Plug-In Hybrids Aren't Coming, They're Here

Wired is running a story about the small but vocal, and growing, number of people who aren't waiting for automakers to deliver plug-in hybrids. They're shelling out big money to have already thrifty cars converted into full-on plug-in hybrids capable of triple-digit fuel economy. "The conversions aren't cheap, and top-of-the-line kits with lithium-ion batteries can set you back as much as $35,000. Even a kit with lead-acid batteries — the type under the hood of the car you drive now — starts at five grand. That explains why most converted plug-ins are in the motor pools of places like Southern California Edison... No more than 150 or so belong to people like [extreme skiing champion Alison] Gannett, who had her $30,000 Ford Escape converted in December. Yes, that's right. The conversion cost more than the truck."

Comments

Re:TWO BIG ENGINES? Really?

[evilviper]

Let's see, it's... oh my, a 1.4 L 4-cylinder engine. Tenth of a liter difference? Doesn't sound that much smaller, now does it?

Not if you're an idiot. If you know anything about cars, however, you're aware that the "engine" (proper) is only a small portion of the power-train of a conventional automobile, and an even smaller portion of the overall "stuff" under the hood that is needed to keep it running at all times.

Transmission, drive axle, alternator, radiator, fan, etc. All kinds of things you can completely eliminate, and many more you can vastly downsize, when you aren't directly powering the wheels with a conventional engine.

The gasoline engine is just so much dead weight in that regard, UNLIKE in a Prius, where the engine can also kick in to help out when needed in a much more symbiotic relationship.

This is also idiotic. The Prius' electric motor is half, not 1/3rd of the power. The fact that the Chevy Volt concept is much bigger and heavier doesn't remotely imply that it's an inherent defect of serial hybrids.