|
|
Hybrid Owners of America Blog 
Add to: My AOL,
MyYahoo,
Google,
Bloglines
Thursday, May 8, 2008:An MIT study found that if we have the same mix of vehicles on the road in 2035 that we had in 2005, our fuel use will rise 35 percent. However, "aggressive adoption of hybrids would make carbon dioxide emissions 20 percent lower than if no changes were made in the next 27 years. That would require 55 percent of new cars on the road to be hybrids or plug-in hybrids, leaving 44 percent to run on gasoline." The researchers also called for immediate government support through fuel-efficiency tax credits ... As if we need more evidence that high gas prices are affecting car-buying habits: "A year ago, the Toyota Prius was the 13th most shopped model on third- party web sites such as Edmunds.com and Autotrader.com. In April, as gas prices jumped from the $2.70 range to the $3.25 range, the hybrid became the 4th most shopped, according to a new report by Compete.com, Boston." ... Zoom zoom! Sixteen college teams participated in a hybrid racing competition this past Tuesday, where the hybrids keep getting faster and faster ...
|
Friday, May 2, 2008:Are you a Prius owner who is eagerly awaiting more opportunities to convert to a plug-in? A123 Systems is now taking pre-orders for their Hymotion 5 battery, which converts a Prius into a plug-in hybrid. The battery, which fits in the spare truck slot under the trunk, takes the average 40 miles per gallon fuel economy of the Prius and jacks it up to a potential of over 100 miles per gallon. ... Looks like hybrid-like technology may be adapted for use in regular gas vehicles to improve their fuel efficiency. As those of us who live in cities know particularly well, we spend many hours of our life sitting in traffic or at red lights. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that "17 billion gallons of fuel are spent each year while cars sit motionless." We were intrigued to see that a German transmission company has "introduced a technique ... that stops fuel consumption when a non-hybrid car comes to a halt and restarts it within 350 milliseconds of the brake being disengaged. This reduces fuel consumption on starts by 5%" ... One police technician in California took on the challenge of converting hybrids into police-ready vehicles and his success is now drawing interest from police agencies around the country. Local shops weren't able to convert properly the Highlander Hybrids ordered by the Lindsay police and Toyota even refused to offer technical support. But Officer Eliseo Mendez was able to work out all the kinks so the police and fire department would have a reliable and greener mode of transport ...
|
Friday, April 25, 2008:As gas prices continue to rise to nose-bleed levels, hybrid sales are surging. It's like the winter of 2006 all over again with car dealers unable to keep up with the demand for hybrids and forced to take backorders. You can see stories here and here about gas prices whipping hybrid sales into a new frenzy. ... Here's some good news: a recent survey shows that hybrids "have a better total cost of ownership over five years or 70,000 miles than the vehicles they directly compete against." Makes sense - the higher gas prices go, the smarter hybrid buyers look ... An analysis from automotive research firm R.L. Polk found that hybrid car registrations went up 38 percent from 2006 through 2007. Have you walked through a parking garage in the last few months? Just wait until R.L. Polk sees the 2008 hybrid sales numbers! ...
|
Friday, April 18, 2008:Clean diesels entering the U.S. car market could be stiff competition for hybrids. We think both technologies can peacefully co-exist, playing important roles in reducing emissions. Some characteristics of clean diesels will appeal to certain consumers, while others will prefer hybrids. As Business Week points out: "For most of the past century, diesel engines have been associated with smoky, smelly trucks and buses. Now there's a surprise: A new generation of diesel-powered passenger cars is delivering punchy performance and emission levels so low they pass muster in all 50 U.S. states. ... The high fuel efficiency of diesel cars makes for attractive economics. Compared with similar gas engines, diesels deliver up to 35% better mileage. So even though prices for diesel at the pump are now running about 12% more than gasoline, per-mile fuel costs for new diesel cars are 15% to 20% lower than for gas-powered autos." ... A European carmaker plans to join the ranks of hybrid manufacturers. Fiat, not currently available in the U.S., "is developing gasoline and diesel hybrid-drive systems for small cars and vans that could be production ready by 2011." The CEO of the company also announced that their goal is to have the lowest CO2 emissions of any European carmaker by 2012. ... And there appears to be a great deal of controversy in the world of high-end hybrid sports cars. Tesla, who we have reported on in the past, has filed a lawsuit against a competing company and two of its employees, saying they stole design ideas and trade secrets. ...
|
Friday, April 11, 2008:The state leading the drive for plug-in hybrids is California. The state's Air Resources Board has "declared that by 2012-2014, they want the 'Big Six' car makers to produce at least 58,333 plug-in hybrid vehicles, along with up to 7,500 'pure zero-emission vehicles' -- essentially fuel-cell vehicles or hydrogen fueled combustion cars such as the BMW Hydrogen 7 -- or 12,500 battery-electric vehicles with a range of at least 100 miles." ... The new hip, suburban vehicle to drive is none other than a hybrid. Whereas just a few years ago, honking SUVs were the status symbol to own, hybrid cars increasingly claim the title of coolest ride. And it doesn't hurt that with the record high gas prices nowadays, a hybrid is not only hip, but easy on the wallet ... Ecogeek reports that Mercedes is coming out with a 40 MPG diesel hybrid SUV. Mercedes-Benz showcased the Vision GLK BlueTec Hybrid at the Geneva Auto Show ... And hybrids, which have been identified in the past as a yuppie car, are increasingly being looked at by blue-collar companies as a way to save money ...
|
Friday, April 4, 2008:Nothing like some good old fashioned hypocrisy! U.S. auto enthusiasts are up in arms over the claim by former Toyota executive, Jim Press, that the Japanese government paid for the development of the hybrid battery system for the Prius but Toyota denies it and the Japanese government backs Toyota's proclamation. But what's bad for the Prius is apparently just hunk dory for Detroit! Press and other American car company executives are pressing for the U.S. government to provide financial support to assist their companies in the research and development of technologies to help meet the new CAFÉ standards. ... An Oregon cab company is trying to squeeze a few pennies and help out the environment by giving hybrid cabs a spin. This piece points out that the difference between filling up a traditional cab and a hybrid is about $40 ... Popular Mechanics says "Hybrids Beware!" in a recent piece about the coming invasion of diesel cars. "Speed, fuel efficiency and minimal emissions? These aren't characteristics usually associated with diesel-powered vehicles. But they will be." What's to be afraid of if clean diesels are part of the high MPG solution. We'd like to park a clean diesel right alongside our existing hybrid! ... And in New York, as in many other places in the nation, car dealerships are making changes in order to accommodate the fast-rising ranks of hybrid car buyers. ...
