Customer Reviews

Plug-in Hybrids: The Cars that will Recharge America

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This book --which in some ways begins where the video "Who Killed the Electric Car" ends, but is yet independent of it --is a very practical, myth-busting discussion of the facts about the capabilities of alternatively-powered vehicles. As one might guess from the title, the book concludes that of all the possible alternatives for fueling cars, plug-in hybrids are the most practical. In fact, as the book reiterates, practical plug-in hybrids were produced and leased by the auto companies about a decade ago --and then recalled and destroyed. Today (July, 2007), news reports say Toyota and GM and perhaps Ford and others "hope" to have an electric car available by 2010. The news stories say Toyota and GM are having trouble getting much more than a range of 40 miles out of the batteries, even though this book points out GM produced electric vehicles in 1999 with a range of about 140 miles!

This book is a good primer on how plug-in hybrids work, and also explores other alternative technologies such as hydrogen and fuel cells, though for several reasons it returns to plug-in hybrids as being immediately available technology.

This book is deligently researched and compellingly written, full of good history and vivid portraits of the major players. It contains easy-to-understand explanations of complex issues and technology. Sherry Boschert has made the subject a page-turner. For the environmentally and politically conscious, this should be your next book. I'm convinced that a plug-in hybrid should be my next car.

This is a mind-blowing book. With technology available today, we could start mass-producing cars that run both on electricity and gasoline (or biofuels). You could plug your car in at night and charge it while you slept. Then you could drive 40 or more exhaust-free miles before the car switched to gasoline. Since 50% of Americans drive 20 miles or less per day, and 80% drive 50% or less, most of the driving in a plug-in hybrid would be on electricity. (Plug-in hybrids average 100 mpg.)
Happily the plug-in hybrid now has many enthusiastic and influential supporters, from environmentalists to conservatives worried about America's dependence on foreing oil -- R. J. Woolsey, former CIA director and the NY Times colulmnist Thomas L. Friedman, among them.
Another intersting fact: plugging in your car at night could tap otherwise unused electricity from wind farms, because wind farms don't have a way to store the energy produced at night. So wind power, could end up running our cars.

This book gives a positive explanation of how and why this automotive "revolution" is happening. It makes a positive case for PHEV's, but it does not get too technical. It has a good set of references in the notes, in case you want check anything for yourself. I enjoyed the book, but I`m a bit biased. I go to things like the Hybridfest and have a CalCars bumper sticker on my car. I'm an electrical engineer and following Plug-in Hybrid vehicle progress is my current passion.

Glen loaned me a book called "Plug in Hybrids" by Sherry Boschert. Glen reads tons of books on energy, conservation etc. The book was a great read and made a compelling case for hybrid cars (like my Prius) that plug in to recharge. This would allow them to run for perhaps 100 Km or more without the gas engine kicking in. She makes a compelling environmental case.

What she missed was a good chapter on the economics of using electric power from the grid vs. gas. The information was there but it was hard to get at (running an straight electricity from the grid is about half the cost of gas). For environmentalism to become mainstream, I think it needs to be driven by economics.

Perhaps I am too overboard on the time efficiency but she could also use a chapter on the time savings to just plug in at night instead of filling up at a gas station. I never timed how long it takes to fill up but it seems whenever I need gas, I am running late and there is a line up at the pumps. And for that matter, it is usually the coldest day of the year with a good strong wind.

There is a bit of conspiracy theory throughout on GM killing their famous electric car etc.

Bottom line. After I read the book, I would definitely get a plug in hybrid and hope the automakers come up with one soon.

Highly recommended. Great follow-up to "Who Killed the Electric Car"

If you hunger for more info on Electric Vehicles, solutions to Global warming, ending the war in Iraq, ending our dependence on Oil and returning to a more secure (pre 9/11, pre Iraq war) life and economy, Boschert illustrates how both sides/extremes of the political spectrum are joining together to kick the oil habit.

Even George W. admits "America is addicted to Oil" but the car and oil companies will do anything to "keep the junkie hooked" and Dubya wants to devastate Alaska for a dismal amount of domestic oil.

Don't believe the Hype about using electricity to power cars will worsen GHG and other emissions. This book cites all the studies that disprove that myth.

Ordinary citizens are joining forces with Engineers, Evangelicals, Environmentalists, some reluctant Automakers and National security Hawks (Ex CIA Director James Woolsey et. al.) to pave the way to eliminate our dependence on oil.

Like the back cover says "It will recharge your political batteries".
Get this book and get involved.

This book also clarifies the different flavours of Hybrids: Series, Parallel, Series/Parallel, Full, Hollow and Flex Fuel options.

PS An "easy read" despite some chapters quoting various gallons, kilowatts, miles and kilometres.

As a long-time solar home-owner in the East Coast of the US, I have been looking for practical information on resolving the other major portion of the energy-dependence equation--transportation. If the newly-elected Democratic Congress is sincerely looking for a way out of the Middle East, this would make for some very hopeful holiday reading. It's the most important book I've read all year.

Sherry Boschert brings her science-writing skills to bear on the thorny problem of efficient transportation on the highways. While informing us about the details of hybrid vehicle technology, she also manages to weave in the gremlins that have interfered with improving car efficiency for many years. Her portrayal of the problem of hydrogen hype is well documented and clearly explained in Chapter 3. I recommend this book highly to the environmentally concerned driver as one of the best books in the field, because it gives the reader the inside story with scientific balance.

...for anyone interested in plug-hybrids and highly recommended for those who care about petroleum dependency or environmental issues. Boschert's work is diligently researched and entirely up to date on the state of the art of advanced plug-in hybrids. Anyone looking to gather insights into this technology will be richly rewarded by the by the information presented here.

This book is an excellent primer on the current status of PEHV's and an insignt to where this technolgy needs to go. One can only hope that the time frame for implementation is shortened considerably. If you are concerned about rising gas prices and the destruction of our environment you should read this.