3PX: Three Power Crossover

Greenhouse gases (GHG) are a major agent in the climate change process, and among these carbon dioxide (CO2) plays a dominant role. To reduce the amounts of CO2 vented into our atmosphere, the world is currently changing its habits in how energy is used, called the “energy transition”. During this transition it is important that fossil fuels are used in the most efficient way, and simultaneously increase flexibility in energy usage, because renewable energy sources (photovoltaic, wind energy) supply energy intermittently.

To limit the amount of CO2 produced by households, there is a focus on new types of heating systems. It can be stated that many heating concepts are either flexible, based on the amount of modulation and start-up time, with the drawback that they are relatively fuel inefficient (e.g. central heating boilers), or they are fuel efficient with as drawback that they are inflexible (e.g. fuel cell).

The Three Power Crossover (3PX) concept addresses these criteria by using a plug-in hybrid vehicle as a combined heat-and-power plant. As most required components such as an internal combustion engine, electric generator, and power electronics are already available in a hybrid vehicle, a relatively low investment is required. Natural gas from a household connection (at 30 mbar) is used to decrease running costs, and to allow for continuous operation. Compressed natural gas (CNG) is used when the vehicle uses the range extender during driving. By efficiently converting natural gas, almost 50% of both CO2 emissions and energy costs of a household can be avoided.