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Energy Monger's Nightmare
The power and wealth shakers and movers have to just hate the plug-in hybrid. Think about it. The last thing an oil company wants is for the consumer to be able to express an elastic response to an increased fuel price. Currently, with no options, the commuter must buy fuel to get to work even if reduced to a diet of top ramen and peanut butter. As such once the vacation taking habit has been crushed by high fuel prices/low wages the fuel demand is classically inelastic. The same problem is faced by utilities. As EV use becomes more common it would be a monopolis's wet dream to be able to buy off the utilities and rates commission (has been done on occasion) and give the pure EV energy user the no highway option. Here is your no-option commuter bite, like it or lump it. The plug-in hybrid should be considered the patriotic option. It forces the high and mighty to face the one thing the power elite hate the most, being forced to compete and become more efficient with the benefit going to the lowly consumer. Raise my electric bill too high, buy more fuel. Raise my fuel cost too much, watch me use the plug a lot more.
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