>>I had a brain POOPOO when I read the subject.... I was thinking of Electric Cars like the VOLT.
>>
>>So..... DISREGARD my stupido reply earler!!
>
>I think the Prius was designed by marketing, not as much by engineers, and marketing said "we don't want to be mixed up with them electric cars which you need to charge at home". Engineers: "but we can easily add a plug and make it an option - you don't need to, but you can". Marketing: "No way to explain that in 10 seconds on TV, ditch that plug".


Plug in hybrids like the Volt have great marketing hype, and if you keep your trips short, they aren't bad (except for the stupidly high price). The stupidly high price really eliminates any economic practicality unless all trips are electric (read that short and to the next charging outlet).

Toyota is coming out with a plug-in hybrid version of the Prius which again has great marketing hype, but so far the specs don't give me any reason at all why it is better than the regular hybrid Prius aside from being able to drive a few miles (less than 10) battery-only. The price, of course, goes up with the hype.