|
Thursday, March 27, 2008:A couple of latecomers to the hybrid scene announced their plans this week to jump on the dual-powered bandwagon. South Korea's Hyundai intends to mass produce hybrids starting in 2009. Hyundai is talking up the Avante (Elantra) LPI (liquefied petroleum injection) hybrid, a car that uses both liquefied petroleum gas and electricity. It will follow in 2010 with a mid-sized hybrid. And Nissan plans to introduce a purely electric car by 2010 for fleet customers in the U.S. and Japan. ... So, we're not just a "fad" anymore? Experts say that demand for hybrid will continue to rise with the rising gas prices. But the Cincy Enquirer reports that a recent Edmunds.com study finds an even lower gas price pain threshold than the $4-a-gallon level our sister organization, 40MPG.org, reported in its last gas-price survey. As the Enquirer noted: "The Edmunds study found that $2.80 a gallon was the turning point at which visitors to its Web site showed significantly more interest in hybrids. Edmunds researchers then calculated the increase in visits when gas prices hit $3.01 in December and extrapolated those findings to conclude that hybrids would see a whopping 502 percent increase in visits by online shoppers if gas prices hit $4." ... Three hybrids made it onto Consumers Reports new list of the "top 12 gas savers": the Toyota Prius, the Honda Civic hybrid and Toyota Camry hybrid...
|
Friday, March 21, 2008:Volkswagen has just unveiled a new concept version of its Golf TDI Hybrid, promising an eye-popping 83 MPG and virtually no CO2 emissions. Even with diesel selling at a premium of 75 cents or more per gallon over premium unleaded today, some are asking if the TDI will be the car that will unseat the Prius as the top-selling green vehicle. While we own and love the Prius, we agree with the Inhabitat blog poster who observes: " ... this is a competition that we are happy too [sic] see." ... Want to take a look at the current lineup of hybrids? Cars.com has come up with a top 10 list based on fuel savings as compared with a non-hybrid version, as well as how much the saved gas would have cost you. If you're not sure which hybrid you might want, this gives you a good rundown on MPG and purchase prices, as well as additional useful details ... Although Volvo did not have a fully operational concept vehicle at the Frankfurt auto show last year, they now have a working concept on the road of their ReCharge plug-in hybrid concept, which is based on the Volvo C30 model. CNET reports: "Volvo, in a consortium with Saab, the Swedish government, and energy company Vattenfall, announced a five-year plan to develop plug-in hybrids. The consortium's goal is to produce a fleet of 10 plug-in hybrid cars, using Sweden as a testing field." ... As gas prices rise, so does the demand for hybrid vehicles. As a result, manufacturers have had to increase production to keep up with this demand. Since it doesn't look like gas prices will leave their current nose-bleed altitudes any time soon, look for this trend to continue ...
|
Friday, March 14, 2008:For its Flat Earth Society approach to climate science, Exxon Mobil has been referred to as the "Darth Vader of global warming". So pardon us if we are cynical about this profit-bloated oil company's curious new interest in hybrid cars. The Wall Street Journal reports: "After filling automobile gas tanks for decades, the company has started looking under the hood. It's betting that further development of a component it created for cellphone batteries can help improve a new type of battery that may eventually power most hybrid cars. If it's right, Exxon could play a part in ushering in a new generation of hybrid and electric cars, lessening the world's reliance on gasoline." ... Toyota is working to build a green car that will run on fuel cells but predicts it will be a long time before anything makes it to market. "Japanese companies have been working to create a viable car running on fuel cells, which would produce electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, leaving water as the only by-product. 'When we first started the research and development of fuel-cell cars, some people predicted that they may be commercialised by around 2010. But that's difficult,' Toyota Motor Corp. president Katsuaki Watanabe said. 'The technological advances are significant. The only problem is the cost,' he told reporters." ... And the industrious ZAP, which sells electric cars, is partnering with a Boulder, CO company to convert Toyota Prius and Ford Escape hybrids into plug-in hybrids. ...
|
Thursday, March 6, 2008:"Could the ultracapacitor replace lithium ion in hybrids and plug-in vehicles?" That question is posed by Popular Mechanics in a recent article. We can't resist asking: What ... the flux? It turns out researchers at MIT are working on the capacitor technology. "The focus of (Joel) Schindall's research is ultracapacitors, which store drastically less energy than a battery but have essentially none of the drawbacks. In any capacitor, there's no battery memory caused by partial discharging and no reduction in capacity with each recharge." We're just curious whether they'll put the ultracapacitor technology in any DeLoreans ... Daimler AG will use a lithium ion battery in its first hybrid model. EETimes reports: "In order to secure constant power level of the battery type that hitherto only was used in consumer electronics devices, the temperature of the battery has to be maintained at a range between 15 and 35 degrees Celsius. Thus, the Daimler engineers included the battery into the air-conditioning control loop ... Lithium ion batteries are considered a key technology for the success of hybrid-driven vehicles. Compared to conventional NiMH batteries, they offer higher energy density at lower weight which translates into higher cruising range." ... And General Electric announced an investment in a Norwegian electric car manufacturer, Think, which is unveiling a new plug-in electric car at Geneva's International Motor Show. GE also has invested in A123 systems, a widely followed Boston-based tech company developing high-capacity, lithium-ion batteries for electric and hybrid cars ...
|
Friday, February 29, 2008:Is it any wonder that 72 percent of Americans think our political leaders are weak when it comes to energy and climate solutions? Could the fact that President Bush is - what's a nice way to put this? - let's use a euphemism and say - unaware of the increasing likelihood of $4 gasoline have something to do with the Administration's apparent lack of concern about the impact of auto fuel costs on American consumers? If you want to feel the pain at the pump (as if you aren't already!), check out the survey released in January by the Civil Society Institute and our sister organization, 40mpg.org, showing that 71 percent of Americans expect gasoline prices to reach $4 a gallon this summer. ... Automotive News reports that the Mercedes GLK concept with a diesel hybrid powertrain that was shown at the Geneva auto show will start sales in the U.S. in January 2009 ... "Is Silicon Valley the new Detroit for electric cars?" Definite innovations in alternative-fuel vehicles are coming out of the hub of high tech America, including the two-seater electric roadster Tesla ...
|
Thursday, February 21, 2008:This is interesting: Honda is researching a way to use hybrid vehicle engine heat to recharge the battery the same way the brakes are doing now. "The Japanese auto giant has released a paper detailing how a Rankine cycle co-generation unit could help recharge the battery in a hybrid and thereby increase gas mileage, according to Green Car Congress. Honda put the Rankine unit in a test car (a Honda Stream) and found that the unit generated more electricity than regenerative braking. However, the unit isn't very efficient so more work will be required before Honda can put one of these in cars. Waste heat, according to some, is one of the untapped sources of power in the world." ... Would you like to more than double your Prius mileage to get 100 MPG or more? A California company will be ready to convert about 30 Priuses as soon as March. The San Jose Mercury News reports: " For $12,500, OEMtek says it can add a bigger battery pack to your Prius and double its mileage - to 100 mpg or more. The company has battery packs on hand and continues to do durability testing and other late-stage engineering work. We can't wait to see the results! ... Is it still news that hybrids are becoming mainstream? ... And here is an update on the ad state of hybrid tax credits ...
