While most of last week's attention on the auto industry was focused on the bankruptcy of General Motors, there was a significant bright spot in the world of cars last week that I feel should be highlighted. Several car companies including Toyota and Volvo have announced their plans to introduce plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) into the fleet. And no, this isn't something that we're going to be waiting endlessly for. In fact, Toyota plans to have at least 150 PHEVs on the road by the end of this year!

 

This topic struck me because things like this once seemed to only exist in fictional settings like a Jetsons scenario. I can remember when I was seven years old, riding bikes with my best friend when he started talking endlessly about how things were eventually going to be operated by the power of the sun, and cars would be able to be plugged in to drive. I proceeded to tell him that he couldn't trick me just because I'm a girl. And now, 14 years later it turns out it wasn't a lie; he was just a dreamer ahead of the curve. (Maybe I owe him an apology.) The whole point is that just 14 years ago none of this seemed possible, and now it has become a reality. 

 

After seeing a few headlines about these PHEVs I decided to do some investigating. After all, we're talking about the future of transportation as we know it. Although these cars won't solve all of our emissions problems, the prospects of the PHEVs are encouraging, and therefore I want to share them.  

 

So what exactly is a plug-in hybrid, and what does its introduction mean for our future? Unlike regular hybrid models, these cars have the ability to recharge electrically through a standard household socket. Yep, the same socket that you plug your toaster into can also be used to charges your wheels. PHEVs can get about 60 miles per full charge, and once the battery runs out they switch back to regular hybrid operation. In addition, their operating costs work out to be equivalent to about $1 per gallon.

 

If consumers take to these vehicles, that could result in a significant cutback in gasoline use, which is good for both the pocket and the environment. That means we may see gas stations dwindle while "re-charging stations" become more numerous.  

 

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Although I'm optimistic about the future of these PHEVs, I wouldn't be doing my job properly if I didn't mention the kinks in the plan. Adopting the plug-in model on a global scale means that we could need a massive overhaul in infrastructure. What's further, some people fear that the low-emissions of the cars will be negated by the power plants used to maintain the electrical grid that the cars will require. In addition, right now the vehicles are only suited for short-term commutes, not long drives, and the batteries can take up to eight hours to charge.  

 

Despite the cons, automakers seem to be sure that a change is in order, and are already working on solving those problems. Perhaps for Toyota, the success of the Prius reassures them that PHEVs will take off. Toyota and several other companies are beginning to lease PHEVs this year, and consumers can look for updated models by mid-2010. It remains to be seen whether these cars will be a hit or not, but one thing is for sure, and that's that we're taking a step in the right direction. It is innovation like this that will help us continue to grow industrially while still maintaining our environment.

 

Photo credit: Jim Dyer/Flickr