It looks like GM is planning to roll out a plug-in hybrid vehicle within the next three years.
GM is designing the highly-anticipated Volt to run 40 miles on battery power alone, reducing or even eliminating the need for drivers to fuel up an on-board gasoline-powered engine provided as a backup power source.
I’ve said before (but probably not here on the blog) that if I’m going to start making car payments again anytime soon, I want a car that I can use to do my daily driving entirely from batteries, since I don’t see PEM fuel cells being ready for prime time anytime soon.
40 miles would probably do it, unless there were lots of errands to run. (One problem with the town I live in is that nothing is located conveniently next to anything else!)
Toyota (if they can extend the range of their plug-in Prius using modern battery technology) may still beat them to the punch, but it’s nice to see GM figuring out that maybe – just maybe – giant SUVs are not the way of the future!
Volt sounds like a new energy drink…
interesting. anything that gets us closer to energy independence is far more patriotic than any kind of jingoism some leaders would impose upon us.
Have you read about the Fjord (no, it’s not a typo): http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2007/08/01/100138830/index.htm?postversion=2007073110
For a tech geek like yourself, it might be just up your alley.
JB:
I don’t think that the more rural parts of the country are going to pick up on the electric-only version anytime soon. City dwellers should love it.
But the hybrid that Dean Kaman wants to make sounds interesting:
… which would eliminate any range issues for those of us out in the sticks – where cow dung is easily found.
I can’t shake this image of “Mr. Fusion” from Back To The Future, though. Throw in some trash, and you’re ready to roll! 🙂