Jul

Wired.com @ Plug-In 2008

Posted by admin Published in Electric Car

SAN JOSE, Calif. - The transition from pump to plug has begun, and the day is coming when your ultra-efficient, low-emissions car will have an extension cord.

The push is on to bring plug-in hybrids to market, with start-ups racing against the biggest automakers for a spot in your carport. There may be no greater proof that these cars are the real deal than the fact the company widely blamed for killing the electric car promises to be the first to bring it back with the Chevrolet Volt.

The electrification of the automobile may well be inevitable, but getting there won’t be easy. Automakers have to figure out how to sell the technology to consumers who know nothing about it. Utilities have to develop the infrastructure to allow the tens of millions of folks without a carport to plug in their cars. And everyone’s got to figure out how to compose the cars affordable.

Those challenges were at the top of the agenda that week at the Plug-In 2008 conference in San Jose, where automakers, utilities, battery manufacturers and academics joined plug-in advocates from around the world to figure out how to get these cars on the road in big numbers. Here are the

high points from the conference.

The Car of Tomorrow Has An Extension Cord - Advocates say they’ll save the planet, but most consumers just want something that doesn’t burn so much damn gas.

GM Joins Utilities to Ensure Plug-Ins Can Plug In - General Motors bets the farm on the Chevrolet Volt and covers the bet by making certain society can actually plug it in.

Electric Cars are Inevitable - And Essential - The cars are coming, but they’ve got a lot of technological, political and market hurdles to clear.

Intel CEO Calls for 10 Million Plug-In Conversions Within Four Years - Andy Grove lays out a Herculean challenge and a plan to prepare it happen. But he leaves us with more questions than answers.

To Sell Plug-In Hybrids, You’ve Gotta assemble ‘em Sexy - Plug-ins may be our best chance to save the planet, but automakers must sell consumers on the technology - and amp up the cars’ sex appeal.

Photo by Wired.com

Original post by Chuck Squatriglia