Without needing a new car. Avoiding the cost and energy use needed to manufacture a new car.
The steps:
First, power the rear wheels of a front wheel drive economy car (to be converted) to plugin electric drive. A 250 pound weight for this add on system with a 40 to 60 mile range could be offset by substituting lighter composite parts for hoods, doors, bumpers, and so forth on the car.
Second, As batteries get better the gas engine can be removed and replaced with a backup generator that only kicks in after a 100+ mile plugin battery range is exceeded. An electric clutch between the backup generator and front wheel drive car trnsmission can serve as a more efficient direct drive once the batteries have been depleted.
Third, Install a very small and very efficient solid oxide fuel cell/turbine backup generator to replace the old bulky ICE backup. Along with 150+ mile range batteries.
Fourth, install 200+ mile range quick charge batteries. With charging stations at every gas station, dispense with the fuel cell, you have reached zero fuel status. How many years will that take? Maybe 10 to 20 until the last step is the norm.
Government ought to lead with million vehicle conversion orders. Like they ordered millions of jeeps, trucks, shops, planes and so forth in WW 2 war production.
The mass production efficiency would lower the cost. That way car owners would get a few years payback, in expensive gasoline costs, at each step. A very good investment. Especially along with renewable home energy from solar, wind, and maybe even some garden biogas. Flex fuel biogas/gasoline backup generators can be had for step two.
Baby step your economy car over the hump to the downside of oil guzzling transportation.
