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Flexible Fuel
Plug-In Hybrids
Why
Gas-Optional Plug-in Hybrids?
Transportation accounts for 2/3
of all
U.S.
oil consumption. The
transportation sector generates 82 percent of carbon monoxide
and 56 percent of NOx emissions and over one-quarter
of total US
greenhouse gas emissions.
Plug-in
hybrid vehicles will help the United States
reduce its dependence on imported oil, improve air quality, and
increase overall vehicle fuel economy as well as reduce fuel
costs. Most car trips are less than 20 miles – so with a PHEV,
the entire trip could be fueled by the electric battery.
Owners can recharge their car at night when over 40 percent
of the generating capacity in the U.S.
sits idle. If the
trip is longer than the battery range (about 40 miles), the car
can switch to gasoline or a biofuel.
At prevailing electric rates, the
cost of an “electric” gallon is 70-80˘ – compared to
gas, which is averaging $2.50 a gallon. And
by being flexible-fuel vehicles, owners have the option of using
ethanol blends, dramatically reducing our nation’s growing
dependence on imported oil while using renewable resources from
this country.
If
PHEVs are so Great, What is the Problem?
Currently, there are no
commercially produced PHEVs although many prototypes have proven
their practicality. While
the cost of long-distance batteries will add to the price of the
vehicle, lower operating costs are expected to make the total
lifetime cost less than that of other cars.
Mass production could reduce the cost considerably.
We need to demonstrate to the automobile manufacturers that
a market exists for PHEVs, even if the cost is somewhat higher.
You
can participate by signing a petition
and show your support for flexible-fuel plug-in hybrid cars.
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