GM likely to launch new plug-in hybrid

Original Article


General Motors Corp. will likely unveil a prototype plug-in hybrid at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. Plug-in hybrids are gas-electric vehicles that can recharge their batteries with an extension cord and a normal wall outlet. Unlike a traditional hybrid, a plug-in hybrid will run 90% of the time on batteries or until they are too low to move the vehicle. Then the gasoline or diesel engine would power the vehicle the remainder of the duration.

With the introduction of a plug-in hybrid with a battery range of 100-120 miles, a driver could cut down other their fuel costs by a large percent. For those who need more then the battery range, the vehicle could travel the rest of the way under the power of it's smaller internal combustion engine.

The cost of operating an electric vehicle would be like paying 60 cents a gallon for gas. I for one would welcome this much smaller price for my daily driving.