Comments on: Energy Warfare

By: Engineer-Poet

Engineer-Poet — Tue, 23 Nov 2004 15:08:50 +0000

So far as I know, nobody is making plug-in hybrids for sale. Had I known otherwise, I probably would have bought one instead of a diesel. The advent of hybrids such as the Prius have most of the capabilities desired for a CalCar, and it's good to see them taking the next step. Once interest is proven it's very unlikely that the auto makers will ignore the demand that their products can almost supply.

By: AndrewS

AndrewS — Tue, 23 Nov 2004 11:51:46 +0000

Very nice article.

I do have a question about plug-in hybrids, though. Does anyone actually make such a beast? My car is getting a bit long in the tooth, so I’ll probably be replacing it in the next couple of years. I’m not all that thrilled with the current crop of hybrids, but I really like the sound of a plugin hybrid. Especially since one of the next home-improvement projects I do will be a PV array.

I did a bit of web searching, but the only thing I’ve found so far is the CalCars group: http://www.calcars.org. Which has converted a Prius to have a plug-in mode. But it only works under 35mph.

By: Engineer-Poet

Engineer-Poet — Mon, 22 Nov 2004 16:34:41 +0000

TM Lutas has already mailed me to take issue with the above, claiming that my economics and political science are wrong. I sent him something to chew on, but one thing I should have made clear in the original: this proposal is primarily a national security initiative, with economic and environmental benefits as part of the bargain. I intend to expand on this elsewhere.