|
Thursday, February 14, 2008:We're not sure that this is what Xzibit and Mad Mike had in mind, but it caught our attention all the same. Should you be so inclined, you now can "pimp your hybrid ride" by adding some new rims ... A submarine-powered hybrid? The folks behind the Chevy Volt concept plug-in hybrid are saying their technology was "pioneered in submarines about a hundred years ago." We'll have to see what that's about ... The state of North Carolina is partnering with Progress Energy and Duke Energy to form a new center at N.C. State University to do research on plug-in hybrids. "'It is our patriotic duty to free ourselves from dependence on foreign oil and become leaders in developing the technology to make our nation energy independent,' said [Governor Mike] Easley, who made his announcement at the Emerging Issues Forum in Raleigh." ... Finding the right battery is still the biggest issue for the future of hybrid and electric vehicles. Business Week states: "The linchpin to the development of electric vehicles still comes down to developing the right battery. Many of the major auto makers have gravitated toward lithium ion -- the type of battery used in smaller devices such as notebook computers and digital media players. It is lighter, holds a stronger charge and has the potential to last longer. But safety and cost issues remain. ... demand for eco-friendly vehicles is high, as illustrated by the strong sales of hybrid cars, which have both gas- and electric-powered motors to provide better acceleration and distance. With gas prices high and a focus on environmental responsibility a new priority for companies, auto makers want to go even further." ...
|
Thursday, February 7, 2008:Put this on the top of your must-read list: A February 6, 2008 Popular Mechanics article entitled "Inside Plug-in Car Tech's Race to Production" ... We are doing some research to learn more about all of the alkalyte shortage concerns that are making the rounds right now. "Alkylate is a little-known substance that could have a huge impact on hybrid car sales in 2008. Referred to as 'liquid gold' and the 'magic bullet,' this expensive gasoline additive is about to be in short supply and high demand, just in time for the summer driving season. Adding insult to injury are accusations that oil companies are purposely reducing the output of alkylate in an attempt to further increase profits. Regardless of who's to blame, if gas prices top $3.50 a gallon this year, expect to see a lot more people buying hybrid cars and SUVs in '08." Another intriguing topic: Toyota's post-Prius 1/X concept car. "The ultra-lightweight stature of the 1/X also helps contribute to a fuel efficiency target that would double that of the Prius and allow the 1/X to operate with an ultra-small hybrid powertrain located under the rear seat. The system combines a home rechargeable plug-in hybrid unit with a small 500cc 0.5-liter flexible-fuel engine that is 1/4th of the total weight of the Prius powertrain. The hybrid plug-in concept is designed to accommodate a lithium-ion battery that would be rechargeable at home. The result is a vehicle with the possibility of traveling over 600 miles on a small four-gallon tank of fuel and achieving the acceleration performance that is equivalent to the Prius." ...
|
Friday, February 1, 2008:Will this mean the return of waiting lists for hot hybrids? A new Civil Society Institute/40MPG.org survey shows: "More than a third (37 percent) of Americans say they would be more likely to buy a hybrid, clean diesel or other highly fuel-efficient vehicle if the price of gasoline goes to $4. This percentage increases to 44 percent if the price of gas exceeds $4 a gallon." ... MSNBC reports: "... at their current rate of growth, [hybrids] dominate the roads in another five or 10 years. U.S. hybrid sales jumped more than 34 percent to a total of 338,851 in 2007, according to CNW Marketing Research in Bandon, Ore. ... With rising gas prices and higher fuel economy standards mandated by the federal government, analysts expect hybrid technology to proliferate in the coming years." They also make this observation: "The lack of tax incentives doesn't seem to have hurt the Toyota Prius' popularity, however, with 181,221 units sold in 2007 for an increase of nearly 70 percent over 2006, according to CNW. The Prius remains the most popular hybrid in the U.S. by an astronomical margin." Looks like the hybrid haters were completely wrong about what the vanishing tax credit would do to sales! ...This seems encouraging: "The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced plans to invest up to $30 million in a public-private, cost-sharing program funding the development of technology supporting Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)." ...
|
Tuesday, January 22, 2008:Hybrid diesel-electric buses are catching on in a major way in U.S. cities. As USA Today reports: "Four U.S. cities recently ordered more than 1,700 hybrid buses, General Motors, one of two major manufacturers of hybrid bus systems, plans to announce today. The orders include 950 for Washington, D.C., 480 for Philadelphia and 300 for Minneapolis and St. Paul. Last month, New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority - which began experimenting with the buses in 1998 - ordered 850 with systems from GM competitor BAE Systems, MTA spokesman Charles Seaton said." ... General Motors Corp. (GM) introduced its first China-made hybrid car during a ceremony in Shanghai today. The Buick LaCrosse Eco-Hybrid is made by GM's passenger car joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. and will be available at dealerships sometime this year. ... In addition to its plans to build a plug-in hybrid by 2010, Toyota will field a hybrid vehicle for the 2010 Le Mans 24-hour race ... Colorado is the latest state to allow hybrids in its high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes and high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, even if the car is only occupied by the driver. The new guidelines will open up the HOV/HOT lanes to 2,000 hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles as soon as this spring ...
|
Tuesday, January 15, 2008:Look for the plug-in hybrid sparks to fly in 2010. Toyota has announced plans to build a plug-in hybrid by 2010. "The move puts Toyota in direct competition with General Motors, which has announced plans to sell its own plug-in hybrid vehicle, the Chevrolet Volt, sometime around 2010... G.M., Toyota and Ford Motor, the world's three biggest car companies, all are developing plug-in hybrid vehicles. Along with the Volt, G.M. has said it plans to produce a plug-in version of its Saturn Vue hybrid. Ford has not yet given details of its plug-in hybrid, which it first discussed in 2006." The proven Prius versus the runs-on-hype Volt. Wonder who wins that race to the market? .... On a related note, GM has announced a second generation version of the Saturn Vue Green Line that "will leapfrog models like the Toyota Highlander hybrid to become the world's most fuel-efficient V6 SUV when it goes on sale late this year or early in 2009, General Motors promises. Saturn hasn't revealed final fuel economy figures, but early tests have shown a 60% improvement in city fuel economy and nearly 50% on the highway. The mileage improvements Saturn insiders talk about would work out to 25-26 m.p.g. in the city and around 34 m.p.g. on the highway." ... It's official: Sales of hybrids cruised past the one-million mark in 2007 ...
