We're painfully aware of the environment these days, with melting ice sheets and migrating species. Perhaps we can make enough lifestyle changes before end up with too many dying species. Topping just about everyone's list of changes to make is with transportation.
Ten years ago GM was forced to prepare to sell zero emission vehicles in California, so they designed the EV1. Apparently they were surprised to find that people really wanted electric cars. Badly. Those that drove the EV1 were hooked. Low-cost, low-maintenance, and excellent performance easily offset the drawback of limited range. Celebrities were lining up to lease the vehicle. And then, apparently pressured by big oil, GM pulled the rug right out from under the whole thing. In 2003 the leases expired on all thousand of those beautiful electric cars. Once they were returned, GM billed those who had leased the vehicles for any scratches or other blemishes on the cars. Then quite ironically all thousand vehicles were crushed in the Arizona desert. What a sinister move, proving how heartless a corporation they can be.
So now four years later we see that Toyota has very successfully pounced on GM's fumble, and is (quite rightfully) the current king among auto makers. While Detroit continues to reel from its mistakes, the third generation Prius coming out next year will increase fuel efficiency another 30%, and take even more market share. It will be the first car to offer lithium ion batteries in a mass-produced package. And it will bring to the forefront the concept of a "plug-in" hybrid.
For years in order to gain acceptance of the unfamiliar Toyota has had to educate the masses that hybrid autos don't need to be plugged in to work. And now with rising energy prices we're reaching the tipping point where people are quite willing to do just that if it will save them money. It certainly will. Add up electric and gas costs when using the next generation Prius, and many will effectively be getting 100 mpg. Rock on. Electric cars are finally seeing the light of day, and all that had to be done is to call them "plug in hybrids".