Big time news. (click the link for a photo of the car)
Today BYD Auto, a Chinese automaker, released the first ever mass produced plug-in electric car. Basic design: The car has enough batteries (that are charged from your electrical outlet) to drive approximately 60 miles on all-electric mode, meaning the internal combustion engine does not turn on. After 60 miles the car can either start a small generator that charges the batteries or simply act like a normal hybrid.
I'm a huge proponent of these vehicles. First, they are a bridge technology that will move us closer to electric vehicles. Second, they reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared with traditional vehicles. Third, they move the smog away from population centers to more efficient electricity production centers. And fourth, as our electricity production becomes greener (wind, solar, etc), so too do these cars.
My true wish would be people biking and walking more, but the reality is that people will drive individual vehicles. If that's going to be the case, then plug-in hybrids are a good start.
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