|
Tuesday, January 8, 2008:They say that Democrats are more likely to buy hybrids ... and now it looks like Democrats are voting for GM hybrids. The Democratic National Campaign Committee (DNCC) has lined up 400 green vehicles for the Democratic National Convention in Denver this August. The Rocky Mountain News reports: "Cameron Moody, the DNCC's director of operations, said this was the most ambitious attempt to have a fleet of alternative fuel or high-mileage vehicles during a political convention... Among the cars that will be used as a part of the DNCC's transportation team are the hybrid versions of the Saturn Vue, the Aura Green Line and the Chevrolet Malibu." ... We've written about electric commuter cars before but here's an offer from Zap Cars that gas-price weary commuters will find tough to turn down: zero fuel costs for one year. Top that off with no emissions and you've got one sweet deal ... And Porsche is throwing its hat in the ring with a hybrid of its own. They plan to launch the "Panamera" next year as a 2010 model. Autoweek says: "In contrast to many current hybrid cars that place the battery pack between the trunk and the passenger compartment, Porsche will package its battery below the trunk to keep weight distribution balanced for driving characteristics. Porsche claims there will be a 30 percent decrease in fuel consumption in the Panamera hybrid compared with nonhybrid models." We can't wait for the test drive! ....
|
Wednesday, January 2, 2008:Thinking forward to plan your vacations for the coming year? Want to help your company make your work travel more earth-friendly? Turns out, you'll have plenty of options to keep your carbon footprint down when renting vehicles. MSNBC reports: "Seems there's a popular new color at the local rental car lot - and we're not talking body paint. Whether it's a function of high gas prices or the threat of global warming, green is definitely in. This week, for example, Enterprise Rent-A-Car is launching an affordable, easy-to-use program that will give customers the opportunity to offset the carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions from their rentals - and promising to match their efforts up to $1 million. Meanwhile, across the airport parking garage, Hertz is planning to take delivery of another 2,400 hybrid cars this year - a move that will help push the nation's rental pool for the gas-sipping, emissions-cutting gas/electric vehicles to more than 10,000 vehicles." ... At the risk of sounding like Andy Rooney: Have you ever wondered why more doctors aren't driving hybrids, considering the huge toll on human lungs from tailpipe emissions? It turns out that a Louisiana home health care company is turning its entire fleet hybrid ... Just in case you need a little hybrid humor to kick off the New Year. This tongue-in-cheek article on ESPN.com promises new technology on the 2008 PGA Tour: "Toyota will enter the golf club business with a hybrid iron that uses electricity on the backswing and gasoline on the downswing." ...
|
Wednesday, December 26, 2007:They may have a ways to go to catch up to searches for Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan on Google, but hybrids now "own" auto-related searches. Six out of 10 Cars.com searches in November were for hybrids and Carmax.com says that searches for hybrids on its sites jumped 43 percent from October to November 2007. ... Toyota is on pace to replace GM as the world's largest automaker in 2007, having been boosted by its popular Prius hybrid. Not to be outdone, Honda predicts that 10 percent of its global sales will by hybrids within the next two years. To help with this goal, a new hybrid based on the Fit is slated to launch for 2009 followed by a sports car hybrid based on the CRZ concept that made the rounds at U.S. auto shows this year. ... And if you are looking for more green driving options, there are several hybrid and electric vehicles that will show up in the near future ...
|
Tuesday, December 18, 2007:For consumers who care about climate change, energy independence and saving money at the gas pump, the hybrid is king. Green Car Congress reports that U.S. hybrid sales are up 82 percent from this time last year. And these numbers underestimate the total hybrids sales because GM's rapidly growing Vue Green Line (and other) hybrid sales aren't included, since that automaker doesn't break out those numbers separately. Not surprisingly, Toyota saw the greatest 2007 sales increase, despite the loss of its tax credit, with Prius sales jumping 109 percent from last year and Camry hybrid sales up a strong 65 percent. ... A new survey shows that hybrid owners tend to be healthy, wealthy, tech-savvy and are Democratic. According to CNET News: "The face behind the wheel of a hybrid car is most likely to belong to an upwardly mobile, physically active person with tech savvy Forty-two percent of those polled earn six figures or more each year...Only 14 percent of hybrid owners identify as Republican, while 38 percent are Democrats, and 34 percent call themselves independent ..." ... USA Today reports that some high-tech hybrid features may start to show up in regular gas vehicles to help consumers improve their fuel efficiency. "Fancy fuel-economy gauges are so popular in gas-electric hybrid vehicles that Toyota is studying whether they might provide a cheap way for drivers of its conventional cars to save gas as well ... The gauge would show motorists when they are driving most efficiently, discouraging wasteful moves such as jackrabbit starts." ...
|
Tuesday, December 4, 2007:Only Congress could come up with this scheme: As gas prices go higher, more and more popular hybrids are being stripped of federal tax credit status. The IRS has announced that the tax credit for new, qualified Honda vehicles will start the expiration process starting January 1, 2008. Following the removal of tax credit status for the Prius and other Toyota vehicles, Honda hit the completely arbitrary 60,000 cap on eligible sales in the quarter that ended September 30th. We need incentives that put hybrids and other highly fuel-efficient cars on the road, not take them off ... More debate on whether or not hybrids and all-electric vehicles actually help our power grid? The New Scientist reports: "Electric and hybrid cars could act as energy stores for the power grid while not being driven, say US researchers... if hundreds or thousands more car owners adopted the system, it could significantly improve the efficiency of power distribution, the scientists say." ... Planning a trip soon and want to try out a hybrid or just make your trip more green? Orbitz now offer hybrids through Avis or Budget including the Toyota Prius, Nissan Altima Hybrid and Ford Escape Hybrid ...
|
Tuesday, November 27, 2007:Here's a new hybrid technology you might not have heard of yet -- a solar hybrid. A California company (no surprises there) is selling conversion kits to provide power to the electric battery of a hybrid with the power of the sun. "... Johanson - who co-designed the first entirely solar-powered vehicle - launched Solar Electrical Vehicles as a sister business in 2005 to focus on bringing solar power to hybrid cars ... A solar Prius will use 17 percent to 29 percent less gasoline than a standard Prius, according to a research paper on the Solar Electrical Vehicles site." ... Promising news from the L.A. Auto Show -- Mercedes-Benz plans to have their diesel-hybrid drivetrain in showrooms in 2010. " ... the S400 combines one of the German company's Bluetec V-6 diesel engines with a 20-horsepower electric motor for a hybrid drivetrain that offers 'the performance of a V-8 with the fuel economy of a 4-cylinder,' says the company. The marriage yields performance figures of 265 bhp and a full 465 lb.-ft. of torque and is said to help the Teutonic heavyweight earn an impressive 0-60 mph time of only 7.2 seconds - while attaining 40.5 mpg on the highway. What's more, the S400's diesel-hybrid drivetrain will be compliant with emissions regulations in all 50 states upon its rollout in a couple years' time." ...
