DEARBORN–Does everyone, at this point, understand what a plug-in hybrid is? Start with something like the Toyota Prius, and add a big second battery pack. Then add plug-in charging, so the car is capable of 30 to 40 miles of all-electric range. That way, if your commute is just 10 miles, you need never use gasoline, but the range — up to 300 miles — is there if you need it.

Toyota is building a plug-in version of the Prius. Saturn was building one, but then GM sold Saturn to Roger Penske, so two weeks ago the project was switched to Buick. But then, today, Buick bowed out (the vehicle was underpowered, apparently) and GM said yet another version is coming. Was that clear? The Fisker Karma is a plug-in hybrid, too.

In Michigan this week, Ford showcased its green fleet, and here’s a video look at some of the unique cars:

The cars include an Escape-based plug-in hybrid, and also an “intelligent” in-car device that will allow it to interact with the grid. If everybody in a given neighborhood comes home at 6:30 p.m. and plugs in at the same time, the result is instant transformer overload. So the Ford system lets the customer dial in a recharge time, or choose a pricing system — opting for low-cost off-peak power, for instance. It also gives another choice: Letting the grid itself decide when to charge the car (as long as it’s ready to go in the morning).

Source:Ford's Better Idea: EVs and Intelligent Charging