Should Plug-Ins And Hybrids Offer A Range Of Battery Sizes?

You can choose from two or more engine and transmission options in most gasoline cars, so why not offer a choice of battery-pack sizes in hybrids and plug-in electric cars?

That was the question posed by the launch of the Tesla Model S, which was originally offered with three different battery capacities.

Now the notion of optional battery upgrades seems to be spreading.

DON'T MISS: 2016 Chevrolet Volt To Launch Next Year: What We Know So Far

There are persistent rumors that the 2016 Chevrolet Volt range-extended electric hatchback will offer at least two battery options: one for the original range of roughly 40 miles, but a lower-range option of perhaps 25 or 30 miles to reduce the sticker price.

And the 2016 Toyota Prius is also rumored to offer two battery packs, a standard nickel-metal-hydride pack delivering a combined rating of 55 miles per gallon and an optional and pricier lithium-ion pack that could give a 60-mpg rating.

The optional pack might also be connected to the plug-in hybrid version of the 2016 Prius, which Toyota has said will have a higher electric range than the current model's anemic 11 miles (with only 6 miles continuous even on the relatively gentle EPA test cycles).