From: Chris Zell
http://seekingalpha.com/article/159020-phevs-and-evs-plugging-into-a-lump-of -coal?source=email Not a fan of [PHEV] hybrids, alas.... Nor are many commentators who have looked closely at the 'big picture'- even if this bloggers numbers are slightly off, as Terry indicates. There are many additional reasons why the PHEV may not be the best solution - even with the appearance of a 'bettery'. Here is their conclusion: Sooner or later the public is going to realize that it's all hype, blue smoke and mirrors, and that PHEVs and EVs have little of substance to offer customers in the U.S. market. When the public comes to the realization that electric drive vehicles: * Won't save their owners significant amounts of money; * Won't be as fuel efficient as HEVs when battery capacity is factored into the equation; * Won't be as CO2 efficient as HEVs when utility emissions are factored into the equation; and * Are nothing more than feel-good, taxpayer subsidized eco-bling [end] They do not even include the necessity of added road taxes to your electric bill, nor the short lifetime of the battery packs - not to mention that little 'overheating' problem that continues to cost PC makers and Sony billions of dollars. There is probably no way to know if that problem is now solved prior to a massive recall. If you think a once bankrupt GM is risk for your auto warranty, think about the second bankruptcy - when the batteries start exploding. All in all, the best solution for 2010 is an incrementally improved Prius type of hybrid - such as with a CV transmission (better freeway mileage) and safer batteries. IOW something along the lines of the new Insight: http://www.carguideweb.com/articles/5395/ We may even be lucky enough to benefit in the USA from a hybrid "price war" http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2009/03/hybrid-price-war-honda-insight -vs-toyota-prius.html
