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Electric Vehicles

Mitsubishi Motors – USC Partnership

Together USC and Mitsubishi Motors will develop a series of smart grid research and development projects that will be run by the USC Smart Grid Living Laboratory, an initiative of the Viterbi School’s USC Energy Institute. Electric Vehicle Smart Grid Project Mitsubishi has provided USC a fleet of new i-MiEV electric vehicles and charging stations. The vehicles serve in the Department of Public Safety, the Campus Cruiser Program, USC Sustainability, Trojan Athletics and the USC motor pool. Mitsubishi will consult with USC throughout the course of the research program and share a wealth of information based upon the company’s industry-leading know-how in 100 percent electric-powered vehicles. USC’s Smart Grid Living Laboratory will use USC campus facilities and electrical infrastructure to simulate a small city or suburb of about 60,000. The laboratory was organized for USC to play a major role in the Smart Grid Regional Demonstration Project of the U.S. Department of Energy under contract to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). It draws upon the multi-disciplinary expertise of several academic departments, as well as the USC Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, Facilities Management Services and Department of Athletics, and will continue for the long-term as a research and development test bed to support industry in smart grid technologies and implementation.