Cars Hybrid

Problems With Future Plug-In Hybrids

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:18:00 +0000

Ah, the plug-in hybrid! It has been long-heralded as the answer to the oil problem and the release of some of the first models has been hotly anticipated by serious hybrid enthusiasts.

So, what exactly is the difference between the hybrids currently on the road and plug-in hybrids?
Basically, the hybrids on the road today use their electric power when they can, and use gas as the primary fuel source. The fuel efficiency when compared to a standard vehicle is still amazing, but when the hybrid becomes a plug-in hybrid, the reported fuel economy shoots sky high. Plug-ins use electric power first and then fuel. The batteries are built to hold more electric power and so can use electricity for more powerful work.

What are the potential problems?
In the next few years, an abundance of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) will be hitting the showrooms and the roads of America. Almost every major automaker is getting in on the game because they anticipate that PHEVs will begin to account for an increasing percentage of sales in the coming years. The short-list of who’s bringing a plug-in to the table:

* General Motors (the Volt)
* Chrysler has three in the works
* Nissan (EV-02)
* Mitsubishi (iMiev)
* Tesla (Roadster)
* Toyota (Plug-in Prius)
* Ford (Plug-In Hybrid Ford Escape)

Like any new technology, early adopters of the plug-in hybrids will probably experience a few kinks in the performance of their cars. However, if the early adopters don’t buy the new plug-ins and help generate a mainstream demand as they did with current hybrids, the whole technology could disappear from showroom floors as auto manufacturers see that no one is buying.

The potential problems those early buyers may face fall into three main categories:

1. Cost. Current lithium-ion batteries don’t respond well to large swings in charging cycles. The plug-in hybrid concept depends on a battery that can handle large swings well. Large lithium-ions can handle them better, but often, the huge size can be prohibitive to keeping the design of the car small and light. Lithium-ion batteries are very expensive so if the original battery is not built to withstand large charge cycle swings, battery replacement may have to occur more frequently than with other types of cars.
2. Life-span. This excerpt from Popular Mechanics best explains this potential pit-fall:
The current Prius, which uses nickel-metal-hydride batteries, has a 10-year warranty on the battery pack, but Toyota’s Reinert admitted that such a guarantee would be very difficult to offer on the electrified version. “If the warranty is only three years, are customers going to accept that?” he asked. Unless battery life can be improved, plug-in cars might succeed in reducing fuel cost per mile, only to transfer the burden of capital costs of imported batteries to the owner.
3. Available Technology. As more and more PHEVs hit the road, more and more people will need to charge them at home or at work. This could overwhelm an electric grid if it is not properly prepared,

It seems to me that PHEVs are indeed the wave of the future, but I suspect we might all be better off if automakers spent the next few years perfecting their design and campaigning for a solid infrastructure. That would improve the odds for success of these cars when they do start selling. What do you think?

Paris Auto Show Features More Hybrids

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:18:00 +0000

Updates and wrap up from the Paris Auto Show

Paris Auto Show 2008Last week, automakers from around the world converged in Paris to showcase their newest concept cars and innovations. Today (October 19th) is the last day of the show and it is evident that small is in and that hybrids are all the rage. The Paris Auto Show comes on the heels of major economic downturn in the United States, thereby making small, fuel-efficient cars even more appealing to consumers who have watched gas prices rise, stocks tumble and the government bicker over how to solve the situation.

Here are just a few things that have the industry buzzing in Paris:

* Honda’s new Insight. Due in the U.S. in 2010, the latest reincarnation of the Insight will again be going head-to-head with Toyota’s Prius. Priced around $20,000, the Insight will be about $3,000 cheaper than the Prius, and will be roomier than the earlier version. Rather than seating just two, the 2010 Insight will hold five passengers.
* Mercedes S-class mild hybrid. When this luxury vehicle arrives in the U.S. in 2009, it may just be the most affordable luxury vehicle yet. Though the hybrid technology is not full, the presence of a lithium-ion battery does increase fuel efficiency.
* A green Lamborghini? A new Lamborghini four-door concept, the Estoque, may or may not be a hybrid when it goes into production next year. The top-of-the-line automaker is remaining mum on whether the new car will feature hybrid technology or high-performance diesel.
* Audi gets 62 miles per gallon. The new Audi concept car is boasting high performance and high fuel efficiency. The Sportback is shooting to go about 62 miles in electric only mode – a feat not yet conquered by any other hybrid on the market.