|
Tuesday, November 20, 2007:While GM may have been slow on the uptake adopting hybrid technology, they are now on a mission to be known for their green genes, according to a recent Business Week article. "That's right, GM, once a laggard in fuel efficiency technology, is making its nemesis Toyota (TM)-the undisputed image leader in fuel-efficient transportation-take notice by starting a new and legitimate rivalry for the next generation of hybrid trucks and SUVs, as well as plug-in vehicles. Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW all opted in 2005 to adopt GM's hybrid technology in a four-company venture, rather than to license Toyota's hybrid hardware." ... If you're out West this week, check out the L.A. Auto Show, where "...nearly everyone is also showcasing hybrid, electric or fuel-cell vehicles and vowing to increase the fuel efficiency of their fleets." ... Human-powered hybrid cars? What will they think of next ...
|
Tuesday, November 13, 2007:We just took home our second hybrid vehicle over the weekend. It's a kiwi-colored 2008 Mariner that it is now parked alongside our 2007 Prius (Virginia plate: LES CO2). Initially, it was a toss up between the clean-diesel Mercedes E320 and the Mercury vehicle. But two sedans didn't make much sense and we are intrigued by anecdotal reports from HOA members and other sources that you can really milk the low-speed MPG stats on the Mariner -- even though it is a SUV. We'll just have to see how that works out. Stay tuned for updates! ... You know the world is coming around to hybrids when you see a buying-tips article in the Detroit News ... The man who used to design James Bond's car (the Aston Martin) is now trying his hand at an $80,000 hybrid sports car: the Eco-Chic ... As hot as hybrids are across the United States, there are places where they are red hot. Madison, Wisconsin is one of them -- where a car dealer reports that hybrids account for 45 percent of new car sales ...
|
Tuesday, November 6, 2007:How exactly will the EPA calculate the MPG rating for a plug-in hybrid? It's not such a simple matter. The New York Times reports: "Toyota and the [EPA] are mulling over how to describe the advantages of adding plug-in capability to a hybrid. The current test, which gives the Prius an E.P.A. estimated mileage of 55 m.p.g. for combined city and highway driving, does not work. Toyota estimates that for a daily commute of 15.5 miles, running costs of this prototype will be about 8 percent lower than the current Prius if the battery is charged during the day, and 41 percent cheaper if charged at off-peak rates where time-of-day electricity pricing is available." ... GM keeps talking up its hopes for hydrogen fuel-cell power vehicle technology ... Toyota's Prius has turned 10 ... Look for hybrids to get a closer look from even more car buyers now that gasoline is back over $3 a gallon ...
|
Tuesday, October 30, 2007:So much for any doubts that automakers are holding back on rolling out hybrids. The Nikkei Business Daily reports that Honda is seriously expanding its hybrid production, with a goal of selling half a million units by 2010 -- a whopping 10 percent of its overall sales target ... Not to be outdone, GM is hoping to take the sting out of high gas prices and shore up its weakening full-size SUV sales. The heart of what GM Vice President Bob Lutz calls "guilt-free SUV ownership" will come out of a plant near Baltimore ... Once you couldn't find a hybrid on a car dealer's floor. Now, those floors will be filled with hybrids. "Ford has the Escape. It's one of those smaller sport utility types. Honda's got a couple of them, a Civic and an Accord, both hybrids. Chevrolet has a pick up truck. GM has a hybrid," said Tom Rosdahl, professor of automotive service at Pierce College. "Toyota is probably the leader, and, of course, the Lexus, which is a high-dollar Toyota. Nissan is coming out with a hybrid. It's kind of like, right now, it's the thing." ... Kudos to Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. He dumped the city's official Ford Crown Vic in favor of a hybrid -- and then converted it to a full-blown plug-in hybrid! ...
|
Tuesday, October 23, 2007:Now that all the latecomers to the hybrid party are trying to elbow their way into the room, Toyota is sending signals that it may be adopting a go-ahead-slow approach to plug-in hybrids. Toyota is even going so far as to throw cold water on such initiatives as the much-hyped Chevrolet Volt ... Not showing Toyota's lack of faith in plug-in hybrids are the entrepreneurs who expect to mass market a $9,000 plug-in hybrid aftermarket conversion kit starting in 2008 ... Stamford, CT. is looking at a $2,000 tax break for hybrid owners ... Does anyone seriously think that spending $3.80 on "carbon offsets" is the same thing as getting a hybrid and not generating the air pollution in the first place? Put us down for being a real part of the solution by driving a hybrid ... and not pretending to "buy our way" out of the problem by cutting somebody a check as a way to salve our guilty conscience ...
|
Tuesday, October 16, 2007:There is some anecdotal evidence trickling in that the more conservative EPA mileage estimates are not harming hybrid auto sales. The CBS affiliate in Denver reports that hybrids sales there are continuing to be strong even with the lower mileage ratings. It's all relative, as this example illustrates: "Jill Walker bought a Ford Escape hybrid in June because of its EPA rating. The original rating for the Ford was 32 miles per gallon. The 2008 model has the same powertrain but with the new EPA rating it fell to 28 miles per gallon. Walker still is satisfied with her purchase. 'My old car I was getting 18 to 20 and it was about the same size as this (Ford Escape Hybrid),' she said." ... Honda is making some interesting moves to try to open up the hybrid vehicle market in India ... But can Honda turn around its overall hybrid sales slump by focusing on "sporty" hybrids? Only time will tell ...
|
Wednesday, October 10, 2007:The good news: You can look for 15 new hybrids to hit car dealer floors in 2008, which is up four from 2007. The not-so-good news: "But they're not just gas-sipping compacts anymore. Two huge SUVs and a full-size luxury sedan are among the new hybrids available for U.S. drivers, giving them a wide choice in price, size and mileage ranges. And the world's manufacturers plan more than a dozen new models using the complex gas-electric technology in the next two years." ... Honda has been struggling of late to click with car buyers when it comes to hybrids. Their latest bid for popularity is a hybrid version of the sporty CR-Z. The new hybrid is to be unveiled this month at the Tokyo auto show ... Is this the breakthrough we've been waiting for on hybrid batteries? An Indianapolis firm, EnerDel, claims it has a new, longer-life lithium ion power source for hybrids ....
|
Tuesday, October 2, 2007:How exactly did the inclination to buy a hybrid become so, well, American? Hybrids are catching on in the United States in a big way, but they remain a surprisingly tough sell in Europe, where small vehicles and fuel efficiency have been in vogue for decades. Experts are studying why European hybrid sales seem to be stuck at an anemic 0.2 percent of all autos ... Maybe so-called "mild" hybrids do have a future after all. A new survey of luxury auto buyers shows that a very high 83 percent definitely would consider buying a hybrid ... Here's an interesting hybrid story that is going on below the radar for the most part. It's all about fuel-cell hybrid vehicle (FCHV) technology. Chevy had the first FCHV to go 300 miles on a single tank (if that's the right word!), but now Toyota has topped them with a FCHV that went 348 miles in a test spin from Osaka to Tokyo. Sound familiar? ... PHEV conversions have the blessing of state officials in Massachusetts. Bay State officials have hired a private firm to convert 10 test vehicles to full-blown plug-in hybrid status ...
