[dude1394]

Now I like this. I'm shocked that those evil car companies would be spending money to save energy?? Seems counter-intuitive to me.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/auto...html?series=19

When General Motors unveiled the Chevy Volt in January, plug-in hybrids suddenly seemed to matter again. Sure, the Volt is a concept car, and more of a testbed for various electric-drive systems than a showcase for plug-in charging. And the aftermarket kits that turn a Toyota Prius into a plug-in have been around for years. But with GM planning to build two plug-in vehicles — the Volt, as well as its next Saturn Vue Green Line — this technology is looking like the biggest thing since, well, hybrids.

How do plug-in hybrids work?
Their batteries can be recharged either by the vehicle's gasoline engine or the electric grid. A plug-in's batteries are usually lithium-ion, which are more powerful than a standard hybrid's nickel-metal-hydride batteries, but need to be plugged in for hours to fully charge. When the charge is depleted, the plug-in runs like a standard hybrid.

How energy-efficient are they?
Fully charging a kit-modified Toyota Prius adds around 50 cents to an electric bill, and the car has a battery-only range of 31 miles. Then the gas engine kicks in. Even so, a 100-mile trip burns just over 1 gal. of gasoline. Sounds like a bargain — but keep in mind, the warranty-voiding kits cost up to $10,000.

Why aren't plug-ins in production?
Automakers cite the high cost of lithium-ion batteries. Ford and Toyota have announced active interest in plug-ins, but for now they are sticking by their hybrids. DaimlerChrysler is currently testing a plug-in hybrid version of its Sprinter delivery van. Progress, maybe, but no one's making production commitments. GM has taken the biggest leap, awarding contracts to battery makers to produce lithium-ion packs for its Saturn Vue Green Line. The more radically designed Chevy Volt — which has a gas engine that recharges the batteries, and never powers the wheels — will have to wait. It needs a 400-pound battery, which GM estimates won't be feasible until 2012 at the earliest.

Bring on the coal and nuclear plants!!!!