One thing is for sure, there are more hybrid and green technologies on display at the Paris auto show than we have ever seen before. The trend toward a more fuel-efficient and eco-friendly vehicle is here to stay. This has brought changes in what’s under the hood as well as design changes. Increased aerodynamics and lighter frames are bringing even larger cars and SUVs into the green future.

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Coming in 2010

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:00:00 +0000

It’s no secret that the hybrid car market is heating up these days. Consumers have to be wait-listed for the privilege of owning some breeds of the green vehicle and auto manufacturers can barely keep up with demand. The technology of it all is brimming with possibilities and each month brings a new advance in the quest for a cleaner, more efficient vehicle.

Hyundai has, for the past few years, sat back and observed the hybrid race as other auto giants compete for sales. Now, it seems the time is right for Hyundai to finally join the fray. Starting with a hybrid version of the best-selling sedan, the Sonata in 2010, Hyundai is hoping to offer something unique to the U.S. hybrid market.

The hybrid Sonata will feature a lithium-ion battery, similar to the ones currently used in cell phones and laptops and the one that will power Chevy’s plug-in hybrid to be released in 2010, the Volt. This will make the Sonata hybrid the first mass-produced vehicle to feature the lithium-ion battery, which some say is more efficient. A lot will depend on how quickly this battery technology can be readied, and then upon availability.

Hyundai plans to roll the car out at the Los Angeles Auto Show this November and have the car for sale in lots by 2010. Though the car will feature the same battery as the Chevy Volt, the technology that runs the car will be different. While the Chevy is a plug-in hybrid, the Sonata hybrid will run on a parallel hybrid system. An electric motor and gas-burning engine will work in concert to increase fuel economy.

Once the Sonata enters the market, further increasing competition and encouraging all auto-makers to do something really different, Hyundai plans to keep up much better than they have in the decade since the first hybrid rolled off the lot. Hyundai’s chief technology officer Lee Hyun-soon has said that Hyundai hopes to release a plug-in hybrid of its own soon after 2013. Hyundai already has deals with several battery and technology firms, including LG Chem, SK Energy and SB LiMotive to develop high-quality batteries that will allow a Hyundia plug-in to surpass the efficiency of the Chevy model.

I myself am quite partial to Hyundais, and if this is successful I would expect them to follow with a hybrid Accent, Elantra, Tucson or Santa Fe next. Seeing all this news, though, I wonder if I would jump at their first hybrid or wait for their plug-in model in 2013. Definitely worth watching. Still no word on this cars price, but with the 2009 Sonata between $19,000 and $25,000 I’d have to guess the hybrid version might have an MSRP approaching $30,000. Gas mileage is also being kept under wraps, but if the Korean manufacturer can muster a 25% improvement, expect it to average over 30 mpg.

Toyota Camry Hybrid

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:24:00 +0000

The 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid is quickly developing a reputation as one of the most comfortable, reliable, and stylish green cars on the market today. We had an opportunity to experience, first hand, the driveability and fuel consumption of this carryover sedan.

The Camry Hybrid is powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 147 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. It's also equipped with a 40 horsepower electric motor, bringing the total output to 187 horsepower, which is more than enough for virtually all traffic and driving conditions. The Camry Hybrid almost never feels short on power, and grants near-perfect throttle response. This is ideal for highway on-ramps, and launches from zero when red goes to green. On the other side, the Camry rarely comes on too strong when driving in lower-speed situations. It's a controlled and balanced four-door, slotting comfortably between family sedan and sports sedan.

Government Fuel Economy for the new Camry is 33 city/34 highway. To test its real-world efficiency we took the Camry Hybrid on a 122 mile round-trip from Aberdeen, Maryland to York, Pennsylvania and back. The mixed-driving route was comprised of small in-town roads, two-lane byways and country roads, and approximately 40 miles on Interstate 83. We achieved combined gas mileage of 35.2 miles per gallon, slightly exceeding government estimates—as well as our own expectations.

