Ideas for PHEV paint job or decals?

I had some made for my car.. will try and post. I designed and cut them today

Mike

 

Here you go! My design.. I used blue for the center of the plugs to match factory emblems.... Feel free to copy if you like. I liked the PHEV because it looked simple..

 

You could just leave a cord dangling from a plug that sparks as it drags along the ground--as an added bonus it helps keep tailgaters away, but on the other hand that might reduce mileage .

In all seriousness, I think lots of people understand what a plugin hybrid is in concept now (though I guess this depends on where you live...) since there now OEMs involved. People may still be confused by the acronym "PHEV", but I think as a whole people are becoming much more educated as to what a plugin vehicle is. What I don't think people yet understand is how available / practical they are for every day uses (you wouldn't believe how many times I get the question "So who calls the tow truck you when you run out of battery power?"). Sure, they may not be cost effective at this point--but neither are luxury cars or SUVs. At least our cars make a positive difference.

One other quasi-related thing: I've begun to find that many people now erroneously think that all Priuses / hybrids are electric vehicles and are surprised when I tell them that the plug costs extra.

I'm not really sure how to put that in a bumper sticker or if that otherwise helps you at all, just thought I'd share my 2 cents. Perhaps you should make your bumper sticker a flow-chart of exactly what happens at the various stages of driving (Another joke, please don't actually do this...).

Andrew

 

Very nice.

 

How about oversize graphics of the various electrical parts? Like a giant plug, some batteries, and an electric motor. It'd be *really* cool if you could make them light up when they're in use, with changing arrows to show the current flow, like an mfd on the outside. Hey, you said you wanted ideas.....

 

In my experience, most folks are oblivious/ignorant/misinformed about
hybrids.

Strangely, a plug-in hybrid will bring their confused/false
misunderstandings more into line with reality.

It comes down to saying the most significant things quickly and clearly.

Something quietly factual. Emphatic, but not up in everyone's face.
On a clear sticker, maybe in red, maybe reflective silver or white.
Something like:

PLUG-IN HYBRID -- ~XXX MPG
-- Gas + Elec = $0.03/mi. You? --

I'm thinking of something roughly bumper sticker size. To put inside,
on the vertical rear hatch glass -- it's best not to risk messing up the
painted plastic fender cover when you take it off.

Then again, I think it would be cool to do something representative of
an unstopable change in sea state for the family car. A full car graphic
of the Great Wave:



The wave would reach up and across the rear windows and somehow
be wrapped around the rear hatch. Mount Fuji and the boat to the right
would be cropped out but that wave would rise over the front wheel
well and wrap around the front bumper and hood.

On what color car?
I wish I could do the idea justice with a Photo Shopped image.

 

I designed my Plugs-In bumper-sticker: http://smilingdogsranch.com/priusblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/DSC_00112.jpg