We're pressing on with battery research for plug-in hybrid vehicles that can be powered by electricity from a wall socket, instead of gasoline.
We can imagine the day when you'll be able to charge the battery on your plug-in hybrid car at night, because your smart meter reminded you that nighttime electricity is cheapest.
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Ford calls C-MAX Energi a "hybrid-plus" because it not only operates just like C-MAX Hybrid, but also features an external charge port and larger lithium-ion battery pack so owners can plug in the vehicles to fully charge the battery using either a standard 120-volt outlet or the available 240-volt charge station.
ENGADGET: Ford C-Max Energi pricing: $29,995 after a federal tax credit, available this fall
Your home, your car, your appliances can all be powered through the advanced battery that will sit inside your plug-in electric vehicle.
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And that means Honda is bringing both an urban, battery-operated commuter car and a plug-in hybrid concept to Los Angeles.
The company also released initial details of an accelerated vehicle electrification plan for a family of hybrids, plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles.
People get really in tune with their devices, for example, they know how often they need to plug in and recharge the battery.
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Unless Fiat-Chrysler has a secret plan to power cars with giant, watch-like mainsprings, electrification (along the spectrum of hybrid, plug-in, and battery-electric vehicle designs) will be a growing part of the product story in the U.S. Why curse it?
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How this happens remains to be seen, but there are four distinct options on the table: hybrid cars, plug-in hybrid cars, battery electric cars, and fuel cell cars.
The new C-MAX Energi also has 60 more horsepower than the Prius plug-in hybrid considering full battery power, along with class-exclusive technologies such as hands-free liftgate and active park assist for easier parallel parking.
ENGADGET: Ford C-Max Energi pricing: $29,995 after a federal tax credit, available this fall
Like recent offerings from Ford and others, the 2014 model adds a much larger 9.4 kWh battery to last year's non-plug-in hybrid, letting you trundle on electrons alone at up to 80MPH for 20 miles or so with with nary a puff of CO2.
Even the intermediary solution of petrol electric hybrids and plug-in hybrids rely on the battery.
Synovate gave consumers Cs for knowledge about battery cars and hybrids, and a D on plug-in hybrids.
The SMILE Plug includes a 5V Lithium-Ion polymer battery for back-up power, making it ideal for learning environments where electrical power can be inconsistent.
Adding a plug and a more powerful lithium-ion battery to a hybrid can give that sprinter a bit more stamina: It can travel at higher speeds up to 10 miles or so on electric power before the gasoline engine kicks in.
Because owners plug in to charge the advanced lithium-ion battery in C-MAX Energi, the vehicle is able to achieve increased electric mode and total range.
ENGADGET: Ford's 2013 C-Max Energi rolls out 95 MPGe, arrives later this fall
Granted, the Prius Plug In, because it has such a small battery may be easily cycled multibple times per day because it should be recharged quickly from a 120 v outlet.
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So, all you need is a phone line and a battery, I mean, a power outlet and the grandparents plug it in and everyday they can look forward to new photos that have been sent to it via pretty much e-mail and you can even send it from your camera phone, too.
Details about the pricing and the battery life, the two most important factors deterring customers from buying plug-ins, will be released later.
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The glove can also plug into a PC for data syncing and charging of its battery.
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But the project's first concept is most decidedly a four-wheeler: a plug-in electric Mini powered by a lithium-ion battery.
Meanwhile, the Energi is the plug-in version of that essentially comes with a larger battery that allows it to travel for an estimated 20 miles solely on electric power.
Our most recent report on plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) has the market for battery electric vehicles growing at a very rapid pace (32% compound annual growth rate between this year and 2020).
In very related news, GM has struck a deal with Massachusetts-based battery developer A123 Systems to produce flat lithium-ion batteries for use in upcoming plug-in electric vehicles, such as the Chevy Volt.
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The Ford Fusion, Honda Accord and Toyota Prius are all available as a plug-in hybrid, while General Motors uses a smaller motor and battery pack to give a little electric assist to cars like the Buick LaCrosse and Chevrolet Malibu.
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Until now, battery power has been seen as primarily a way to reduce emissions and improve fuel economy, whether with relatively conventional hybrids, like the Toyota Prius, with plug-ins, such as the new Chevrolet Volt, or with pure battery-electric vehicles, like the Nissan Leaf.
The Karma Sedan is a series Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) powered by a lithium-ion battery and an efficient 2.0-liter range-extending gasoline engine.
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What's interesting is the GM technology would allow you to actually plug it into the wall, charge up oversized batteries, and run almost exclusively on battery power while you're commuting.
C-MAX Energi operates just like a traditional hybrid with two key differences - owners must plug in the vehicle using its charge port and C-MAX Energi has a larger battery pack.
ENGADGET: Ford's 2013 C-Max Energi rolls out 95 MPGe, arrives later this fall
Kempton parks a plug-in Toyota Scion in his garage that can discharge 19 kilowatts of power from its battery.
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