Prius 'plug-in' hybrid car, the best hybrid car?
Back in January I wrote a story about gasoline electric hybrid plug-in cars. I was inspired by stories of electric cars powered by residential solar systems. Clean energy that powered home and 2 cars for less than a previous home energy bill. And it's not just electric cars, owners of electric trucks have done the same. Yes, charging can be an issue on long trips, that's why a gasoline electric plug-in hybrid is so tempting. Already several Prius have been converted into plug-in hybrids by various different organizations. Fuel cells will be great, but hybrids are here today and they can begin changing the world, today - not in a decade or two when fuel cells mature. Isn't today just as important as tomorrow?
Read my original hybrid plug-in story.
Check out this new article from BusinessWeekOnline regarding plug-in hybrids.
Labels: electric cars, fuel cells, hybrid cars, plug-in hybrid vehicles, toyota prius
posted by Dahcredyns @ 5:23 PM
8 comments
8 Comments:
The whole idea of plug-in hybrids is absurd. Increased electricity costs and overburdening the grid is not the way to go. We cannot meet electricity needs now, just imagine everyone adding an overnite hybrid charge to the grid!
It would drive the price of electricity even higher. We need a hybrid that is self charging by motion, solar and braking. Thus it generates more battery power than it uses. Battery technology must be improved to the point where this can become a reality. Plug-ins are not environmentally neutral and are not a step forward in our need for clean/affordable energy.
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I need someone to enlighten me.If I have a 5500 watt generator in my home that will run at capacity for up to five hours on five gals of gas,why then could'nt this be installed under the hood and hook to an elec motor to propel my car.Seems that five hours of drive time for five gals of gas would take one pretty far.Enlighten me please.
I am ready for Americans to lessen their need for foreign oil but, plug-in hybrids seem to be limited to those people who live in homes. Also, how much more will home owners pay in their electrical bills? Apartment dwellers will not be able to partake in this type of hybrid because there is no place for them to plug in the car!
There must be a way for engineers to enhance and improve the long term performance of the self charging hybrid.
I am not sure if Prius 'plug-in' hybrid cars are the answer. These cars are limited to home owners, apartment dwellers will not be able to use this vehicle since they will not be able to plug it in. Also, how much more will home owners have to pay on their electrical bill?
well, those are fair points katina. still, for people like me that live in california, plug-in hybrids make solar power incredibly cost-effective with today's subsidies. I could literally produce enough energy for my house, even in the hottest weather, and enough for to plug-in hybrids.
that makes a lot of sense to me.
no. plug-in hybrids won't work for everyone, especially initially. however, even converting just 10 percent of americas fleet to plug-in hybrids would put a lot of money into battery r&d, which would mean significantly cheaper and more fuel efficient non-plug-in hybrids.
How much electricity (in kWh) does it take to fully charge the plug-in hybrid battery? How much power does the battery then have? In other words, how do you convert from kWh of electricity to gallons of gasoline so you can do a true cost comparison - not just under todays conditions but so you know how the rising cost of electricity will affect it as well as the rising cost of gasoline.
To charge a Hybrid at home you are looking at 1.5 KW/Hr for 5 to 6 Hrs. If 1 KWH = .10 cents then it should cost you .15 cents per hr for 1500 watts x 6 hrs = .90 cents to charge your Hybrid. Plus, when you charge it at night you have to take into account that power plants are not being overworked at night and they produce the power at the plant whether you draw from it or not.
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