Found within the gauge cluster, and directly behind the steering wheel, the Camry offers a very well-placed center-console screen, which allows the driver to keep track of how the hybrid powertrain is operating. The clever animation scheme represents the gas engine, the electric power, and the regenerative braking, as well as an arrow indicating the flow of energy—two arrows when the gas engine and electric motor are working in conjunction. To the left of this display is an analog-style consumption meter which displays the instantaneous miles-per-gallon reading. It is unclear how accurate this gauge actually is.

As far as handling goes, the Camry is more than competent. It corners well and offers plenty of driver feedback—as we experienced on the switchback roads of northern Maryland and southern Pennsylvania. But the Camry is best known for its ride quality. It offers a smooth and compliant road feel that makes it an ideal vehicle for long trips and daily commuting. Furthermore, the transition from gas engine to electric motor and back again, is one of the most seamless we’ve seen so far.

World’s First Hybrid SUV Stretch Limo

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:14:00 +0000

It’s not the first hybrid stretch limousine, because a Canadian firm converted a Prius into a 10-seater last year. But it does appear to be the first stretch limo built from the body of a hybrid SUV, making it the world’s largest hybrid gas-electric vehicle—if it were not for hybrid buses and locomotives which have been around for years.

GM Models That Achieve 30 mpg Plus

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:19:00 +0000

For 2009, General Motors offers 18 models in the U.S. that get 30 miles per gallon on the highway, more than is expected of any other automaker. They include cars, crossovers and SUVs from GM’s Chevrolet, Pontiac and Saturn brands.
Chevrolet, GM’s largest brand, leads with eight, along with five each from Pontiac and Saturn. Four-cylinder, six-speed models of the Chevrolet Malibu and Saturn Aura lead among midsize sedans with 33 mpg highway, along with the Pontiac G6. The Chevy Cobalt XFE and Pontiac G5 XFE win among, gasoline-fueled subcompacts at 37 mpg highway.

Here are the models, along with their EPA-estimated highway fuel economy:

Chevrolet: Aveo sedan, Aveo5 (34 mpg with automatic or manual); Cobalt coupe and sedan (30 mpg for SS Turbocharged; 33 mpg for 2.2L automatic); Cobalt XFE (37); Malibu 2.4L (30 mpg with four-speed automatic; 33 mpg with six-speed); Malibu Hybrid (34), HHR (30 mpg with 2.2L and automatic or manual) and HHR Panel (30 mpg with 2.2L and automatic or manual).

Pontiac: G5 (33 mpg automatic, 35 mpg manual); G5 GT (32 mpg automatic, 35 mpg manual), G5 XFE coupe (37); G6 2.4L sedan (30 mpg with four-speed automatic, 33 mpg with six-speed); Vibe (1.8L model, 31 with automatic, 32 mpg with manual).

Saturn: Astra 5-Door; Astra 3-Door (all 30 mpg with automatic, 32 with manual); Aura four-cylinder (33); Aura Hybrid (34); and Vue Hybrid (32).

Australian Toyota Supplier for Hybrid Cars on the Brink of Collapse

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:03:00 +0000

A CAR component manufacturer with a contract to supply parts for the new hybrid Toyota Camry is on the brink of collapse with more than 100 jobs at risk.

Teson Trims, the largest employer in the Victorian town of Euroa, is struggling, and threatens to become another victim of the car industry slowdown.

Strathbogie Shire Council Mayor Gregory Carlson said yesterday he expected the future of the company, a car interior manufacturer, to be resolved by early next week.

“We’ll find out what the facts are when we meet with the company on Monday,” he said. “But you have got to be upfront. The prospects look rather dim. We all know about the car components industry. It has not been a font of good news for some time.”

Mr Carlson said closure of Teson Trims would have a potentially devastating impact on the town, which has a population of 3300. He said the number of workers employed by the company ranged between 70 and 150 at peak periods. “The cost (to Euroa) would be equivalent to a regional centre losing thousands of jobs,” he said.

It is believed negotiations have been held about appointing an administrator to the company in a bid to have it trade its way out of the predicament.

The company declined to comment, but the National Union of Workers called on Teson’s major customers to work to save Teson, which has operated in Euroa since the early 1970s.

Antony Thow, the union’s Victorian secretary, said: “We are hopeful that the business can trade out of its current situation. We’re asking major customers to support a great Australian company that’s been in Euroa for decades.”

