Crucially, the plug-in hybrid solution is appealing to both consumers and manufacturers as it offers gasoline range and electric silence and green options. The decisions automakers are arriving at with their respective plug-in hybrid solutions rests on their choice of either the parallel or series hybrid route.

In a parallel hybrid such as the Prius, the gasoline engine has a direct mechanical link to the transmission, with the hybrid motor either sandwiched between, or added elsewhere to the drivetrain. Manufacturers using this solution for their upcoming plug-in hybrids typically are building off expertise and technology developed for non-plug-in hybrids.

The Voltec powertrain on the other hand is an example of a series hybrid, where the gas engine has no, or limited mechanical connection to the transmission. The Fisker Karma luxury sedan is a better example of the series hybrid concept, with zero mechanical connection to the transmission from its 260hp GM-derived gas engine.

Why a plug-in hybrid at all? Range is the most commonly considered reason for the expense and complexity of developing the solution. While many of us drive only a handful of miles a day, there are plenty of instances (say on a weekend) where we might get a chance to stretch our wheels a bit – a limitation the Leaf or other EV doesn’t have a solution for.

So who is coming out with plug-in hybrids and when?

So far the confirmed list of manufacturers who currently offer a PHEV vehicle for 2012 is a short list that includes Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Toyota, and Fisker. For 2013/2014 launches the list of offerings swells to include Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Hyundai, Porsche, Suzuki, Volkswagen, and Volvo.

Chevy will increase production of the ground-breaking Volt in 2012, and open sales to all markets nationally. Currently the Volt has only been offered in select cities that showed the most interest in being early adopters. Ford enters the PHEV fold with the C-Max Energi. While final specs have yet to be released, Ford is aiming for a 500 mile total driving range (150 miles greater than the Volt) and a full charge from a night spent with a 120V outlet. The C-Max is a new-for-2012 offering from Ford that is a blend of a compact  hatchback and an upright minivan, similar to the Mazda5. The current C-Max has been on-sale in Europe for several years, and has been a resounding success. Fisker’s Karma sedan has been making the media tour for the past few months, and dealers are finally beginning to deliver the first production versions with the first allegedly going to actor Leonardo DiCaprio. Sales of the $100,000 PHEV are guaranteed from several thousand committed initial orders. The Karma sedan will be joined in 2013 with a coupe and convertible version, with the convertible attaining the distinction of being the first PHEV to drop its top.

Honda has offered few clues as to which model will offer its PHEV option, but has shown the powertrain in an Accord demonstrator. The powertrain is reported to be designed for mid-to-large size vehicles and offers 12 miles of purely electric driving. Toyota’s PHEV entrant is based on the popular Prius, and will also offer a purely electric range of 12-13 miles before the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) kicks back in. Sales for this model start this fall.

Audi has announced it will offer a partially-electrified version of its A4 sedan beginning in 2014. While details are still scarce, it is understood that Audi will likely expand the use of a PHEV powertrain into other models in due course. BMW recently announced the i3 and i8 EVs. The i8 coupe comes standard with an ICE range extender, while the subcompact i3 will only offer a range extender as an option.  Cadillac comes to the luxury PHEV market with its aforementioned ELR, which promises to marry the sharp lines of the CTS Coupe with the Volt powertrain.

Hyundai is a newcomer to hybrids, having only just launched the Sonata with a conventional hybrid mill. Nevertheless, aggressive Hyundai doesn’t wait to introduce enhancements to its product lines and has been testing a plug-in variant of its hybrid system for several years now. Which model will get the system remains to be seen, but Hyundai has confirmed it will be coming in 2013.

Porsche might seem an unlikely car maker to be introducing a PHEV, but having just launched a mild hybrid system in its Panamera sedan and Cayenne SUV, it is readying the world for a serious push into PHEVs. The first model is the 918 supercar, which will be the fastest PHEV road car on the market – and one of the fastest cars on the road, period, when it touches down in 2013.  Too bad it will also easily be the most expensive hybrid car yet built. Suzuki on the other hand will be making its PHEV offering far more attainable, yet mostly for Japanese consumption. If sales are brisk, a VISA for American sale is likely.

In a push to get the public to reconsider what is possible in not just powertrains but overall footprint as well, Volkswagen confirmed that it will bring the radical XL1 hypermiler coupe to production with a diesel PHEV that promises mileage of 260 miles per gallon. With a body that seems to be the love child of an Audi R8 and a Isetta bubble car, the XL1 will herald a new way forward in better using the resources used to build a car as well as power it. Finally Volvo confirmed its “naughty” V60 sport wagon will come to the United States, also with a diesel PHEV.

