Plug-in hybrids are just like normal hybrid cars, except they have a larger battery giving them a longer range on the electric engine. For the first 40 miles you are an electric car, and then after that you run like a normal hybrid car. That is you switch back and forth between an internal combustion engine and a electric one for maximum fuel efficiency.
The good people at Plug-in Partners have produced this very informative video talking about plug-in hybrids.
The best part about these cars is that you could very easily set up a solar or wind charging station to charge them on renewable energy. Solar panels could even be integrated into the car shell itself to provide a constant trickle charge. Places like LA and Houston that have smog problems and a lot of sunshine could see a real reduction in the amount of pollution if these cars became common, not to mention the global benefits of lower Co2 emissions.
Currently the gas prices around my house are hovering around 2.70 a gallon for the least expensive gas. With a plug-in hybrid powered by renewable sources like solar or wind that cost could be dramatically reduced. Even if we were to get our energy from coal from the grid it would still be cleaner and cheaper than using gasoline.
Won’t PHEVs just replace air pollution from automobiles with air pollution from power plants?
No. In almost every conceivable power generation mix plug-ins reduce greenhouse gases and other pollutants. Additionally, emissions would be concentrated in one location that is often away from critically-endangered air sheds. Also, it is less difficult to control emissions from a relatively few number of smokestacks rather than millions of vehicle tail pipes. And, efforts to clean up coal plants and other emissions will continue. In recent decades, many power plants have been modified to lower emissions while a number of older plants have been retired. This trend has resulted in a 25% decrease in emissions from U.S. power plants over the last 25 years. This trend is continuing so emissions will continue to get cleaner over time, meaning emissions generated from electric transportation will get cleaner over time. Furthermore, an increasing share of America’s electricity is being produced by zero emission sources – wind and solar. There is a synergy between increased use of PHEVs and expanded use of wind energy. Widespread use of PHEVs in an electric system makes it easier for that system to accept more wind energy. This is because most PHEVs will be charging at night, when demand for electricity is at its lowest, and wind energy production tends to be at its highest in many parts of the country. Also, PHEV batteries can act as storage for wind energy produced at off-peak times.(via)