Victorian Industry Minister Theo Theophanous said he understood Teson was in difficulty and the Government was in discussions with the company.

Meanwhile, hostilities have broken out between Mr Theophanous and unions over the direction of the Government’s manufacturing policy.

Mr Theophanous has criticised Steve Dargavel, the state secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, after the union official said his attempts to provide input into Labor’s overdue manufacturing statement had been rebuffed.

In a letter obtained by the ABC’s Stateline program, Mr Theophanous said Mr Dargavel’s comments, reported in The Australian, were ill-informed.

But union leaders last night appeared on the program attacking Mr Theophanous. Trades Hall Council secretary Brian Boyd said he believed the Government had “missed the boat in terms of protecting the manufacturing industry in general in Victoria and also protecting very important Victorian jobs”.

Michele O’Neil, assistant national secretary of the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union, said former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett had been more outspoken in defending the textile industry than John Brumby or Mr Theophanous. She said it was not good enough that the Government’s Manufacturing Industry Consultative Council had not met for 16 months.

Honda Civic Hybrid Reported Excellent Sales in India

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:02:00 +0000

Honda Civic Hybrid, the first hybrid car of India has witnessed unexpected sales. Till now the company has sold around 50 hybrid cars, mainly to the Honda car dealers and a small percentage to high networth individuals.

Ford engineer believes in electrification

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:02:00 +0000

Ford Motor Co.'s global product development chief, Derrick Kuzak, believes the future is not hydrogen. It's not biofuels, nor gasoline either. It's electricity. Ironically, however, he doesn't seem to know when Ford would be rolling out this future. Instead, Kuzak told the DetroitNews that Ford would still work on ALL these technologies. And, he also took a shot at hybrid cars, calling them too expensive.

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:23:00 +0000

Chrysler’s new line of electric cars are “closer to production than you think,” said Chrysler president Jim Press earlier today. He explained that Chrysler is currently demonstrating electric cars and plug-in hybrids to dealers to get their feedback.

When challenged as to whether a Chrysler plug-in hybrid could beat GM’s much-publicized Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid to market, Press deferred with a joke, saying, “GM’s been selling the Volt for about five years.” He added that Chrysler “didn’t have the money for PR stunts,” but was focused on getting its new products to market.

Chrysler is under pressure to deliver exciting and innovative new cars. On Wednesday, Chrysler said its sales in the United States fell by a third in August—nearly twice the industry average. Honda bypassed Chrysler to become the nation’s No. 4 seller of cars.

Chrysler's hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electic vehicles are coming out of the year-old ENVI program, which was organized to jump-start Chrysler’s move to develop its own ground-up hybrids. The company’s first hybrid products, the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen two-mode hybrids, use technology developed jointly by their former parent company Daimler with General Motors and BMW. Chrysler is the last of the six largest car companies to put a hybrid on the market.

2010 Honda Insight

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:34:00 +0000

After concept cars and spy shots and teases of information, the new Honda Insight has broken cover.

Honda promises a Paris auto show debut for the new hybrid vehicle, which revives the Insight nameplate formerly applied to the two-seat hybrid vehicle that inaugurated the gas-electric class in the U.S. in the late 1990s.

Honda says the Insight's shape bears the hallmarks of its larger, fuel-cell-powered FCX Clarity, but it's hard not to see some echoes of the Toyota Prius in its greenhouse--though the front end is quite Civic-like in its appearance. The new Insight seats five, Honda says, and the rear seats fold for improved cargo access.

The important innovation in the new Insight is a much less complex, much more affordable hybrid drivetrain, the company says. It will allow the Insight to be sold for a price significantly lower than today's hybrids, Honda says. The automaker expects to sell 200,000 of the vehicles each year worldwide, with 100,000 heading to the U.S. from its Suzuka, Japan, factory. Combined with a production version of the CR-Z coupe hybrid concept, the new family of hybrids could swell to 500,000 sales annually.

The new 2010 Honda Insight bows at the Paris show on October 2, and goes on sale in the U.S. in the spring of 2009.