|
Tuesday, September 25, 2007:More evidence that not all hybrids are born equal: Check out the Forbes.com/ABCNews.com piece by Peter Hoy entitled "Hybrids or 'Hype-Brids'?: Green Guzzlers." Hoy makes some excellent points about marginal uses of hybrid technology by carmakers eager to look greener and/or more fuel efficient ... A new Harris National Study shows that more than a quarter (27 percent) of U.S. consumers are inclined to buy a car with plug-in hybrid technology ... Audi is hitting the breaks on at least some of its clean diesel and hybrid offerings ... Mazda is going to dip its toe in the hybrid pool by offering its 2008 Tribute SUV in a hybrid version -- but only in California ...
|
Monday, September 17, 2007:So much for the prediction that hybrids would be a passing fad. "In the first seven months of 2007, registration of new hybrid vehicles has shot up 49% nationwide from the same time frame last year. According to R.L. Polk & Co., the Midwest saw the largest gain, at 56.9%, while California remains the state with the most registrations." The top five state list (by growth) includes three from the "trend-challenged" Midwest: Oklahoma (up 143.3 percent); Minnesota (97.7 percent); and Kansas (71.9 percent) ... This makes for pretty amazing reading: GM could have made a plug-in hybrid vehicle 38 years ago?! ... Google is searching for new hybrid technology with a $10 million investment ... The city of Chicago is looking to double its fleet of hybrid cars ...
|
Friday, September 7, 2007:Millions of Americans live in (1) a hurricane-prone area, (2) blackout-stricken sections of California or (3) a market that is served by an unreliable power company that has trouble keeping the electricity running on a more frequent basis than it is available in downtown Baghdad. (We happen to fall into the third grouping.) If you are cursed to live in a home in one or more of these low-power categories, check out the New York Times article about car owners who are retrofitting hybrids to serve as back-up power supplies for their homes ... At first, the Germans were betting most of their chips on clean diesels. Now, they are hedging their bets a bit by also moving into the hybrid auto space, according to Handelsblatt ... Unclear on which hybrids qualify for federal tax breaks? This handy guide from SmartMoney.com sets out all the key facts ...
|
Friday, August 31, 2007:The new issue of Scientific American has an interesting article on how "ultracapacitors" could put a lot more oomph into hybrid performance, but without sacrificing fuel efficiency. As the article notes: "Are ultracapacitors the key to making hybrids king of the auto market? Many motorists chuckle smugly after giving their cars a little extra gas to leave a Toyota Prius or some other eco-friendly automobile in the dust. But Toyota and its Earth-loving ilk may yet have the last laugh as they cultivate encouraging new advances in ultracapacitor technology that promise to one day put hybrids in the driver's seat." ... Speaking of remaking the face of the auto marketplace: Honda is making noise (again!) about ousting Toyota from the hybrid auto sales throne. Honda certainly has its work cut out for them. As one observer points out: "Toyota sold over 110,000 units of the Prius through the first seven months of 2007. Honda, on the other hand, struggled to sell one-fifth that number with the Civic Hybrid and Accord Hybrid sales combined." ... Coming soon to a shopping mall near you: "GREEN VEHICLE PARKING ONLY"? ...
|
Friday, August 24, 2007:What's holding up the process of getting plug-in hybrids in the garages of millions of American motorists? The holy grail of hybrid battery technology is an all-electric power source that will handle 40 miles of travel or longer -- enough to handle the needs of most U.S. commuters. Edmunds has an interesting article on this topic that concludes: "Plug-in hybrids are on their way in one form or another and EVs like the Tesla are right around the corner as well. Due to the state of world politics and the environment, the public is demanding alternatives, and batteries will play a big part in that revolution. At the present time, cost, energy density and market demands for high-range vehicles place lithium-ion at the forefront of the next wave in EVs and hybrid cars. As to whether they will stand up to the test of daily high-mileage usage, only time will tell." ... Here's another article grumbling about Toyota resting on its hybrid laurels ... A three-wheel car that gets 100 miles per gallon and can top 100 miles per hour? If you are a fan of high-powered tricycles, check this out ...
|
Friday, August 17, 2007:How long will America have to wait before it sees a "sexy" hybrid? High-mileage doesn't have to be boring, as the SmartCar folks are demonstrating very nicely. And how about a little variety? Jerry Garrett writes in the "Wheels" blog at the New York Times: "Why is there no Prius wagon? How about a hatchback and a sedan? A coupe? Or even a convertible? I mean, who said hybrid buyers have to take a vow of boredom? One size fits all? Really! ... the Wall Street Journal (has) reported that Toyota plans to unveil a Prius wagon in 2011, coinciding with Toyota's switch to lithium-ion batteries ... Officially, Toyota is keeping its trap shut on the next generation Prius. But for at least the next several years, and maybe longer (for all we know), one Prius is all we get. The hybrid market, as far as the self-proclaimed world leader in fuel-saving hybrid technology is concerned, is worth only one dedicated vehicle? I don't get it." ... Electric utilities are banking on making big money off plug-in hybrids ... Florida hybrid drivers soon may be able to avoid paying up to $6 at a crack while using new I-95 toll lanes ...
|
Thursday, August 9, 2007:It's going to be another banner year for hybrid auto sales in the U.S. The Associated Press reports: "Hybrid vehicles are on track to reach record U.S. sales this year, an auto information company said. An estimated 187,000 hybrids were sold in the first six months of 2007, accounting for 2.3 percent of all new vehicle sales, according to J.D. Power and Associates. Although a sales slowdown is expected in the second half of the year, J.D. Power is forecasting total sales of 345,000 hybrids for the year, a 35 percent increase from 2006 when the current record of 256,000 hybrids were sold. The Toyota Prius continues to be the best-selling hybrid model, accounting for just more than half of all hybrids sold." ... Even though Toyota may be getting cold feet about plug-in hybrid batteries, the technology got a glowing write-up this week from Wall Street Journal auto columnist Joseph B. White ... Should those big honking SUV hybrids get the same tax break as a Prius? Here's an interesting concept: Base any tax breaks for hybrid buyers on the weight of the vehicle ..
