Ford C-Max Energi

When the Ford Focus Electric launched last summer, only 67 Ford dealers across the nation were certified to sell the company's plug-in vehicle. By November, that number surpassed 200. Ford now says the number of EV Certified dealers will exceed 900 by Spring. Certified dealers must have plug-in cars ready to demonstrate, and staff trained to understand electric vehicle.

Here’s a new twist on the price premium argument against buying a car that plugs into the grid. Ford priced the plug-in version of the C-Max so close to the conventional hybrid version that—after considering federal and state incentives, as well as trim packages—shoppers can drive away with the plug-in at virtually the same price.

With sales of 1,766 units, the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid topped the sales chart in the plug-in segment in November. When you add sales of the Chevy Volt, and the first purchases of the C-Max Energi, the popularity of plug-in hybrids—over pure electric cars like the Nissan LEAF—become very evident.