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These fuel savings would only be the beginning, many experts say. As battery technology improves, and if plug-in hybrids are successful, the high-volume production of batteries could lower their price. This would make it affordable to increase battery-pack size in successive generations and rely even less on gasoline. Eventually, the internal combustion engine could be made smaller and be used exclusively to recharge the batteries on long trips in a configuration called a "series" hybrid. "As time goes on, we may look at even more electrification of the vehicle, including solutions that use fuel cells," says Peter Savagian, director of hybrid power-train systems at GM. At some point, the internal combustion engine could be replaced entirely by large electric motors and battery packs, or by hydrogen fuel cells.
But plug-in hybrids still face challenges. Their environmental benefits will depend on the source of electricity used to charge the batteries. In areas powered primarily by coal, a plug-in might not be better for the environment than a good hybrid, says Nicholas Twork, a spokesman for Ford. Penney says that plug-ins will typically be better, however, since other areas in the United States rely on cleaner sources of electricity.
What's more, Penney says, "if millions of these things were produced 20 years from now, it would really enable renewable energies like wind to take off." Wind power requires ways of storing energy generated when demand for electricity is low, he says. The cost of the storage makes it hard for wind to compete with other sources of electricity. Millions of plug-in vehicles charging at night would essentially provide free storage.
But right now the biggest challenge to plug-in hybrids is the battery technology. First, batteries are expensive. Several companies sell kits for converting existing hybrids to plug-ins with larger battery packs, and these can add $10,000 to the price of a car (see "Plug-In Hybrids Are on the Way"). The plug-in hybrid application will also be much more demanding on batteries than ordinary hybrids are. In a car such as the Toyota Prius, the battery stays at about a 50 percent state of charge, and this varies only a few percent as it absorbs power from regenerative breaking and delivers it in short bursts to augment the gas engine. With plug-ins, batteries will be charged up to at least 95 percent and then deeply discharged during the first 20 miles of driving before settling into an ordinary hybrid mode. Such deep discharging typically decreases battery life. Automakers want batteries that can last 10 years or so even under these conditions so that consumers won't need to buy new battery packs a few years into owning a vehicle.
Automakers' newfound interest in plug-in hybrids is due in part to promising new battery technologies that could be less expensive and have longer lifetimes, and in part to their being safer than the lithium-ion batteries used in laptops today (see "Safer Lithium-Ion Batteries"). "We're encouraged by the improvements in the technology represented by hybrid batteries today," Savagian says. "And we're encouraged that there are many companies pursuing different formulas for them. But we want to give them cause to continue to press forward."
Overall, plug-in cars are a plus for the environment, despite the fact that they would increase the demand for electricity.
Stupid people are voting aganist plug-ins, and rather use oil-and fund the war in Iraq...
Plug-Ins rule!!!^^
Guest (garyl)
I currently own what's avaiable: 1 Honda Insight averaging 58mpg and a Prius averaging 50mpg. So, I consider myself qualified to comment.
We must overcome the disadvantages of using the power grid 1st:
1) too much transmission loss - under-the-sink nukes in large homes (which are becoming more abundant)
2) using 50% very dirty coal for generation - or any carbon emitter for that matter
3) nukes have the disposal problem - still tons of the used rods stored all around the country
4) wind - HA!
5) solar - needs a breakthrough in efficiency
6) water - we're taking down dams - much like the windmill proposal in that sense
7) conservation - SUVs are:
a) death threats to everyone on the road in a smaller car
b) a social status symbol - let's make them a negative symbol!
c) oh yeah, miserably inefficient.
So, for the near term, I see only pain and suffering since I don't see any appetitie for realistic conservation.
I'm going to buy one and power it via solar panel. I'm thinking that the Japanese will beat the Americans to the technology, but maybe past is not prelude.
Candice,
I am excited about the idea of powering a plug in from solar too, but am just getting started in my research. I was wondering if you were looking at BP home solar panels systems which are being offered through Home Depot, or going some other route.