With these upcoming models offering plug-in motoring for a variety of lifestyles and pocketbooks, there might very well be something for everyone to consider by 2014. As our fuel prices continue to rise, and the public finally accepting that we have to change our lifestyles or else face the dire consequences of our inaction, the PHEV is one tiny piece of that puzzle. Hopefully auto makers will continue their aggressive push to remove weight and materials from every new car, as these technologically advanced engines are most effective when they have less weight to push around. Nevertheless, from compact to supercar, indications are that CEOs at the world’s automakers have seen the writing on the wall and are doing their part to curb our energy usage behind the wheel.

1. Ford Announces It’s Own Plug-In Hybrid for 2012
2. $845,000 Porsche 918 & Upcoming Alternative Energy Supercars
3. CODA Reveals New Plug-In for 2010

Unique to the i3 and i8 is BMW’s “LifeDrive” architecture. In a typical family car, the monocoque construction means that the body and chassis are one structure, with all important components – engine, suspension, seats, dashboard – bolted to it. BMW has decided to separate the mechanical structures of the car from the occupant space, and created two horizontally separated modules. The Life Module is naturally, the passenger space. Made of CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic) the lightweight cabin is conceptually similar to the driver cell of a Formula 1 race car.

The Drive Module handles the duties of crash resistance and mounting the driving hardware, while packaging the heaviest components and battery in such a way to maximize occupant space and safety. Such an approach was previewed nearly a decade ago by GM’s Hywire “skateboard” concept. BMW however has beaten GM’s advanced concept to market.

While the i3 concept was shown in an electric-only configuration, both it and the i8’s Drive Module can be configured to accept a range-extender gasoline engine. In the i8 sportscar, the i3’s rear-mounted electric motor was moved to the front of the chassis, while a high performance 3 cylinder engine is fitted over the rear axle. In both the i3 and i8 the electric motor produces 125kw/170hp of energy, and a stout 185lbs/ft of torque from a standstill. The range-extender engine in the i8 produces an additional 164 kW/220 hp and 221 lb-ft bringing the total power output to 390hp and 406lbs/ft – figures equivalent to the 2011 BMW 650i luxury coupe. Yet unlike the highly consumptive 650’s 23mpg top highway figure, the i8 promises an outstanding 94mpge on the European combined cycle. With a projected curb weight 1000lbs less than the 650’s porky 4300lbs performance should be stunning as well.

What BMW is promising with its radical LifeDrive architecture is an advanced concept of how occupants can be better packaged within a variety of bodystyles. The i3’s compact hatchback body is roomy, and airy and provides storage space both in the nose and behind the rear passengers. The i8 on the other hand eschews practical space for a laid-back coupe layout. Yet unlike the massive luxury coupes it currently makes, there is plenty of space for 4 occupants to enjoy the blistering performance.

The CRFP body structures of both cars is innovative as it brings a material only found in supercars to the wider public. Carbon fiber has been around since the 1980s, when it was debuted on race cars. While lighter than aluminum, the complexity of working with the material has limited its application to high-cost vehicles. In the i family of cars, BMW touts a 50% reduction of weight over steel while managing to have finally developed a mass-production facility in the United States (In Moses Lake, Washington) for volume production.

The carbon fiber sheets that BMW has developed in conjunction with SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers can be worked like a fabric into shapes unimaginable in steel or aluminum. As a result, both the i3 and i8’s bodies feature radical shapes to help control the flow of air around the car, improving efficiency while simultaneously creating an aesthetic previously only enjoyed by owners of exotic machinery.

The i3 and i8 portend a complete rethink of the car as we know it. While current electric and hybrid efforts from manufacturers package new-think drivetrains into old school sheetmetal, BMW has decided to circumvent this cautious evolution to create cars it is convinced buyers will flock to. Radical materials, and construction are only one patch in the greater Project i quilt. All the cars and their components are slated to be built in facilities using 100% renewable energy. The cars themselves are seen as a part of a greater mobility project where BMW is rethinking the role of how cars are used in cities, and how we own cars.

That the electric motor module in the i3 is the size of 2 cases of beer underscores the change afoot at the company with the name of Bavarian Motor Works. If the i3 and i8 deliver on their promises of high performance with little ecological impact then automakers will be on notice to radically redefine their plug-in offerings in their shadow.

1. BMW Announces Active E lease – 700 units confirmed
2. BMW’s Mini E Lottery
3. Bright Automotive to Debut New Plug-In on April 21: Future Depends on Financing

To date, the development of hybrids and EVs has focused mainly on prosaic, and affordable cars for the masses, and to a lesser extent augmented luxury cars for a more fortunate few. Come 2013 however, the hybrid world’s range will expand exponentially with the release of the most advanced and powerful hybrid cars the world has yet seen.Porsche, the famed maker of iconic sports cars (and less iconic but highly sought after sedans and SUVs) will start delivery of the 918 Spyder to Ultra High Net Worth Individuals globally. With a breathtaking price tag of $845,000 – and performance to match, the 918 promises to smash preconceived notions of the role of hybrids and ecologically friendly automobiles.