Toyota and Lexus secret hybrid cars revealed

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:02:00 +0000

CAR Online has compiled a secret dossier of all the hybrid petrol-electric cars under development at Toyota and Lexus. Today we can reveal a new wave of eco-friendly plug-in hybrids – with confidential details of the next Prius and all the new models that will build on the success of Toyota and Lexus battery cars.

There will be a new family of Prius hybrid models, as previously reported in CAR, as well as a new Lexus RX hybrid, sportier batter-powered cars and a top-secret petrol-electric Lexus hatchback. Read on for the full story...

Never change a winning formula, is the message. The Prius remains the world´s best-selling hybrid passenger car by a huge margin. The Lexus RX400h practically owns the hybrid crossover market. So why mess with the recipe?

Encouraged by this strong demand, Toyota will launch the Prius III at the Detroit auto show in January 2009. A new Lexus RX450h will be unwrapped at the Sema show in November 2008 this autumn. And a new baby Lexus hybrid is tipped to put in a surprise appearance at the autumn 2008 Los Angeles show or at Geneva 2009.

Challenged by Honda, which is determined to crack 100,000 annual sales with its next, cheaper hybrid model (scooped by CAR this week), the Prius III offers more of the same: an oddball design, a space-age cockpit and a nickel metal hydride battery pack which costs only €850 plus VAT (£700) should it ever need to be replaced.

Why does the new Toyota Prius retain the old kink-in-the-roof look? Because it shouts 'I am an environment-conscious driver'. Because it´s the number one customer feelgood factor. And because the Japanese believe the Prius has icon potential just like the Porsche 911. Seriously.

But this time round, there will be a whole family of Prius models. So in 2010 we'll see an MPV Prius and in 2011 a seven-seater XXL wagon. The Prius people carrier looks like a cross between a VW Touran, Golf Plus and Caddy Maxi; the Prius estate like a Toyota Avensis wagon.
While the current Prius manages 104g CO2/km, the follow-up model is good for 95g/km in Normal mode and just 89g/km in extra-cost Eco guise. It will – at a stroke – move the green car goalposts again, then.

And if that's not clean enough, about one year after the base model arrives in Europe in June 2009, Toyota will roll out the even more efficient – and more expensive – lithium-ion version. Then in 2011, all Prius III models will be available in plug-in configuration, allowing a longer range on zero-emissions battery power.

Honda to debut Prius-fighter concept this Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 06:37:00 +0000

If there’s one vehicle that’s leading the pack for “Car of the Future, Today,” it’s the Toyota Prius. The world’s most popular hybrid will have it’s own plug-in version sooner than expected, but the competition isn’t waiting to try and take its hybrid crown. Honda’s “Prius fighter” has been talked about for what seems like ages (spy shots here) and we’re getting awfully close to seeing the real deal. We already know it’ll look something like the fuel cell-driven FCX Clarity, but details beyond that are scarce. We had been told the reveal would happen at the Paris Motor Show next month, but word from Honda is that we’ll now see it in just 48 hours when the concept version is revealed on Thursday, Sept. 4th. After that we can view the concept in person at the Paris show, and then the production version is expect to bow at the Detroit Auto Show in January.

Honda will begin selling the car early next year and word is that it will be affordable. While the official MSRP is still a long way off, Honda’s UK environmental manager John Kingston told Just-Auto (sub. req’d) that it should not cost more than “traditional cars from rival manufacturers.” Hybrid premium, what hybrid premium? On the technical front, the size of the car’s revised Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system has been reduced and the lighter powerplant will help push up its MPG numbers. What those are remains a mystery, but Honda is expecting to sell around 200,000 of these puppies a year, with half of those being bought in the U.S. Sounds good, now can we just see the thing already?

Honda wants small hybrid models

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:00:00 +0000

It seems that a big hybrid car is not in Honda’s plans anytime soon. The company plans to put hybrid systems into compacts and subcompacts because that’s where the green technology achieves its greatest efficiencies, according to Masaaki Kato, president of Honda R&D Co.

The strategy differs from that of Honda’s rivals, which largely have been installing hybrid drivetrains in luxury sedans and SUVs in hopes of keeping customers in the big cars. In contrast Honda’s next hybrid will likely be smaller than the Civic. After that, an even smaller sports hybrid, the CR-Z, arrives. Around 2012, a hybrid Fit may be added.

