ART005

The Obama Fast Track for Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

John, your last comment suggesting plugs only belong on pure EV hints at another round of charts being necessary. If you're up for the challenge it would be a great follow-up to this article. Basically HEV are great because stopping is a part of driving and the cost to capture that energy is economical. Your charts say it all. One of the most important parts of an EV is weight reduction. The weight of an ICE to extend range of EV conflicts with its main design constraint. For the limited market that needs a 30 - 50 mile/day commuter an EV is an exciting option. For the bulk of consumers, micro and full HEVs are the answer. Consumers also need to get familiar with light utility trailers for the occasional big load from Home Depot. It's a wonderfull way to extend utility of small vehicles.