The simple truth is that you can have as much renewable energy, plug-in hybrids, whatever eco-friendly technology you want --- Just Bring Money. Maybe lots of it, especially if the technology in question can't be rationally mentioned in the same sentence as "affordable".

Understand that I look forward to the day when I can afford a used Prius or other hybrid, but even though I am a 50-something engineer with an income on the high side of the household median, I still have more important things to do with my money than buy new cars --- and if someone as enthusiastic as I am about hybrid technologoy and as well-situated economically can't bring themselves to bite the bullet on something like a new Prius, or the Civic Hybrids, (even though you get your money back over time) how many people are going to accept another $10,000 - $30,000 bump up from the Prius for plug-in technology?

I wish Tesla Motors and the other all-electric developers the best of luck --- they will be showing us how it can be done --- but keep watching Toyota, which has the long view, and will show us how it can be done *affordably*, for the masses.