Electric Cars CAN Plug-in

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Wow! This is what is needed for "electric" cars.

Photo by Chris Duffey for the East Bay Express

3Prong Power, a Berkeley, California startup ... offers plug-in hybrid conversions for first, second and third generation Prius’s as well as the Ford Escape Hybrid.

The conversion, which is the first available for first generation Prius’s, creates a 35-mile EV mode for the vehicles. So drivers can fill up with petroleum at a gas station — or fill the electric tank in any standard electrical outlet.

3Prong’s conversion isn’t cheap, with prices ranging from $3,499 to $11,499 (the most expensive option has a 40-mile EV mode). But at the same time, the conversion stands to cut fuel costs by up to a quarter, since electricity costs less than petroleum. At the moment, 3Prong only offers its services in the Bay Area. Don’t be surprised, however, if similar Prius conversion companies pop up elsewhere as PHEVs become more popular.

OK, now all those parking meters can be retro-fitted with coin/bill slots to offer electricity. While you park to shop or work or see the doctor, your car can be re-charging. If the city gets the money for the electricity, it will surely amount to more than the current parking charges.

Next thing some enterprising garage inventor needs to come up with is a really FAST recharge.

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