Learning accelerates when people share info. Shall we share what we find?
Charlie
Charlie,
I wouldn't turn to a hardware store for solar electric advice. Information found on the sites below will get you off to a better start.
http://solarjohn.blogspot.com
http://www.affordable-solar.com
http://www.wind-sun.com
John
I'd love to buy a hybrid tomorrow, but...
Let's get real. I'm 6'6" tall and 250lbs. I'm a big guy. I have tested every hybrid sold to date and can tell you that I can't drive them. My knees press painfully on the dashboard. This does not take into account the risk associated with a front end collision.
It doesn't seem to me so difficult to take a four seat design, eliminate the back seat, and move the front seat back to accommodate many of us that currently don't fit. There is also a bit about headroom. Why can't this be a factory option? Why should I have to do the engineering to create a vehicle that can safely support someone over 6' tall?
BTW, I have come to the same grief over small sports cars since the day I learned to drive. I love those things, but can't drive them. This little detail is true of all compacts. Can anyone over 5'8" drive a Porsche 911 or Boxter?
I am upset about the fact that I must continue to drive an SUV or full size vehicle just to fit in the drivers seat!
Re: I'd love to buy a hybrid tomorrow, but...
Try it again. I am only 6'1" but my experience in the Toyota Prius is that it is roomier than the full size Nissan Maxima I also drive. I have had five very large size co workers in the Prius (four door) and we all fit in fine. Try the Honda Civic too. More head room and more leg space than you would think.
Re: I'd love to buy a hybrid tomorrow, but...
Look at the Toyota Camry. I'm 6'2" and it passes the heigh test easily for me, including front leg room with the driver's seat far enough forward for me to also sit in the back seat.
Unless GM comes out with a hybrid in the next few years (I currently drive a Pontiac and a Chevy), my next car will be a Camry hybrid.
With hopes of upgrading it to a plug in later.
Also what ever happened to fusion as a power source.
There are a few company's that have not silicon solar cells and are working on cheaper ways of producing solar such as First Solar and Nano-solar. If we had a distributed power system with everybody having some generation capacity in there home could we solve the whole problem. Like going from mainframes to the PC.
Re: could you buy a hybrid now
This article is 15 months old... where are the plug-in hybrids???
If GM were smart they would offer one or more hybrids with a clear and guaranteed path to plug-in conversion at no (or low) cost within the next 2-3 years.
I won't touch a hybrid today because of the missing plug-in feature. To me this feature is absolutely required to make the car worth the expense. By my calculations it takes a Prius 8 years to pay back it's purchase price vs. my Ford Explorer, and that's with me driving 100 miles every weekday (which I do unfortunately) with gas at 3.50/gal. The warrenty on the Prius batteries only lasts 8 years!
And this is with Prius being by far the best hybrid on the road today, and the Ford Explorer being a real gas guzler. Totally not worth the cost to go hybrid until plug-in comes out.
Regarding fusion, there are still smart people working on this technology and it is still a very promising technology. I expect they will keep quiet until they can put a small demonstration power plant on the grid. They got burned by not being able to live up the hype many years ago, so they're going to be certain that they are ready for prime time before making noise.
this is a good technology and i am excited to see this installed on gm trucks and some gmc parts. However, this article is dated long ago and I believe there is still no such technology
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rdvandell
12 Comments
Re: GM's Plug-In Hybrid
Typical Christmas Season come-on.
"HURRY FOLKS."
"Get your new Wiz Bang Widget while they last..!!"
(Batteries not included..)
;=}
Reply
kbraber
1 Comment
Re: GM's Plug-In Hybrid
In Europe we see it happening already by the increasing use of cars like Toyota Prius.... Hopefully, the US will get rid of their gasoline addiction soon too..... to prevent it becoming a third world country with bad air quality altogether. So let Christmas stay forever.....
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