The 918 is the first salvo in an upcoming war for preeminence in a yet un-contested luxury alternative energy vehicle battle. Not to be undone, Jaguar has announced its own gorgeous flight of fancy, the C-X75 hybrid supercar which will arrive to do battle for superlatives with the 918 in late 2013. Shown as a concept in 2010 with a radical jet-powered hybrid powertrain, the production version will feature a somewhat less exciting hybrid system consisting of a conventional engine mated to a sophisticated electric motor setup. The price tag of the super cat is also likely to shatter records for the most expensive new Jag ever, at an expected cool $1,000,000+

Not to be outdone, Ferrari has made rumblings about its own hybrid drivetrain, and showcased such a concept on the Kermit-green painted 599 HY-KERS concept from 2010. The Prancing Horse has been quiet however on its plans to release a production car with the advanced flywheel energy system, although a production model announcement is expected. Porsche has also announced it plans to introduce a production hybrid version of its iconic 911 by late 2013, in efforts to marry the abilities of the 918 into a more easily accessible package. Earlier this year, they introduced 3 examples of their Boxster roadster with pure EV drivetrains to evaluate electric motor and battery designs. Audi and Mercedes Benz are also tipped to release EV versions of their top sports models.

Even famed ultra-luxury maker Rolls Royce has entered the alternative energy fray with a powder blue concept sedan, the 102EX (experimental.) Also known as the electric Phantom, the giant Rolls EV features a massive battery pack stacked in a rough approximation of the V12 engine previously found under the hood and 2 electric motors driving the rear wheels.

Which all begs the question, why? Obviously the world’s wealthy aren’t particularly concerned with the vagaries of fuel prices. The answer is, in a word: leadership. Porsche is adamant that their products are relevant to the drivers which they sell to. Indeed, for the entire 20th century Porsche survived exclusively as a sports and racing car builder. Yet now in the early years of the 21st the Porsche brand is embraced for its sedans and SUVs as well as sports cars. According to Rolls Royce, the 102EX is “the world’s first battery electric vehicle for the ultra-luxury segment.” Rolls Royce intends the 102EX to spark a debate amongst customers, thought-leaders and other contributors before committing to a production version.

Porsche is committed to producing cars that resonate with buyers the world over, and with over 1000 customers queued with deposits for the 918, there are individuals who have embraced environmentally sensitive concepts as very relevant to their interests. Rolls Royce is betting on the 102EX to lead them and its customers towards an understanding of how to proceed in a future when gasoline might simply not exist.

Speaking with Autocar in March of 2010, Porsche’s boss Michael Macht stated “The 918 Spyder provides the answer to whether there can be high-performance cars in the future,” he added. “Many have said they are finished. This car shows they are not.” For a brand built on performance, the 918 ensures continuing relevance for the brand. Like all Porsche models, this one will also be sold for profit. Challenging targets of performance, economy and profit drive engineers to develop technology that will very likely spread throughout the entire Porsche range not long after the last 918 rolls out of the Stuttgart factory. This, in turn means that garden-variety Porsches that mere mortals can afford will become increasingly green, while still staying true to the core values of Porsche product.

Jaguar too wants to attract the newly wealthy of the 21st century and move its brand firmly into the future. Unlike Porsche however, the C-X75 project isn’t projected to make a profit. Jaguar is using its development to educate its engineers on the challenges of creating alternative-energy drivetrains that maintain core Jaguar values.

These mega-buck supercars might not be practical like a Prius or BMW hybrid, but they captivate the imagination as well as provide engineers and designers an opportunity to create blue-sky visions of a future where energy is used efficiently whilst still keeping the passion for these iconic brands intact.

1. Upcoming Plug In Hybrids
2. BMW i3 & i8 Concepts Unveiled
3. Will the Fisker Karma Assume the Role of High-Status Hybrid?

1. Honda Might Switch Focus Away from Hydrogen, Toward Plug-ins
2. Test Driving the 2010 Toyota Prius
3. Toyota Announces Plug-in Hybrid Arriving Late 2009

1. BMW Announces Active E lease – 700 units confirmed
2. Central London Shares the Plug-in Pod
3. BMW i3 & i8 Concepts Unveiled

1. $845,000 Porsche 918 & Upcoming Alternative Energy Supercars
2. Toyota Announces Plug-in Hybrid Arriving Late 2009
3. The New Model: Swap N Go

1. Obama Launches $2.4 Billion Program For Plug-In Vehicles
2. Toyota Announces Plug-in Hybrid Arriving Late 2009
3. Bright Automotive to Debut New Plug-In on April 21: Future Depends on Financing

1. New Bill Furthers Plug-In Vehicle Adoption
2. Test Driving the 2010 Toyota Prius
3. Hyundai Unveils Plug-In Concept: BLUE-WILL