For all you nerdlingers who need to brag about fuel economy around the water cooler, soon you'll be able to buy a factory-built 125 MPG XR3 diesel-electric hybrid straight out of the box.
The XR3 plug-in hybrid has been around since about 2006 as a kit vehicle, requiring the DIYer to do all the wrenching, assembling the T-shaped chassis, installing the lithium-ion batteries, the 23 HP diesel, the electric motor, suspension, body, etc. Think of the XR3 as a super simplified Chevy Volt, it has a 40 mile all-electric range, but the diesel engine and electric motor are completely decoupled and the driver controls selection of drive system instead of a computer.
Now, according to company owner Robert Q. Riley (which totally sounds like a made up name) the vehicle is going to be available with most of the work completed direct from the factory. The complete details aren't available yet, but some degree of assembly is slated to take place at the companies Cleveland manufacturing facility, we're assuming everything will be assembled except the installation of the diesel and electric motor, in order to avoid costly Federal certification.
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