHEV system for light and heavy commercial vehicles - NextGen Auto International Summit China
• 2013.10.02 - The Cutting Edge – A Look at the Next Era of Advanced Technologies - Session A6 - Plug-In 2013 Conference. An "outside the box" discussion of advanced and future plug-in vehicle technologies and an exploration of the full potential of electric vehicles
• 2013.09.19 - Lowering the cost of Electric Plug-In Hybrid-Electric Drivetrains in Light- to Heavy-Duty Vehicles - Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo
• 2012.11.19 - 2013 Ford C-Max Energi Quick Drive - Automotive News 19nov2012 "To call Dr. Andrew Frank a true believer in plug-in hybrids is an understatement. The UC Davis professor has been studying plug-in hybrid technology since the 1970s, and at a roundtable organized by Ford at the introduction of the 2013 Ford C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid, he was happy to tell anybody willing to listen–and several who weren’t–that plug-in hybrids aren’t transitioning us to a future of fully electric vehicles. They are the future."
• 2012.08.16 - Andy Frank talks China EV policy - ChinaEV Blog
• 2012.summer UC Davis Alums Drive "clean" vehicle breakthroughs - Engineering UC Davis Magazine - summer 2012 pdf
• 2012.04.04 - How the father of plug-in hybrids still has a race to finish - Motoramic - Yahoo! Autos
• 2011.06.24 - A Fifteen Year Roadmap Toward Complete Energy Sustainability - EUEC Blog
• 2011.06.21 - Hall of Fame: Dr. Andrew Frank Hailed as “Father of the Hybrid” - My Perfect Automobile
• 2011.06.13 - Andy Frank honored by Automotive News on its Electrifying 100 List
• 2011.02.23 - CalCars.org Drives a Victory Lap in the new Chevy Volt - SustainabilityMedia
• 2011.01.05 - Electric Vehicle Milestone for California Pioneers - San Jose Future Transportation - Examiner.com
• 2010.09.13 - The EV is dead. Long live the PHEV-10 - Barrytech - Seeking Alpha
• 2009.06.25 - EVs Can Cut Cost of Mass Transit - matternetwork
• 2008 - - - - - Plug-in Hybrid Drivers are Charged Up | Clean Fleet Report
• 2007.02.23 - Frank Talk and Fresh Air
• 2006.05.18 - New Super-Efficient Plug-in Hybrid Unveiled
• 2006.03.03 - Renewable Energy Access Andy Frank sums up the benefits and status of PHEVs
• 2006.01.13 - Detroit 2006: Is the Market Schizophrenic, or Changing?
• 2005.12.12 - Lithium Technology Supplies Li-Ion for Two Challenge X Vehicles, One a Plug-In Hybrid
• 2005.08.23 - 250 MPG