What Are Plug In Hybrid Cars?The best thing about plug in hybrid cars is that they represent independence from gasoline. Imagine not having to fill up at the gas station once or twice a week, depending on your commute. Plug-ins are estimated to get at least 100 miles per gallon. An acronym for these cars is PHEV, standing for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Another name for them is the electric hybrid car. A standard hybrid charges its battery through regenerative braking, while the plug-in hybrid does it by plugging into the power grid. Since the plug-in has a larger battery pack, it can hold more charge, so you can go farther before having to revert to the gasoline engine. They still have a gasoline tank, but their primary source of energy is electricity from the battery. And that electricity can come from a plain old outlet in your garage. Yes, it can run up your electric bill, but at the rate gasoline prices are skyrocketing, there's no contest. A plug-in hybrid car runs off electricity for short distances around town, without pumping out noise and air pollution. The gas tank is still there for long jaunts, but it stays full for a whole lot longer than it does in a standard vehicle. You charge them up overnight, when power costs are usually cheaper. Plug-in hybrids still cost a few thousand dollars more than regular hybrid cars, but check with your local government agencies about any current tax incentives or rebates. Also, if you wait until they start to be mass produced, the prices will come down. Here's a video about plug in hybrids (click on the play button at the bottom of the screen):
For a whole lot more information on plug-in hybrid cars, see
CalCars.org
for information on where to find a plug-in, or how to convert certain hybrids to one.
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