Solution to $4 gas? Plug in hybrid, professor says

“They respond exactly the same way as a conventional vehicle”

Andrew Frank, proud father of the "car of the future," has a news flash for gas-guzzlers: The future is now. via ScrippsNews

[GMR]

Two questions:-
What is the battery cost ? Last figure I saw for hybrids was $6,000.00 to $8,ooo.oo every 6 to 8 years. This works out to $1,000.00 per year gas savings before you break even.
What heats the car in a Canadian winter ? Either flatten the battery but fast or run the gasoline engine for heat ?

[Carman]

Energy is energy, it must come from some source. If consumers start switching to plug in hybrids electricity prices will increase. We must pay for energy, cost depends on demand. Oil is in short supply as global demand increases. Electricity must be generated by coal, natural gas, nuclear, etc. Those will increase as electricity use increases. I don't think we can overcome the cost factor. Some methods are cleaner for the enviroment, but with China and India using more resources our energy expense will continue to go up. Everyone will pay the price. Where will we dispose of these batteries, when they are more widely used? CNG seems to be the best alternative for cost and enviromental impact. Hydrogen is still far off and
the infastructure must be developed for any new source of energy. Ethanol use is gaining interest, but pumps are scarce and crop demand is increasing worldwide pushing up costs. Solar and wind power seem to be relatively ignored, but more cost efficient in some parts of the world.

[batman]

You pretty much said it all. I agree with you some how there is fuel used to move the car just because don't see it it happend somewhere.