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

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 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 emissions and lower costs regionally and nationally under a variety of scenarios.