Gadling's resident pilot explains what life in the cockpit is like

Plug-in push on for hybrids

Hybrid automakers such as Toyota, Honda, and Ford spent millions educating consumers that hybrid vehicles don't need to be plugged to an outlet to be charged. But among a growing number of hybrid enthusiasts, there is a burgeoning movement for such technology to be incorporated in future hybrid vehicles.

The motivation is the same that led to the development of hybrids in the first place: heightened fuel economy. This time, though, plug-in proponents are promising 100-miles per gallon, which would greatly reduce America's dependence on foreign oil suppliers. Says Daryl Slusher of Plug-in Partners, "this technology can make a bigger impact more quickly than any other transportation technology that's available or coming anytime soon."

Automakers, though, are reluctant to invest in this change of hybrid interest, with the main difficulty to be a battery that can handle being plugged into the nation's grid system. Ford's VP of environmental and safety engineering Sue Cischke points out such a battery would have to be larger and heavier, affecting the vehicle's mileage. "I'm not saying there's not a future for it," she added, "but it sounds so great -- you plug it in and you go -- and it's a lot more complicated than that." (Pictured are members of CalCars, a group dedicated in developing 100-mph hybrids.)


[Source: Detroit Free Press, Calcars]

Related Headlines

Subscribe to these comments

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)


Autoblog Features




Featured Galleries

Automoblox A9-S Convertible
FPV 5th Anniversary Special Edition
2009 Dodge Charger Cop Car
HSV GTS 40th Anniversary
HSV SV08
Scion at SEMA 2008
2010 Mazda3
Nissan 370Z - spy shots
In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Mazda RX-8 R3
Road Mice
More pics of the 2009 Ferrari California
2008 Chevy Corvette Z06

 

Find Your Next Car


Autoblog Video

Sponsored Links

Autoblog bloggers (30 days)

#BloggerPostsCmts
1Jeremy Korzeniewski1191
2Jonathon Ramsey1003
3Noah Joseph760
4Chris Shunk700
5John Neff673
6Damon Lavrinc521
7Dan Roth328
8Alex Nunez2817
9Sam Abuelsamid2721
10Drew Phillips241
11Sebastian Blanco210
12Michael Harley202
13Frank Filipponio164
14Chris Tutor60
15Merritt Johnson44
16John McElroy20
17Justin Gardiner10