CARazed

The presentation of 100 miles per gallon concept cars from independent auto makers at the recent Detroit auto show seems to have lit a fire under the butts of Detroit brass. Ford is now moving fast toward plug-in hybrids (PHEV). The Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid and Explorer Plug-In Hybrid should get about 120 miles per gallon. Currently development vehicles are on the road testing the new technology.

It’s exciting to so many of the main stream auto makers jump onto the PHEV field. I’m still hoping the little guys like Fisker, Aptera, and Tesla become successful competitors but the more cars on the road burning less gas the better.

If you are considering buying a new car in the next two years, stop! Read a little about plug-in hybrids, notice that almost every major and independent auto makers is announcing that they are moving in this direction and expect to have 100 plus mile per gallon cars on the road by 2010, or there abouts. It sounds too good to be true but it’s really happening because battery technology is just far enough along, and gas prices are high enough to make this new technology possible.

Essentially a PHEV is a car (truck, suv) that has a small gas engine and large electric motor. On short drives the car never turns on its gas engine, running on battery power alone. When the batteries run low the motor kicks in to charge the batteries and propel the car. Power and acceleration is similar to a fossil fuel powered vehicle because electric motors make their torque consistently from zero rpm all the way to their red line.