Plug-in hybrid tech is available today

Posted Mon Dec 10 2007 6:52 PM by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

Looking forward to the days of no longer having to visit a fuel station but tired of waiting for mainstream carmakers to launch a vehicle that can run without the need to fill up? One solution is a range of new plug-in hybrid conversion kits designed for conventional hybrid models such as the Toyota Prius.

Demand for the conversions are so strong that a handful of companies are now supplying such kits, promising to boost mileage of hybrid cars like the Prius to more than 100mpg while also enabling the cars to travel distances of more than 20 miles on electricity alone, reports Automotive News.

The conversion requires installing extra batteries that can be charged up by regular household outlets. The technology is still in its infancy and its unknown how long the batteries will last.

GM and Toyota are two of the major carmakers currently developing plug-in hybrids but the release of such a model from either company is at least several years away.

MotorAuthority