Plug-in hybrids visit DC

This is such a great marketing move... While automakers talked to the U.S. Congress about their problems, one company parked their solution outside. The press release shows quite a few famous politicians taking a ride around Capitol Hill.

As for the price, the current estimate is 10-20% more than hybrids. There's also some interesting discussion about how these cars could be integrated with large-scale renewables to help balance the power grid.

From the calcars.org press release:

On May 18, CEOs of the Big Three automakers came to Washington DC to meet with Congressional leaders and discuss the industry's woes. We saw an opportunity to introduce Congress to a solution using existing technology that can make a big dent in our oil dependence and also help Detroit back to prosperity -- should it choose to take the opportunity. After a whirlwind fundraising campaign CalCars flew in one of its plug-in Priuses from California, and the journey began. This was the first time plug-in hybrids were seen in public in our nation's capitol.

[via BioConversion Blog]