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I don't think manufacturers are "obsessed" with sub-30 mile PHEVs. Rather, you said it yourself, it's a matter of cost and packaging. A bigger battery costs more and takes up more space. In an EV, the battery can be packaged to use much of the space normally taken by the fuel tank and exhaust system. But, since a PHEV has a gas engine and fuel tank like a conventional vehicle, the battery is going to end up taking space from either the passenger compartment or the trunk. As manufacturers move towards more "clean sheet" PHEVs like the Volt, hopefully we will see greater EV range without the space compromises.