[RayChuang88]

However, the relatively short range of all-electric cars still limit their viability in the USA market.

What may be a lot more viable are plug-in hybrids with better battery designs that could push the all-electric range of the vehicle to 40-60 miles before the gasoline engine "kicks in" to provide power and to recharge the battery.

[goldstategop]

A Toyota Prius already does that - in town, you can run the car on the electric battery; when you’re on the open highway, the gas engine kicks in to provide extended driving range and recharge the battery during the drive.

[LogicDesigner]

“However, the relatively short range of all-electric cars still limit their viability in the USA market. What may be a lot more viable are plug-in hybrids with better battery designs that could push the all-electric range of the vehicle to 40-60 miles before the gasoline engine ‘kicks in’ to provide power and to recharge the battery.”

Yea, that's why I tell people who raise concerns about the range to look at the Chevy Volt: your first 40 miles every day are electric follow by 340 miles of gas tank if you need to go farther.

[truth_seeker]

“What may be a lot more viable are plug-in hybrids with better battery designs that could push the all-electric range of the vehicle to 40-60 miles before the gasoline engine “kicks in” to provide power and to recharge the battery.”

BMW i3 has an optional, small displacement gasoline engine designated for “range extender.” It essentially recharges the battery while you are underway using electricity always to power the car.