Plug-Ins Race to Revolutionize Transportation

When plug-in hybrids start arriving in dealerships in the next few years they will revolutionize the auto industry. The most historic aspect of this is that consumer demand, not the auto industry leaders, have been the prime mover in making these vehicles reality.

At the auto show in Detroit, Chrysler, GM, Ford and Toyota were all talking plug-in hybrids, with late 2009 the most likely date for the first mass produced PHEV. Chrysler has 3 concept vehicles (the pictured EcoVoyager, Dodge Zeo and Jeep Renegade, while GM is waffling a tad about the arrival date for the Chevrolet Volt. The wild card to be the first to market is Fisker Automotive, which just received funding from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers to build a plug-in based on the Quantum's Q-Drive technology. (I'm sticking with my earlier prediction that Toyota has the inside track).

2010 will begin the biggest change in ground transportation in 100 years. While one of these companies will receive adulation for being the first to market, kudos should go to the "plug-in pioneers" such as CalCars that spent considerable sums to retrofit existing hybrids to prove the technology could work when Detroit and Japan said it couldn't be done. The blogosphere and auto enthusiasts sites also contributed to the groundswell of support that got government and the auto industry interested.

Plug-in hybrids pave the way for all-electrics, and their ability to reduce emissions and reduce foreign oil dependency will address two goals that most of us view as critical. Congress should provide tax credits that supported these goals with incentives for fleets and consumers to buy plug-ins.

Plug-in hybrids aren't a panacea as people without garages will have a tougher time recharging the batteries. Californians are a likely target audience, but plugging in thousands of cars has the potential to overwhelm the grid.