GM eyes 'plug-in' hybrid (CNNMoney.com)

General Motors, a late-comer to the hybrid game, is looking at a car that can run on less gas but needs to be recharged.
By Chris Isidore, CNNMoney.com senior writer
June 23, 2006: 3:50 PM EDT

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - GM, which has trailed some of its competitors in offering fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles, is looking at a new version known as "plug-in hybrids" not yet on the market, which can offer drivers even better mileage, according to someone familiar with company plans.
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"We are always looking at ways to provide fuel efficiency to our customers, and energy independence to the United States," said Corbett. "Obviously, a plug-in hybrid is something that would definitely be on our radar screen, something we could consider for the future. But I'm not saying we're going to do one or the other."

GM has been offering hybrid versions of its full-size pickups, the Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra, since 2004, and it is due to roll out a hybrid version of the Saturn Vue crossover SUV this fall.
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The company offered a limited production of an electric-only car, the EV1, for five years starting in 1996. But it was never more than a niche product, selling only 411 in 2000, the last year they were available.
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Corbett said GM's experience with the EV1 gives it an advantage over other automakers. But he said the experience with the EV1, which needed to be plugged in using a special docking mechanism in order to charge, shows the challenges any plug-in hybrid would face.
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more: http://money.cnn.com/2006/06/23/news/companies/gm_plugin_hybrid/index.htm?cnn=yes

talk about being behind the curve! Toyota is going to have a plug-in prius for '09 from what ive read. The EV1 only was a niche car because you couldn't BUY THE DAM THING!!! And you could only lease it in limited parts of the country!! @$%^@$#^ dam American car companies, its like they intentionally are trying to fail...

I'll believe it when the plug-ins arrive in the showroom.

Toyota will probably be first, followed by Ford which is ahead of GM in the hybrid race since it offers a full hybrid and is moving quickly to put that drivetrain in mid-size cars.

Still, I grew up in Michigan and have family and friends there. For their sake, I hope that GM, Ford and Chrysler turn themselves around by building high-quality fuel-efficient personal, commercial and mass transit vehicles.

One can dream, can't one?

I really want them to succeed. I have a bad feeling about Ford, though.

I have that bad feeling about GM, rather than Ford. I hope that we're both wrong!

Talk is really frickin' cheap.