First of all, no matter how quickly electric cars get here, it won't represent a huge step up until we have a modern electrical grid suplied by clean, renewable energy. Otherwise, we're still essentially powering our cars with coal. Second, what exactly is the promise of hybrids if not as a step towards vehicles that don't utilize fossil fuel at all? The oil is running out. Hybrids are the best thing on the road right now not because my grandchildren will be driving them, because they won't, but because they use less of a dwindling resource while helping to create the market for alternative vehicles, without which electric cars would not be proceeding nearly so quickly.

The article might see it as a failure, but in terms of the advent of electric cars, there can be no greater destiny for the hybrid than to make possible its own obsolescence.

Isn't that what I said?

Electric motor in Prius is getting more and more powerful. The 2010 Prius has 80 hp electric motor. We are getting closer...