|
Thursday, August 2, 2007:Plug-in hybrids used to get the cold shoulder from automakers. Now, they are getting a passionate embrace. Not content with being dubbed the greenest car in the world, the Prius is now headed for the full plug-in treatment -- reflecting a reversal on the part of Toyota ... Even the "mild" hybrid Saturn VUE is going plug-in, according to this excellent overview article by ForbestAuto.com ... We love these all-electric and hybrid race cars that are kicking the you-know-whats of gas guzzlers! ... What do you do if Congress phases out your tax credit? If you are Toyota, you roll out a lower-cost version of the Prius for 2008 ... Avis added 1,000 Priuses to its car rental fleet earlier this summer. Due to popular demand, it is now going to field 500 Nissan Altima hybrids ...
|
Thursday, July 26, 2007:There is little that is more frustrating these days than people who argue that there's no point in trying to do anything about America's addiction to oil. A case in point: Washington Post syndicated writer Robert J. Samuelson's column "Prius Politics." Samuelson's thesis is that you shouldn't bother buying a Prius (or other hybrid), because you are just going to end up buying a bigger house that will more than offset the energy you save with your hybrid. Talk about not getting it! Most people we know who are driving hybrids are implementing a number of energy-saving methods in various aspects of their lives. We love it when columnists try to rationalize their own energy wasteful ways ... Want to convert your hybrid to an all-electric vehicle? It still costs a bundle to do the customization ... Geek power rules! The hybrid is the No. 1 selling car in Silicon Valley ...
|
Friday, July 20, 2007:A new study from the National Resources Defense Council and the Electric Power Research Institute looks "at the impact of large numbers of plug-in hybrids -- as much as 60 percent of the fleet -- between 2010 and 2050 and concluded that they could reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide by 2050 by an amount equivalent to that produced by 82.5 million cars." ... Is it just me or is anyone else out there sick of hearing about how hybrid vehicle owners are supposedly smugger than thou? And, even if that "rap" is true, would you rather be a hopelessly clueless H2 or H3 owner? .... Speaking of bum raps, let's take on the notion that hybrids are underpowered "toy cars." A Toyota hybrid just became the first to win a major auto race ... You know the car world is changing when they start talking about a hybrid version of a Chevy Malibu! ... And, finally, in what is very nearly in the backyard of Detroit, state officials in Illinois are handing out $1,000 tax rebates to hybrid owners ...
|
Friday, July 13, 2007:When it comes to fuel efficiency, the diesel vehicle is king in Europe and elsewhere around the globe. But, in this country, the throne is occupied by hybrids. The U.S. accounts for 70 percent of worldwide hybrid sales ... What's better than saving fuel and reducing pollution emission with a Prius or other hybrid car? Think about the benefits when it comes to a hybrid Mack truck, which is the equivalent of 21 Priuses ... A truly electrifying development or just more Ford foot dragging? "Southern California Edison and Ford Motor Co. have forged a partnership to test rechargeable hybrid vehicles in hopes of fast-tracking the technology for mass production ... SCE is scheduled to get one Ford plug-in hybrid vehicle this year and as many as 20 during 2009 to test their durability, range and impact on the grid." ... You can read here what they are saying in Canada about the Hybrid Owners of America ...
|
Friday, July 6, 2007:If you are interested in the evolving sense of what it means to own a hybrid, check out this fascinating page 1 July 4th story in the New York Times: "The Prius has become, in a sense, the four-wheel equivalent of those popular rubber 'issue bracelets' in yellow and other colors - it shows the world that its owner cares. In fact, more than half of the Prius buyers surveyed this spring by CNW Marketing Research of Bandon, Ore., said the main reason they purchased their car was that 'it makes a statement about me.' Only a third of Prius owners cited that reason just three years ago, according to CNW, which tracks consumer buying trends." ... Wired.com has an interesting article on the next generation of car batteries ...
|
Thursday, June 28, 2007:What do Ford, Chrysler and Nissan all have in common? These automakers once were among the leading pooh-poohers of hybrids. That was then ... now, all three of these car companies are scrambling to play catch up on hybrids. As the Detroit Free Press reports: 'Ford Motor Co. CEO Alan Mulally told reporters Tuesday ... that he envisions a future with many more varieties of hybrid vehicles ... 'The hybrids we're looking at now are petrol and electricity. But over time, I can also see hybrids with diesel and electricity, and also hydrogen and electricity and petrol." The view that hybrids should be included in the powertrain technology of most, if not all, vehicles of the future seems to be growing ... Over at Nissan, they are singing a similar tune: "Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said Wednesday his company is working hard to develop the next generation of smaller, lighter auto batteries ... As demand for green vehicles grows, automakers are racing to develop viable lithium ion batteries ... Nissan, which has fallen behind rivals Toyota and Honda in hybrid vehicles, recently opened a new tech center in Japan to develop environmentally friendly technologies." ... Even Chrysler is getting the message: "The company has been trailing behind other automakers in fuel economy ... 'Chrysler Group is focused directly on improving fuel efficiency across our vehicle lineup,' product development chief Frank Klegon said ... Klegon estimated that the new hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles could make up as much as 30 percent of its market in the U.S., a major increase from current levels." ...
|
Thursday, June 21, 2007:Another big week for plug-in hybrids. Search-engine giant Google announced its RechargeIT initiative. "The plan promotes the use of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles -- hybrid gas/electric cars that can be plugged into a wall socket to either charge the battery or sell excess electricity back to the power grid ... the new initiative aims to reduce CO2 emissions, cut oil and gasoline use, and stabilize the electrical grid by accelerating the development and adoption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles that are capable of selling stored electricity back to electric companies. To get started, Google modified some of its vehicle fleet to plug into its own solar electricity power, as well as into any 120-volt power outlet." ... On Capitol Hill, Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin, TX. unveiled a bill to provide a tax credit of from $4,000 to $6,000 for consumers who buy a plug-in hybrid vehicle ... What is it about Virginia and hybrids? The state ranks behind only California when it comes to hybrids on the road. "In 2006, nearly 240,000 hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles took to Virginia roads, a 21 percent increase from the year before, according to a study conducted for the alliance by R.L. Polk and Co. As a nation, hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles increased by 1.5 million, or 16.7 percent, to 10.5 million." ... California and the Feds just can't get on the same page when it comes to fuel-efficiency. Washington says the Golden State's HOV lanes are clogged due to hybrids and California officials say the problem is rapid population growth ...
|
Thursday, June 14, 2007:Lots of evidence this week that hybrids are playing a sweetheart role in America's love affair with automobiles. Car rental giants Hertz and Avis announced major boosts in their levels of available hybrid vehicles. And Edmunds.com reported: "If any doubt remained that hybrid vehicles have become part of the automotive mainstream, it disappeared last spring. That's when Toyota began offering the industry's favorite sales bait - in the form of $2,000 incentives - on the Prius sedan, even though it already was America's best-selling hybrid ... Prius sales this year are expected to increase by about 50 percent, up to 175,000 cars." ... Ever wonder what your mechanic thinks about hybrids? ... Here's an interesting story from New England: "Vermont's largest utility, Central Vermont Public Service, is helping advance the latest technology in energy efficient vehicles. CVPS has purchased two plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and will offer customers a reduced rate to charge such vehicles from their homes." ...
