Well it is relatively "cheap" now. Companies like CalCars and the like are modding Hybrids for 8-20k a pop. That's on a case by case basis. If they mass produced them, which Toyota will do with the Prius by 2010, it should become affordable for a fair amount of Americans anyway.
Quote from the article: "The company is targeting fleet buyers initially. In unit orders greater than 100, the L5 Prius kits will cost $9,500; orders of greater than 1,000 units would see the price drop to $6,500."
Not bad, but what if ya bought one hundred thousand of them?:)
These are still only good up to 34 mph, when it will force switch to gasoline, but that can be improved on.
I guess my main point is, "This technology/infrastructure is here. It works. Let's support it and create competition in this area."/shrug
Well the beauty of a plug-in hybrid is that you stay on "plugged-in" electricity for your every day commute. Most of the Prius' that are being modified as plug-in hybrids will last for 50-60 miles on one charge and then switch over to hybrid "mode" after that. So you can stay off petrol for your everyday commute, and switch to a still fuel efficient "hybrid mode" when you want to go skiing or hiking for the weekend.
There was some stat listed on Google's site that said if every car in the world was switched to a plug-in hybrid, the current grid could power 82% of those cars. I'm not sure of the accuracy of that statement, but at the very least we know that the cars won't switch to plug-in hybrid over night. I think the infrastructure of the utility companies could grow to support that need over time. No matter what "solution" we choose it will take time to be adopted by the general public. If the utilities start ramping up now (being more efficient etc..), we might be able to support a world of plug-ins just fine.
Last point. I'm not sure about your "energy efficiency won't work in SUV's" statement. I actually just got done test driving a Ford Escape (SUV) Hybrid edition this weekend. I had no problems with it's power output at all. I even took it up a 4-5% grade and it handled the climb with ease. (Averaged 40MPG for the trip too... not shabby for an SUV)
Ya, but why not electric (hybrid + plug-in hybrid). I still haven't heard a good argument why this isn't "THE" way to go for our automobile fuel.
The "well then it runs on Coal" argument doesn't really float, especially if you live in a state like Idaho or California.
They are being mass produced NOW... I don't see why we can't just pursue better battery technologies and call it good... really.
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Well it is relatively "cheap" now. Companies like CalCars and the like are modding Hybrids for 8-20k a pop. That's on a case by case basis. If they mass produced them, which Toyota will do with the Prius by 2010, it should become affordable for a fair amount of Americans anyway.
u nveil.html.
:)
/shrug
The Candian company HyMotion has released kits for "mass" consumption... http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/02/hymotion_
Quote from the article: "The company is targeting fleet buyers initially. In unit orders greater than 100, the L5 Prius kits will cost $9,500; orders of greater than 1,000 units would see the price drop to $6,500."
Not bad, but what if ya bought one hundred thousand of them?
These are still only good up to 34 mph, when it will force switch to gasoline, but that can be improved on.
I guess my main point is, "This technology/infrastructure is here. It works. Let's support it and create competition in this area."
Well the beauty of a plug-in hybrid is that you stay on "plugged-in" electricity for your every day commute.
Most of the Prius' that are being modified as plug-in hybrids will last for 50-60 miles on one charge and then switch over to hybrid "mode" after that. So you can stay off petrol for your everyday commute, and switch to a still fuel efficient "hybrid mode" when you want to go skiing or hiking for the weekend.
There was some stat listed on Google's site that said if every car in the world was switched to a plug-in hybrid, the current grid could power 82% of those cars. I'm not sure of the accuracy of that statement, but at the very least we know that the cars won't switch to plug-in hybrid over night. I think the infrastructure of the utility companies could grow to support that need over time. No matter what "solution" we choose it will take time to be adopted by the general public. If the utilities start ramping up now (being more efficient etc..), we might be able to support a world of plug-ins just fine.
Last point. I'm not sure about your "energy efficiency won't work in SUV's" statement. I actually just got done test driving a Ford Escape (SUV) Hybrid edition this weekend. I had no problems with it's power output at all. I even took it up a 4-5% grade and it handled the climb with ease. (Averaged 40MPG for the trip too... not shabby for an SUV)
Ya, but why not electric (hybrid + plug-in hybrid). I still haven't heard a good argument why this isn't "THE" way to go for our automobile fuel. The "well then it runs on Coal" argument doesn't really float, especially if you live in a state like Idaho or California. They are being mass produced NOW... I don't see why we can't just pursue better battery technologies and call it good... really.