Plug-in Hybrids May Not Go Mainstream, Toyota Says

mattnyc99 writes "Honda's challenger to the Prius — the Insight hybrid that we discussed so lividly a month ago — got its official unveiling today at the Paris auto show, with insiders confirming it would be cheaper than the world's most popular 'green' car while still hitting the same fuel-efficiency range. But the hybrid-electric showdown comes in the midst of a sudden rethink by Toyota about plug-in hybrids. Apparently all the recent hype — over the production version of the Chevy Volt, plus Chrysler's new electric trio and even the cool new Pininfarina EV also unveiled today — has execs from the world's number one automaker, and alt-fuel experts, questioning how many people will really buy electric cars, whether people will really charge them at night to keep the grid clear, whether batteries will make them too expensive and more. "

Re:Electric Gas Cans?

[TheLazySci-FiAuthor]

unlike gas, which you can only get from one place, electricity would allow you to charge your car while you push it home. Convert calories to green energy, what a win-win situation.

So what could you do to charge your car?

* hook a generator up to a stationary bike
* lay out a few yards of solar panels for a few minutes (if you are only a few miles from home)
* knock on someone's door with an extension cord in your hand and ask to use a few cents of power
* harness some wind power using a wind strip

and last/worst case

* actually use a gas can and use a generator to charge for the few miles home.

converting energy into electricity is so easy and so flexible, it's hard to think what couldn't be used.

Re:Electric Gas Cans?

[Martin Blank]

I prefer doubloons per league.

Re:Electric Gas Cans?

[amliebsch]

That would have to be some kind of solar panel to be able to charge your car at night.

Re:I work in the power industry

[Anonymous Coward]

What is the dirtiest method of power?????

Sex!!!!!

And hey maybe you didn't know but us tree huggers are also pushing for more green power generation.

Alien sex!!!!!

Re:Electric Gas Cans?

[camperdave]

I think you mean miles per kilowatt hour.

Please no! Let's not go mixing metric and imperial.