[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.

[a fool in paradise]

“your first 40 miles every day are electric “

Translates to 1-2 gallons and it isn’t free.

[goldstategop]

Hybrids are popular for that reason - it combines the best of EV and conventional gas powered cars.

If you need to drive anywhere more than hour, that’s the one you want.

[central_va]

I would trade battery capacity for faster recharge times. I think the engineers are not attacking the correct problem. If could only go 100 miles between charges but I could recharge in 5 minutes then that would be ok with me. The 6-8 hour recharge is BS I don’t care how far you can go.