Plug-in electric cars get unbelievable gas milege and this book documents the need for and huge benefit of using plug-in
hybrid electric cars in America. While standard hybrid cars depend on gasoline for electrical power, the plug-in electric cars can be plugged into a common 110-volt wall outlet to charge their batteries, instead of relying solely on their gasoline engines for recharging. These cars generally get 100-150 miles per gallon, reduce CO2 emissions, potentially increase America’s ability to produce electrical power, and perhaps most significant of all, have the potential to send oil sheiks back to their tents. They are one step (a huge step economically and politically) beyond the modern hybrid, perhaps the best known of which is the Toyota Prius. The reason is, unlike hybrids that cannot run without gasoline, plug-in hybrids can. As of 2006, they are not being manufactured by any major automobile company and not available to the public. Plug-in hybrids come to us only by the forward thinking, intellects, sweat, and dedication of grass roots Americans that have seen the near death of the electric car, 9/11, and are now experiencing the Iraqi war. These Americans (some very well known, such as ex-CIA director, James Woosley) have seen the possibility that plug-in hybrid cars, using currently available battery technology, either nickel-metal hydride, or lithium-ion (both of which are now proven and operating in plug-in hybrids), can reduce our dependence on foreign oil and move us substantially closer to a sustainable society. These Americans have proven it by taking current hybrid cars from the mass manufacturing product lines, like the Toyota Prius, and converted them to plug-in hybrid electric cars that get 100 to 150 miles per gallon of gas. They’ve done this by giving the standard plug-in hybrid access to a greater capacity of on-board electricity for the first 50 or so miles of driving; basically fulfilling about 90 percent of America’s driving needs on electricity alone. And, because of the efficiency of electric cars, the overall impact (including emissions at electric power plants) on the environment is significantly reduced compared to using gasoline. Major automobile manufactures produced viable electric cars in response to the California’s Air Resources Board (CARB) Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate of 1990, then literally destroyed (actually physically crushing) nearly every electric car in America (remember the EV1, or how ‘bout the RAV4-EV, Honda EV, or electric Ranger truck?) when the CARB backed off the ZEV mandate. After explaining away the destruction of their successful electric cars, these same manufacturers now say that there is not enough demand for plug-in hybrids and the battery technology is not adequate - even though both these statements are without basis and known around the business (outside and inside the major automobile executive offices) to be unsupportable statements. In reality, the major automobile manufactures have not marketed the plug-in hybrid because they don’t have to. They’d rather continue marketing gasoline cars because of the profitability, as one might imagine in our successful capitalistic society. But, it’s now time for government to step in and make another change for the good of the country. Remember what it took to improve gas mileage and improve safety (seat belts and air bags)? It took laws. Only after laws were passed and we suffered through the belly aching of the automobile manufactures, did we get higher mileage safer cars. We now need to do the same with our cars again. Only now, the future of the country may depend on it. The U.S. has 4 percent of the world’s population yet uses about 25 percent of the world’s oil. About 45 percent of this oil comes from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Iran. Saudi Arabia funds and spreads Wahhabi Muslim beliefs(essentially the root of anti-western
terrorism) around the world, beliefs that deny the basic liberties that made and continue to make the U.S. the greatest country on the planet. Outside the Middle East, 80 percent of the oil reserves are in the hands of countries where radical Muslim beliefs are on the rise. The U.S. must take action now to reduce its dependence on Muslim oil and plug-in hybrid cars can make a major step in this direction with technology and manufacturing capability available and demonstrated today. If the U.S. had spent the $400 billion invested in the war in Iraq on RAV4-EVs (instead of essentially paying for both sides of this war) to jumpstart the plug-in vehicle industry, the cost of production would have plummeted, along with the purchase of Muslim oil. Since it takes about 15 years to replace all the cars and trucks currently being driven, and with China demanding more and more of the world’s oil, it is critical that the U.S. start now to reduce it’s need for foreign oil. Here’s some resources for action: if you need a commuter car, buy a used electric car at www.evfinder.com; encourage Mitsubishi (714-372-6000) and Subaru (800-SUBARU3) to sell their planned new electric cars in the U.S.; tell Toyota (800-331-4331), Ford (800-392-FORD), and GM/Saturn (800-553-6000) you want an electric or hybrid car option; join Plug-in Partners (www.pluginpartners.com); support national
security at www.setamericafree.org; convert your current Prius with EDrive or Hymotion help or information at www.easa-phev.org; tell the CARB to tighten its plug-in regulations at helpline@carb.ca.gov.