Plug-in hybrid cars not ready for prime time?

I love the idea of plug-in hybrid cars, but I've long believed that plug-in hybrid cars are not ready for prime time. California's current electrical grid, for example, simply could not tolerate millions of cars plugging in at this time. Then there are environmental concerns and high costs.

In reality, even standard hybrid cars aren't yet ready for prime time, but they are close. Until there is a $15,000 hybrid vehicle, mass market consumption of hybrids will be extremely limited. Still, the technology behind hybrid vehicles - both standard and plug-in - is poised for great advancements and both hybrids will not only become more powerful and fuel efficient, but cheaper. In fact, the potential of the next generation of hybrids demonstrates that fuel cell vehicles might not even be quite so necessary. While that doesn't mean we should discontinue fuel cell vehicle research, it does mean we should do everything we can to create the most environment friendly, fuel efficient automobiles as quickly as possible. Hybrids and plug-in hybrids offer too much potential to turn back now. More important, as I recently argued, give consumers the choice to choose their fuel - whether that fuel is gasoline, electricity or ethanol

For an interesting article on the realities of plug-in hybrid cars, check out this CNN article, Plug-in hybrids: Not ready for primetime.