There's an Automotive REVOLUTION in the Making

Plug-in electric cars are an important way to eliminate America's dependency on oil. Over time, as more green, clean renewable energy comes on line, they also will help reduce the amount of greenhouse gases and air pollutants we pump into the atmosphere.

Photo Caption: 110-220 volt AC receptacle on prototype Ford Escape plug-in Hybrid.

Excitingly, more vehicle and manufacturer options are coming forward, including from Silicon Valley start-ups, highly-acclaimed designers and long-established carmakers like General Motors and Toyota.

Some models are already available as after-market conversions, others will be in production in the next couple years. But for the time being, most of these cars remain expensive -- in large part because of their advanced lithium and nickel metal hydride battery packs.

How You Can Help Make Plug-in Cars Happen

One important key to driving down costs is volume production, i.e. lots of orders that allow for economies of scale; even "soft" orders as expressions of interest help manufacturers assess the market potential of this promising technology.

While you may not yet be in the market for a plug-in electric car, you still can help by taking just a moment of your time to fill out the short, confidential survey below. Your contact information and vehicle preferences are required. The rest of the survey questions are optional, but useful.

EV World will use the accumulated data to help encourage manufacturers to accelerate their plug-in vehicle development and deployment efforts. And as a participant, you'll be entitled to see the collected results when they are made available.

Complete the survey and we'll give you a FREE
surprise gift you can immediately download and start enjoying.

CONTACT INFORMATION [required]
First Name Last Name
Address 1 Address 2
City ZIP Code
 Email
 Reconfirm
Telephone: Area Code + Number       +     -  
SELECT MODELS THAT MOST INTEREST YOU
Ford Escape PHEV [prototype]
Tesla White Star [2010+]
Lightning GT [2009+]
Saturn VUE PHEV [2010+]
Chevy Volt [2010+]
Imperia GP [2010]
Morgan LifeCar [2009+]
Phoenix SUT [2008+]
Saab BioPower [2012+]
Nissan BEV [2012+]
 Toyota Prius PHEV [2010]
Toyota iQ PHEV [2009]
Fisker Karma [2009]
Zap X [2010+]
Visionary Vehicles [2010+]
Miles XS500 [2009]
Mindset E-Motion [unknown]
BYD PHEV [2009+]
Volvo ReCharge [2012+]
Mitsubishi iMiEV [2012+]
OPTIONAL SURVEY QUESTIONS
Which Plug-in technology Interests You the Most?
Battery Electric Vehice [BEV]
Range-extended [REEV]
Plug-in Hybrid [PHEV]
Which PHEV installation type do you prefer?
Factory Install
Aftermarket Install
Which electric driving range would be most practical for you?
10 Miles
20 Miles
30 Miles
40 Miles
50 Miles
60 Miles
 Your primary charging location?
Home Garage
Work Place
Private Complex [apartment/condo]
Public Commons [parking/mall]

What voltage will you have available at this location?
110 Volts
220 Volts
What features would you want in your plug-in vehicle?
Able to use biofuel
Able to use hydrogen
Able to be solar charged
Able to provide backup electric power to my home
Able to sell some power back to the grid [V2G]
 What would be your primary reason for buying a plug-in vehicle?
Environmental
Economic [fuel savings]
Security [national/personal]
Other

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NOTE: Production dates are estimates only. Actual delivery subject to OEM announcements. This survey is, for the present, limited to U.S. residents only.

D E F I N I T I O N S

BEV [battery electric vehicle]: These electric-drive vehicle are powered exclusively by batteries. Ranges vary from as little as 40 miles to more than 200.

PHEV [plug-in hybrid electric vehicle]: Similar to conventional hybrids, these vehicles have some electric driving range varying from 10 to 60 miles. These cars revert back to a combination of gasoline engine and electric drive after the battery is depleted.

REEV [range-extended electric vehicle]: These vehicles are similar to a BEV, but offer longer driving range because of its onboard generator, which gives it driving ranges up to 600 miles.


A N N O U N C E D    M O D E L S

Photo: Michigan Governor Granholm at unveiling of Chevy Volt, 2007 Detroit Auto Show


P L U G - I N    C O N V E R S I O N S

The race to offer plug-in vehicles is being kick started by a group of tech-savvy entrepreneurs who figured out how to add battery capacity to the latest model of the Toyota Prius. Starting with simple lead-acid batteries to prove the concept, conversion shops are now offering upgrades to bi-polar NiMH and lithium ion batteries with conversion costs as low as $8,000.

However, since these conversions are not sanctioned by the original vehicle manufacturer, owners who do add the plug-in conversion -- which depending on the shop, leaves the vehicle virtually unchanged -- risk voiding part or all of their vehicle warranty. The clear advantage of going with a conversion is that you don't have to wait for the OEMs to make good on their promise to also offer plug-in models. You can start enjoying 100 mpge fuel economy today. For more information on plug-ins see EV World's Plug-in Guide.


V E H I C L E - T O - G R I D

What all plug-in vehicles have in common is their need to be recharged from an external power source, usually the local electric power grid, which is typically much cheaper on a cents-per-mile basis than burning petroleum or ethanol, so the owner enjoys more economical motoring on a daily basis while reducing their dependence on oil.

But with some relatively simple enhancements, plug-in vehicle can also be designed to allow the movement of power from the vehicle's battery pack and back into the owner's home and even the local grid. With this capability, the homeowner could -- with prudence -- continue to enjoy electric power during a power emergency such as a storm or blackout. Equally important, but requiring more planning, would be the ability to sell power back to the local grid at a profit. The owner would buy cheap power at night and sell it back into the grid during peak demand times at a profit. While still only theoretical, utilities and universities are exploring the feasibility of this system, which could conceivably help pay for the extra cost of buying a plug-in vehicle, turning a normal liability into an income asset.


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