Unfortunately this Toyota will not be available to lease to the general public but will be leased to the Japanese Ministry of Environment. The press release indicates that they will lease for around 840,000 yen per month for 30 months. Whether this is for the whole fleet or not is unclear but that equates to £4,231 per month. This vehicle will acheive a rather pacy 96 mph and will generate 122 PS and as with any electrical vehicle it has tremendous torque of 260 N/m. Although this vehicle is not available to lease to the British public it signals a step froward in the market as a progression towards commercially available Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars.

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:24:00 +0000

Unfortunately this Toyota will not be available to lease to the general public but will be leased to the Japanese Ministry of Environment. The press release indicates that they will lease for around 840,000 yen per month for 30 months. Whether this is for the whole fleet or not is unclear but that equates to £4,231 per month.

This vehicle will acheive a rather pacy 96 mph and will generate 122 PS and as with any electrical vehicle it has tremendous torque of 260 N/m.

Although this vehicle is not available to lease to the British public it signals a step froward in the market as a progression towards commercially available Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars.

Electric car from Audi to be a Volkswagen up!?

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:29:00 +0000

It was only last April that Audi was saying that it had no plans for an electric car (EV) in the immediate future. It’s possible they’re operating under a different definition of “immediate future” than us or maybe they have just changed their minds because, according to Car Magazine Online, Audi has unofficially said it will offer an electric version of the Volkswagen up! when they become available, possibly before 2011. In terms of vehicle development lead times that sure sounds like “immediate future” to us! Of course, it is conceivable they may be as just as flaky with their EV plans as they have been with their Q5 and Q7 hybrid programs. If there are more up! production delays, Audi may may a plan B. According to another bite-sized article in Car Magazine Online, Audi is also considering reviving its A2 (R.I.P. 2005) with an aluminum space frame (ASF) and stuffing it full of batteries. With all Audi’s indecision though, a more sure bet may be Volkswagen making an electric Volkswagen.

Ford Aims to be Hybrid Vehicle Leader

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:16:00 +0000

After some disappointing quarterly results, Ford has made it clear where its future lies - with plans to become the number one hybrid car producer in America next year.

Ford intends to double the number of hybrid cars it offers with hybrid versions of the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan to be added to the Mercury Mariner and Ford Escape Hybrid the company already offers.

The company’s director of powertrain research, Dan Kapp, discussed the long-term strategy for the business at a recent Press event in Portland, Oregon, and outlined that the plan is to advance fuel-saving technologies across the product line and begin to delve into plug-in hybrids and more. After that the company will look into hydrogen fuel-cell cars, biofuel-powered cars and any other new technologies.

In particular, Kapp chose to highlight the EcoBoost engine available on select models. With direct injection and turbo charging it can raise fuel economy by as much as 20 per cent and can lower exhaust emissions by around 15 per cent.

Kapp also highlighted that Ford offers the first driveable hydrogen fuel-cell PHEV in the Edge HySeries but admitted that Ford was not pursuing hydrogen powered cars as quickly as Honda.

Double jeopardy for tax payers

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:58:00 +0000

Yesterday, I blogged on how the city of Flint is providing millions in tax breaks to GM to help fund the Chevy Volt, and GM is also seeking millions from the state as well. Likewise, GM is also requesting part of $50 billion in low interest, government backed loans to help in the conversion to vehicles with better fuel economy, such as smaller vehicles and hybrid cars. And, when GM finally starts selling the Volt, it will probably need large tax incentives for consumers in order to make these vehicles affordable.

And, if Ford and Chrysler ever develop real plans to address fuel economy, they'll need just as much help.

Yet, the pain doesn't stop there. Automakers claim that CAFE will increase the price of all vehicles significantly. Thus, not only are tax payers committing billions in loans and tax breaks to Detroit, they're also going to have to pay more for the products their tax dollars are helping to fund.

Without doubt, US automakers provide great jobs for many Americans, but how did things get so screwed up? More important, can the US auto industry really be saved, or are we just delaying the inevitable?

DIY hybrid car

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:57:00 +0000

Among the innumerable amount of ‘do it yourself’ (DIY) things like lamp shades, book shelves, guitars, solar cookers, now comes a brand new addition – An automobile. As per instructions from the product design company in Glendale, Arizona, anybody can personally build their own unique crossbreed car namely the XR3, Robert Q, that will give 225 miles per gallon. With the firm offering $200 worth of construction plans, the whole activity could be little challenging yet a lot of fun.

