Iceland is moving forward with an EV plan led by Northern Lights Energy in partnership with U.S.-based Amp Electric Vehicles. With a tiny population concentrated in Reykjavik, it's a perfect candidate for the world's first electric transportation network.

While major carmakers have dragged their heels on delivering the next big breakthrough on fuel efficiency, the plug-in hybrid, a small group of California entrepreneurs and innovators have made it possible for consumers to convert existing hybrids into plug-in cars running mostly on electricity. Yet, later this week, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is expected to adopt new regulations that could put many of those conversion companies out of business.

In recent years, the State of California has become the unofficial capital of plug-in hybrid technology. But proposed certification standards from the California Air Resource Board (CARB) could create an obstacle for small companies selling plug-in hybrid conversion kits.

Last week, former Intel CEO Andy Grove called for a massive effort to put 10 million plug-in hybrids on the roads in the next four years. His plan is simple: Harness the ingenuity of America’s entrepreneurs to convert a sizable chunk of America’s existing non-hybrid gas guzzlers to plug-in hybrids. Groves comments illustrated how an expert in one industry can reveal himself as a novice in another.

A sobering reminder of the hazards in adding plug-in capabilities to hybrids comes from reports that a plug-in Prius conversion was destroyed in a fire. The news spread quickly through the online community of plug-in enthusiasts, bringing calls for all known information to be publicized as quickly as possible.