At what is self-described as "the second biggest blog in the world," you'll find two long by Chris Kulczycki. At the moment, each has almost 200 comments (many off-topic but some with new info or perspectives). Worth reading and adding your two cents....

The second URL includes a poll: 491 (highly non-representative) responses at the moment: A hybrid is 16% my current car. 50% my next car. 11% okay, but I'll wait for a PHEV. 1% silly when EVs are just around the corner. 1% for panty-waists and hippies. 0% not for me 7% a car, and I still don't want a car 8% Who cares, when are Rove and Cheney being indicted?

http://www.dailykos.com/­storyonly/­2005/­10/­11/­63745/­864 Electric Car Industry Update & New Batteries

http://www.dailykos.com/­story/­2005/­10/­13/­63035/­484 Hybrid Cars, Trucks, Buses, & Trains, an Industry Update

This one includes writeups about several PHEVs (excerpts below):

• How about a hybrid Military Humvee replacement that gets 50 miles per gallon, compared to the Humvee's current 11 mpg? From Wired.com:
  • If you have a PHEV you need the right house to go with it. Not to worry, Toyota has just the thing, a prototype residence. Toyota Dream Home includes a plug-in Prius in addition to the other gadgets in this energy saving home. Also included was a small battery powered NEV or neighborhood electric vehicle: Toyota Dream House PAPI was designed to interface with other Toyota technologies. One of the most important of those other technologies is Toyota Motor Corporation's Prius hybrid sedan, which can also be used to supply electricity to the intelligent house for 36 hours in an emergency, such as an earthquake that cuts off normal electrical supplies [This is misinformation: from everything we've heard, this is simply a concept not a working car.]
  • Cal Cars is on the forefront of developing PHEVs. Their site offers all the details, but the focus of their work so far has been developing a battery pack and battery controller for hybrid cars, particularly the Toyota Prius. Here are a list of benefits from their site:

  • Recharging is not required, but if you do so often, chances are you'll need to go to a gas station less than once a month. • Lifetime service costs will be lower for a vehicle that is mainly electric. • Fleets are interested in a vehicle with stored energy that saves them thousands of dollars for towed generators to use where grid power is unavailable. • Blackout-wary Californians welcome ready access to a car that could be hooked up via an extension cord to provide emergency backup power for a few home appliances. • We expect PHEVs will be allowed to drive solo in the fast lanes during rush hour on a national basis. Following Federal approval, conventional hybrids will be allowed in California's HOV (car-pool) lanes when they have one occupant -- a controversial policy we see as providing little social benefit. Unlike current hybrids, plug-ins use no gasoline for most commuting, and more appropriately deserve the exemption.

• EDrive is on the verge of marketing PHEV a conversion kit for current Prius owners that will give milage of 100mpg or higher for many drivers. Their site has a good FAQ.