Gizmodo: plug-in hybrids

President Obama Details $2.4 Billion in Grants For Electric Vehicles

John Mahoney — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:25:25 EDT

Speaking at the Edison Electric Vehicle Tech Center in Pomona, California, BHO dropped details on exactly who can and will receive money for helping put one million plug-in hybrids on the road by 2015.

The plan is as follows:

* The Department of Energy is offering up to $1.5 billion in grants to U.S. based manufacturers to produce these highly efficient batteries and their components.

* The Department of Energy is offering up to $500 million in grants to U.S. based manufacturers to produce other components needed for electric vehicles, such as electric motors and other components.

* The Department of Energy is offering up to $400 million to demonstrate and evaluate Plug-In Hybrids and other electric infrastructure concepts — like truck stop charging station, electric rail, and training for technicians to build and repair electric vehicles.

All good news.

Another thing I've realized? After the last few months of $792 billion bailouts and an additional trillion dollars of various other cash infusions, and an additional trillion dollars going to AIG's janitorial staff, $2.4 billion just doesn't sound like a significant amount of money anymore. [Physorg, Whitehouse.gov]

Awkward Piaggio Tricycle Could Be First Mass-Produced Plug-in Hybrid

John Herrman — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:45:00 EST

You know that plug-in hybrid revolution everyone keeps talking about? Well, apparently this is what it is going to look like. If Piaggio keeps its word, the first mass-produced plug-in hybrid vehicle will be an updated version of its MP3 scooter, identical to its older brother in nearly every way except for its powertrain. The company claims that the paired engine and motor will let this backwards trike cover over 140 miles on a gallon of gas, and launch it to 60MPH in an amazing five seconds.

Going more than 60MPH on this freakish little scooter is somewhat terrifying, but when it comes to plug-in hybrid technology pretty much any progress is welcome. Actual plug-in hybrid cars, like the admittedly attractive Volt, are still a long way off, so this'll do for now. The MP3 Hybrid should be on the road by next year. NOTE: I have been informed by a number of readers that the original MP3 scooter is, in fact, "Rad." So there's that. [Autopia]

Bailout Package Includes $7,500 Tax Break For Future Chevy Volt Owners

John Mahoney — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:45:00 EDT

If the future dashboard and GPS-assisted engine weren't incentive enough to consider picking up a Chevrolet Volt in 2010, Congress has gifted future owners with an added bonus: a $7,500 tax break passed as part of last week's bailout package. The credit applies to any vehicle with a battery rated at 6kWh or higher, placing it far enough in the future for the auto industry to swallow, I guess; the Prius's 1.3kWh battery doesn't qualify. [Daily Tech via Crunchgear]

100 California Households Get to Test Drive Plug-In Priuses

Matt Buchanan — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:00:18 EDT

While they're not getting behind the wheel of the 2009 plug-in Toyota Prius Popular Mechanics took for a spin, 100 households in Northern California are going to put rubber to asphalt next year in the first large-scale consumer test of plug-in hybrids in the country. The 100 green guinea pigs will be picked from the 4 million members of AAA of Northern California next spring and will rotate between a fleet of 10 converted Priuses loaned out for two-month intervals.

The $15,000 conversion packs in batteries twice as powerful as the stock ones, as well as the plug-in mechanism, allowing the car to roll along at 100 mpg. The 2009 prototype is using a similar setup while Toyota works out the kinks with Li-ion batteries, and the garage doing the conversion has been performing the voodoo for several years, so potential green road warriors needn't worry about horrible, battery-related deaths due to wishy-washy engineering. [SF Gate]