Plugs and Cars

JULY 31, 2008

A number of startups showed off their porposals to retrofit the existing fleets of petroleum-fueled vehicles, giving some hope to Andy Grove’s ambitoious desire to create millions of plug-in conversions before the automakers deliver. Representatives of GM stoked the clamor for the Volt, and a Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid sat on the show floor.

Plug-in 100

Plug-in Al Gore Plug Gore 100

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 21, 2009

A PHEV can provide power to an entire home in the case of an outage; A fleet of PHEVs could power critical systems during emergencies. Since then a number of companies have emerged to offer conversions for sale to consumers and fleet buyers, and CalCars has worked to support a growing open-source conversion movement.

Plug-in 61

Plug-in Plugin Plug Hybrid 61

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 21, 2009

GM has announced plans for public sales in 2010, and almost every carmaker now says it will sell PHEVs or highway-speed battery electric vehicles (BEVs) sometime after 2010. Plans Saturn Vue PHEV-10. Plans "large demonstration fleet" late 2009. Aims to get Saturn Vue on road in 2010; no production goal.

Plug-in 45

Plug-in Plug Hybrid PHEV 45