Re: aptera 150 miles per charge

Interesting thing about hybrids... The benefit of the technology is predicated on a few things:

Start with a more aerodynamically efficient chassis.  (duh) sorry.

1) They get the best *fuel* efficiency when they are running on 100% gas.

2) Eliminate times when the gas engine is getting 0% efficiency, .i.e. idling.

3) Revover energy otherwise wasted as heat, i.e. regenerative braking.

4) Recovered energy accelerates to best efficiency speed for gas engine.

5) The optimum state of battery charge is always <100% when moving.

6) The total size of the battery should be as small as possible to sustain the minimum number of stop/accelerate cycles based on real driving conditions.  The optimum is 1 cycle, the real world requires more.

That's the ideal 'fuel-hybrid' cycle. 

The "plugin-hybrid" only needs to vary the ratio of primary energy storage components "gas tank" to "battery" based on the ratio of expenses.

That's an ideal plugin hybrid.

If the engine is too small to sustain normal travel the vehicle becomes an 'engine assisted electric'.  This may be more "efficient" but the drawback is limited range or duty cycle (given the current infrastructure).

There is currently no ideal EAE.  Not a 'dis' just an observation based on duty cycle, and the lack of "quick-charge" capability in the spirit of "Fill'er up! Oil's fine. Washer fluid's a little low, which way is the can?"

The model extends into fuel cell hybrids, compressed air, flywheels, etc...  Liquid fuel is the gold standard from the drivers point of view.  That counts for a lot. 

I wish I could have had a 150 mile range electric when I was commuting 65 miles each way!  I was getting >30MPG, but my little Saturn needed ~7.5 gallons of gas every other day.  But that was back in  '02-'03  Gas was down to $1.04 for a while...  Lots of folks thought: "What the heck! I'll get me an SUV."  Aaahhh... Suckers! (sorry)