This car will run either on an electric or a diesel-based hybrid, with a rough estimate of $5000 for the spare parts of an electric replica. The building process could be a little taxing, but no pain no gain right? This DIY car is a definite dream coming true for all those car lovers who have always wanted to own a custom-made mobile!

Chevrolet Cruze on the Way

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:17:00 +0000

General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner revealed a full-size foam model of the new Chevrolet Cruze last week. GM announced that it will invest $500 million to build the all-new global compact car that will replace the Chevy Cobalt in the United States. The automaker calls it “the first of an all-new generation of fuel-efficient small cars.”

Slightly smaller than the Cobalt, the Cruze could become the carmaker’s fiercest competitor for car shoppers looking to save money at the pump. “We expect the Cruze to have segment-leading fuel economy,” a company spokesperson told the Associated Press. “It will significantly exceed the Cobalt XFE‘s numbers.” The Cobalt XFE has been one of Chevy’s top all-around sellers, offering fuel economy of 25 in the city and 37 on the highway—with a combined mileage of about 32 miles per gallon.

Though no official mpg figures have been released for the Cruze, industry insiders are expecting combined fuel economy to approach or even exceed 40 miles per gallon. If this is the case, Chevrolet may have a viable alternative to high-mileage hybrid cars from Toyota and Honda.

Abroad, the Cruze will be outfitted with a choice of 1.6- and 1.8-liter gasoline engines, and a 2.0-liter turbo diesel. In the US, it will be powered by a turbocharged version of the 1.4-liter engine, also to be used in the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid. The key to the Cruze’s efficiency is its compact powertrain and light-weight architecture.

GM is aiming for mass appeal with the Cruze’s visual design: wraparound headlights, a two-tier grille and front wing lines—features that are becoming part of “the design language for future GM models,” according to the company.

A concept prototype of the Cruze will debut at the Paris Auto Show this October, with product launches planned for Europe and Asia some time next year. In the US, it will be built at GM’s Lordstown, Oh. plant, and will arrive in showrooms in mid-2010 as a 2011 model.

Chicago In Top Fives For Hybrid Cars

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:49:00 +0000

Chicago ranked fifth among American cities for sales of new hybrid cars, according to a survey by Hybridcars.com and reported in the Sun-Times.

Chicago had 4,862 new hybrid car registrations, the paper reported, putting it behind Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Washington, D.C.

Illinois also ranks fifth in hybrid sales by state, coming after California, New York, Florida and Texas.

Toyota Prius Hybrid Car

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:49:00 +0000

Motor Trends Car of the Year for 2004, North American Car of the Year in 2004, 2004 International Engine of the Year, 2005 European Car of the Year, 2006 Energuide Award in the Midsize segment, this and more are the accolades given to the Toyota Prius Hybrid Car. Undoubtedly one of the most popular and most regarded competitor in the ever growing hybrid car segment, the Toyota Prius has definitely made a marked in the motor industry.

The Toyota Prius is a Hybrid car that makes a bold statement against environmental issues and the rising gas prices. It is also the first ever mass-produced hybrid car for commercial purposes. Its name itself means first.

The Toyota Prius hybrid car was first sold in Japan in 1997 before it was distributed all over the globe 4 years later in 2001. Its popularity was boosted by environmentalists touting it as the car for the future to save our planet from air pollution. Sales in North America ws strong and increasing annually. By fall of 2006, the Toyota Prius hybrid car had the strongest demand and has the longest preorder and waiting list there is presently.

Toyota sees the Prius as a venue that would provide the consumers with a vehicle that would produce less pollution and to be very energy efficient. And Toyota certainly reached that goal. They created the Prius from the bottom up resulting to a true hybrid vehicle that is loved worldwide.

Toyota engineers came up with a couple of ways to develop the Toyota Prius hybrid car to be unlike other previous concept electric cars, the Prius doesn’t ever need to be plugged in for recharging. The two electric motor generators get its power from the gas engine, recharging while the engine power is being used. Also, through regenerative braking, a process that recovers kinetic energy when the car brakes and transforming it to electrical energy to recharge the batteries.

