Plug-in Hybrids: A good choice for this point in cars' evolution?
Aren't these defensible positions on cars?: 1. A hatchback is better than a sedan, because it doesn't take much metal to raise the trunk to the roof and enclose a lot more space for carrying stuff. AND, having a rear wiper is useful. --so that pushes us towards SUVs and crossovers. 2. A plug-in hybrid is a good choice because: (a) you can use e-only on trips up to about 39 miles, and power prices here in PacNW are the lowest of anywhere in the US, and probably well over half our trips are short enough to be e-only; (b) EV's (electric-only cars) are not yet quite ideal: (i) The US needs more time to get a nationwide fast charging network set up (and preferably just one network, not many different kinds), so that we won't have to search far or wait long to get recharged, on long trips; (ii) a lot of scarce minerals are used to make EVs, whereas a hybrid or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) uses a lot less of those minerals, thus allowing more people to "drive electric." (...