This good article: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/02/business/02plug.html?8br
April 2, 2005 "Hybrid-Car Tinkerers Scoff at No-Plug-In Rule" By DANNY HAKIM Some quotes and comments "This does not make Toyota happy." +++ Why? wouldn't saving the most money for their customers end up being to their best interest? "The company has spent millions of dollars persuading people that hybrid electric cars like the Prius never need to be plugged in and work just like normal cars. So has Honda, which even ran a commercial that showed a guy wandering around his Civic hybrid fruitlessly searching for a plug." +++ But their competetion is not going to be Honda.... Once the "hurt" pf $3 gallon gasoline really dawns on consumers, and forces them out of SUVs, Toyota's only problem will be keeping up with demand. "But the idea of making hybrid cars that have the option of being plugged in is supported by a diverse group of interests, from neoconservatives who support greater fuel efficiency to utilities salivating at the chance to supplant oil with electricity. " +++ Duh! If you were able to plug a hybrid in overnight, you could potentially use a lot less gas by cruising for long stretches on battery power only. But unlike purely electric cars, which take hours to charge and need frequent recharging, you would not have to plug in if you did not want to. +++Double Duh!! "I've gotten anywhere from 65 to over 100 miles per gallon," said Mr. Gremban, an engineer at CalCars, a small nonprofit group based in Palo Alto, Calif. He gets 40 to 45 miles per gallon driving his normal Prius. And EnergyCS, a small company that has collaborated with CalCars, has modified another Prius with more sophisticated batteries; they claim their Prius gets up to 180 m.p.g. and can travel more than 30 miles on battery power." Wow !!! 180 miles per gallon... now were gettin' somewhere/ Jones Sing it again BB and Etta, "OPEC, you might 'a made your move too soon" Three days of snow in Birmingham Thought you would wonder where I am Rang our number all night long It's no comfort on the telephone Ran out and caught a midnight flight Thought a little love would make everything all right The landlord said you moved away And left me all your bills to pay Look out baby, you might have made your move too soon...
