And finally, we can assume a very low cost for the electric from the socket, from “its free” to 7 cents per KWH. But the actually baseline rate in California is 13 cents per KWH.

Lets do a pure baloney calculation, the electic is free, so we go 300 miles, but only use the ICE for 60 miles, so we burn 2 gallons of gas, and say we get 150 MPG. This calculation is without merit. With this sort of calculation, we could use a 45 MPG ICE and used 1.33 gallons for a calculated 225 MPG.

So lets return to the real word. Lets use .35 KWH per mile and a cost of 13 cents per KWH. And lets say we drive 200 miles a week within the AER, and 100 using the ICE which gets 40 MPG. Lets say the gas costs $2.50 cents per gallon. 200 miles at .35 works out to 70 KWHs which costs $9.10. This cost is equivalent to (9.10 divided by 2.50) 3.64 gallons.
In sum, we drove 300 miles and used 2.5 gallons of gas bought at the pump and 3.64 “gallons” bought from the power company for a total of 6.14 gallons, which gives a mileage (300 divided by 6.14) of 49 MPG. You don’t like that number, well plug in .07 cents per KWH and you get (70 x .07) $4.90 cents or (4.90 divided by 2.50) 1.96 gallons. This gives you a total of 4.46 gallons and a mileage of (300 divided by 4.46) 67 MPG. Want it still highter, raise the cost of gas to $3.00 per gallon an then (4.90 divided by 3.00) yeilds 1.6 gallons for a total of 4.1 gallons which gives you a miles of (300 divided by 4.1) 73 MPG.

Have fun generating any number you want.

Although LiIon baterries are prohinbitively expensive now, the price is coming down… the cutting edge technologies being tried out by private entreupeneurs like TESLA motors is just the beginning.

And again, if the political will is there, strict emissions controlls can be added to all emission sources, including coal. Anoter advantage of electric power vehicles is that the electricity can come from many sources (coal, natural gas, nuclear, wind… even wave energy).

By the above standard, hybrid technology is a downright bargain. If not, get an NGV vehicle that one can refuel from your garage, or the ultimate: ELECTRIC (coming soon regardless of what Detroit says).

As for those who say switching to electric just “moves pollution”… remember: it is MUCH easier to controll the emissions from afew hundred stacks that it is a few million tailpipes. All it takes is political will.

For example you can buy a Camry with an overall mileage of 26, for $22,000 or a hybrid for 26,000. If the hybrid gets 10 MPG more, then paying $7070 more for the Hybrid makes economic sense according to Walter’s formula.