Plug-in and Regular Hybrids: A National and Regional Comparison of Costs and CO2 Emissions

Author(s): Eric Williams

Published: June 2010

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Growing concern about climate change and the rising cost of oil are leading policy analysts and consumers alike to pay close attention to a variation of a hybrid electric vehicle known as a plug-in hybrid, which promises to reduce gasoline consumption significantly. This paper compares plug-in hybrids and regular hybrids to evaluate which technology leads to lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and lower costs regionally and nationally under a variety of scenarios.