By 2004 a second generation of Toyota Prius hybrid car was released on the market. Capitalizing on the development of the new Hybrid Synbergy Drive technology, the previous Toyota Hybrid System was replaced in the new generation Toyota Hybrids. Many improvements were developed and infused in the technology making the Toyota Prius hybrid car even better than before.

Aside from the engine, Toyota added more room to the Toyota Prius hybrid car making it wider and taller allowing for taller people to sit erect inside the car and allowing more views of the road.

Because of the success brought by the Toyota Prius hybrid car and the public awareness it has developed, Toyota has extended its Hybrid lineup to their other vehicles. This includes the Toyota Camry hybrid and their top of the line Lexus marquee with the Lexus RX400H.

Truly, the Toyota Prius hybrid car has gone a long way. Its engineering superiority and its excellent reputation has made it a great choice for many people. Even a lot of notable famous people have bought themselves a Toyota Prius hybrid car to show their support to environmental awareness.

Toyota has definitely hit the nail in the head with the Toyota Prius hybrid car and we can expect to see more of this technology in the future. With Toyota’s dedication to this endeavor, we can be sure that we can finally cut down on gas consumption and save our planet.

BMW Hybrid Car

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:48:00 +0000

German Engineering Brilliance and Elegance fitted with Revolutionary Hybrid Technology, A combination of Style and Performance.

Sanyo in talks to supply hybrid car batteries

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:48:00 +0000

Sanyo, the Japanese electronics giant, said today that it is in talks with six car makers about the supply of batteries for fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles — one of few growth areas in the automotive industry.
“We are talking with more than five or six car makers on the co-development and supply of auto-use batteries," Masato Ito, Sanyo Electric's senior vice president, told Reuters.
Sanyo and Volkswagen have been jointly developing lithium-ion batteries as the race to the next generation of hybrid cars speeds up. Lithium-ion batteries are capable of holding more power than the nickel batteries that power the current hybrids.
Toyota plans to start producing lithium-ion batteries for its market-leading Prius next year in a joint venture with Matsushita Electric Industrial. Nissan has a joint venture with NEC to do the same.

Sanyo has conducted discussions with manufacturers in the US, Europe and Japan, Mr Ito said.
The pinch of higher oil prices on consumers around the world is expected to speed the move to hybrids and virtually every big car maker is developing new dual-fuel models.
Honda, which has positioned itself at the forefront of the hybrid shift, particularly in the US, will produce 200,000 units of its new hybrid hatchback in Japan — half of which will be sold in North America. Sales of Toyota’s Prius, the world's biggest selling hybrid, rocketed 69 per cent in the US last year as Hollywood stars including Leonardo Di Caprio and Cameron Diaz became converts.
GM and Lexus have produced a range of hybrids, while Hyundai is also working on a hybrid version of its solid-selling Sonata sedan.
European makers, including BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, are all scrambling to bring a hybrid to market.

Honda’s Low Prize Hybrid

noreply@blogger.com (hybrid) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:47:00 +0000

Honda Motor Company Ltd. is going to introduced hybrid car for the U.SA and other part of the world. The Honda’s new gas-electric hybrid car will fight openly with Toyota’s Prius. It will be cost lower than the existing Civic hybrid. The executive vice president, Richard Colliver, of American Honda Motor Co. recently announced Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City that the new hybrid car with five-door, for five-passenger going to be launched ensuing spring. He also added The Company’s target sales are 100,000 pieces of this fresh vehicle in North America. Moreover he said in his words that the Civic hybrid starting prize was $22,600, on the other hand the Prius starting of $21,500 but he ensured that Honda goals to make the hybrid reasonable to the new generation of car buyers. But Toyota sold over 181,000 Priuses previous year, on the other hand this year it has already sold around 106,000 units.

Honda already achieved fame for the most fuel-efficient lineup in the U.S.A and declared in the month of May that it is going to put on the market the new hybrid one only Toyota’s Prius competitor in the U.S. auto market. It will start its sell in the U.S.A., Europe and Japan in early 2009. Additionally it ensured that it will produce a fresh hybrid edition of its Fit subcompact. So wait for the ensuing year how perform the Honda’s Hybrid in the world Auto markets.