120 mpg may become a real possibility

0 Comments | USA TODAY, January, 2008 | by James R. Healey

Automakers are moving fast to determine whether plug-in hybrid electric vehicles can be put onto the market affordably.

PHEVs can up to triple fuel mileage in short trips, and recharging costs less than gas to go the same distance. It appears that plug-ins cut tailpipe emissions more than enough to make up for any pollution caused by the plants that generate the electricity to charge them.

Win-win-win.

"I'll take two," you say. Hold on, sport. Plug-ins require costly additional battery capacity and plug-in rechargers. Regular gas-electric hybrids can't be plugged in and don't have capacity to run battery-only.

Automakers are uncertain how much costlier plug-in hybrids would be over normal hybrids, which, in turn, cost at least $2,000 more...