|
Friday, June 8, 2007:Even as the Honda Accord hybrid bit the dust, Toyota announced that it had sold its one-millionth hybrid on a worldwide basis. What does that mean in practical terms? "As U.S. hybrid sales jumped to 45,000 vehicles - their highest monthly total ever - Toyota Motor Co. captured 80 percent of all new hybrid customers ... While other automakers reported sizable increases in hybrid sales, Toyota saw sales of its hybrid Prius more than double from a year earlier. With sales of 24,009 vehicles - more than all other hybrids combined - the Prius was the ninth top-selling U.S. model in the industry for May, outselling mass-market names such as the Nissan Altima, Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Cobalt. The only car model from a Detroit automaker that outsold the Prius last month was the Chevrolet Impala." ... In fact, May 2007 may be the month when hybrid sales settled into a groove and remained there for good -- accounting for an all-time high of nearly 3 percent of total auto sales in the U.S. ...
|
Friday, June 1, 2007:Do you coast down hills in your hybrid? Do you find yourself traveling much slower than other traffic on the road? Do you either overinflate your hybrid car tires or check the inflation level obsessively? If so, you may be a "hypermiler." Either way, make sure to check out this interesting story. We have to confess that it describes us here at HOA just about perfectly! ... If you've purchased a Ford Escape or Mercury Mariner hybrid, you will want to see what the IRS is saying about the federal tax credit level that you are eligible for ... Here's a promising development: "The Ford Edge with HySeries Drive, the world's first drivable fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle, hit the streets of Canada for the first time in Vancouver Wednesday as part of a trip to showcase the advanced research vehicle alongside its most technologically advanced production vehicle, the new hot-selling 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid." ... Here is an unorthodox way for a utility to cut down on its global warming emissions: Public Service Electric & Gas in New Jersey is switching over a third of its vehicle fleet to hybrids ...
|
Thursday, May 24, 2007:First, there was the Checker cab. Then came the Crown Vics that account for 90 percent of the 13,000 yellow cabs in New York City. What's next? "The spacious but gas-guzzling Ford Crown Victoria, long the emblematic vehicle of the city's yellow cab fleet, would be replaced by cleaner, more fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles under a five-year plan proposed by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg yesterday. The move, which requires approval by the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission, is part of the mayor's ambitious environmental agenda for the city, PlaNYC, which calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030." The city figures that replacing the fuel-wasting Crown Vics with hybrids would be the pollution equivalent of removing 32,000 gas-engine vehicles from Gotham's crowded streets ... Maybe they will park all of those abandoned New York cabs alongside former Army Humvees. The Army is working on a prototype of a Prius-style hybrid battlewagon ... Not to be outdone, UPS is testing 50 hybrid/electric delivery trucks in Houston, Dallas, Phoenix and Atlanta. UPS expects to burn 44,000 fewer gallons of fuel, compared to its traditional diesel-powered delivery trucks ...
|
Friday, May 18, 2007:To the list of those who are unimpressed with so-called "mild" hybrids, you can add an unexpected name: the Bush Administration's Environmental Protection Agency, which just issued proposed rules for states to use in granting hybrids special HOV lane access. As AP reports: "Only four manufacturers -- Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co., Ford Motor Co. and Mazda Motor Corp. -- make vehicles that would qualify. ... The qualifying vehicles include: the 2004-07 Toyota Prius, 2006-07 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, 2006-07 Lexus RX400h, 2006 Mazda Tribute Hybrid, 2005-07 Ford Escape Hybrid, 2006-07 Mercury Mariner Hybrid, 2003-07 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2003-06 Honda Insight and 2005 and 2007 models of the Honda Accord Hybrid ... Some of the vehicles that would not qualify include the luxury Lexus GS450h Hybrid, DaimlerChrysler AG's Dodge Ram Hybrid and General Motors Corp.'s Saturn Vue Greenline Hybrid." ... Here's an interesting report that Toyota will make the hybrid the company's standard drivetrain for all vehicles by 2020 ... New Hampshire to New York and back again on $27 -- at today's gas prices? It can be done if you drive a hybrid ... You know when they start talking about a Porsche hybrid that this thing has really caught on ...
|
Friday, May 11, 2007:The Associated Press reports that at least five presidential candidates -- Hillary Rodham Clinton, John Edwards, Chris Dodd, Sam Brownback and Tom Tancredo -- drive hybrid vehicles, including three Ford Escape hybrids, one Prius and one Honda Civic hybrid. Who are the "gas hogs" who want the job? AP reports that Obama has a full-size Chrysler 300C sport-luxury sedan, Mike Huckabee has two large pick-ups and John McCain has a Cadillac CTS luxury sedan. Notes AP: "Hybrids are gaining in popularity with the political class, judging from the cars of choice of the presidential candidates." ... Brits love the Toyota Prius, which is now ranked No.1 in the United Kingdom as the most satisfying car to own ... This USA Today letter to the editor headline says it all: "Want Lower Gas Prices? Buy a Hybrid Car" ... Highway-safe all electric vehicles are on the way, according to Edmunds.com ... The big push to upscale consumers is on for the Lexus hybrid ... Look for a hybrid Land Rover in the near future ... and GM may just have the "Prius Fighter" in its new Volt, according to Auto Week ...
|
Friday, May 4, 2007:Long waits for popular hybrid models may be coming back this summer, according to a major new Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) survey conducted for the nonprofit Civil Society Institute (CSI) think tank and its 40MPG.org project. Nearly three out of four Americans (72 percent) expect gasoline prices to hit $3.50 a gallon or higher this summer. And nearly three in 10 U.S. adults (29 percent) say will be inclined to go out and buy a hybrid or other highly fuel-efficient car if the pain at the pump actually reaches the $3.50 level. What about the interest in hybrids even at today's gas prices levels? On that point, the CSI/40MPG.org survey notes: "Two-thirds of Americans are either more likely (35 percent) or just as likely (31 percent) to buy a hybrid, clean-diesel or other highly fuel efficient car as they were six months ago. Less than a third (31 percent) say they are less likely to make such a purchase." ...
|
Friday, April 27, 2007:Everywhere you look, you see signs that hybrids are catching on with auto consumers. According to a new Priceline survey, 72 percent of rental car customers now want hybrids as an option. (And you know how it works with business and pleasure travelers who use the rental opportunity as an extended "test drive" before they go home and buy the car in question.) ... More good news: The folks at Kelley Blue Book put two hybrids in the top 10 for resale value ... And then there's the sad case of General Motors, which, after 76 years, has lost its crown as world sales leader to Toyota ... How fitting that the people who killed the electric car were topped during the first quarter of 2007 by the people wh |
