The independent and nonprofit Hybrid Owners of America organizes and advocates for the interests of the 500,000 Americans who are saving money on gas, reducing America's dependence on foreign oil, and cutting global warming pollution by driving hybrid cars and other gas/electric vehicles. http://www.hybridownersofamerica.org/ en-us Thu, 2 Sep 2010 19:24:34 -0500 the famous Groucho Marx joke from the movie "Duck Soup":   "Why, a four year old child could understand this. Run out and get me a four year old child, I can't make head or tail out of it." It turns out that the latest high-mileage, zero-emission vehicle not only gets 300 MPG - an impressive feat - but wasn't designed by the engineering students or industry experts in Japan, Detroit or Germany.  The high school students in Kansas City, Missouri who conceived of and delivered the 300 MPG electric car have even applied to Guinness World Records for their achievement. "The students' electric car consists of a chassis from the 2000 Lola Indy, an ultra light-weight aerodynamic body and Bridgestone Ecopia EP100 tires, and a high-end electric propulsion system specially designed for the vehicle ... With a test run showing the vehicle got around 300 mpg, the students are looking for a suitable automaker who can turn the project into a full-scale commercial entity ..." according to MyFoxDC.com ... It's official!  We reported a few weeks ago on a proposed California law which would create a new HOV sticker program for electric cars and extend carpool lane privileges that currently exist for hybrids.  California Governor Schwarzenegger has now signed it into law. The new sticker program for up to 40,000 vehicles includes all electric cars - and also hydrogen fuel cell cars and plug-in hybrids.  It will run through 2015.  The 85,000 hybrid-electric owners who currently have stickers will have privileges extended another six months ...   Boston's Logan airport is has had to increase the number of spots available for hybrids as part of its clean vehicle program.  Logan started out by offering 100 special spots for hybrid owners two years ago and has had to increase that to 160 spots. Hybrid drivers at Chicago's Midway airport and Los Angeles LAX also get benefits along the same lines. Let's hope this trend spreads across the country ...]]> http://www.hybridownersofamerica.org/backpages/HOAblog.cfm#198 put more than a million hybrid and electric vehicles on the roads is part of a real sea change for the country.  As part of the China's plan to become a world leader in green technology, a group of 16 big state-owned companies has agreed to form an alliance to do research and development, and create standards for electric and hybrid vehicles. If reports that the companies will invest the equivalent of $15 billion in the endeavor are true, that " ...would make it one of the world's most ambitious attempts to develop more energy-efficient vehicles." In the U.S., President Obama had pledged to bring a million hybrid and electric cars to highways by 2015 a while back.  He pushed a $2.4 billion grant program to develop next-generation batteries, which could lead to 500,000 batteries a year by late 2014 and his administration has passed tough fuel economy regulations, partly to encourage automakers to produce more hybrid and electric vehicles.  With any luck, the combined effect of the Chinese and U.S. efforts will lead to some real breakthroughs on the hybrid/all-electric vehicle front ... More "Fusion" for the NYPD?  NY City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been a major proponent of hybrid and electric cars as part of the city's push to go green. The NYPD recently deployed 30 of 102 Ford Fusion hybrids for use as marked patrol cars.  The Fusion's join the city's fleet of 76 Nissan Altima hybrids, which were the first hybrids to join the patrol car ranks in April 2009.   Alternative fuel vehicles now account for 400 of the NYPD's fleet of 3,000 vehicles ...]]> http://www.hybridownersofamerica.org/backpages/HOAblog.cfm#197 90,000 owners of a 2006-2008 Honda Civic Hybrid, make sure you hightail it to your dealership!  Honda has issued a "technical service bulletin" regarding a software flaw that can cause the Civic Hybrid batteries to wear out sooner than expected. The company hasn't confirmed whether the flaw actually caused any of the vehicles in the U.S. to fail but did say the software modification affects how the battery is used and won't reduce fuel economy for the compact sedans ... A popular program in California for hybrid cars may have new wind in its sails.  And a new one for plug-in and electric cars could provide the extra push buyers need to purchase these super green vehicles.  A proposal has been sent to desk of the "Governator" that would extend through mid-2011 carpool lane privileges for the 85,000 hybrid vehicles enrolled in an early incentive program and create a new sticker program for up to 40,000 PHEV and all-electric vehicles to run through 2015. The current hybrid stickers permission to use carpool lanes is currently set to expire in January 2011.  We're not sure why the program would only be extended six months - especially since Cali is widely recognized as one of the most progressive states on green policy - but at least it's a start.  Hopefully, the state will realize anything that encourages use not only of electric vehicles but also hybrids will go a long way to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, especially the smog in LA! ... Although it is unclear whether the Honda Fit Hybrid will come to the U.S., the vehicle will already have some stiff competition overseas.  Toyota is planning a hybrid smaller than the Prius that could be priced under $18,000. Honda has announced the pricing for the Japanese launch of the Fit Hybrid this October will be the equivalent of $18,600.  If the Fit Hybrid is coming to the U.S., we'll surely let you know but for now, the hybrid subcompact competition is heating up overseas ...]]> http://www.hybridownersofamerica.org/backpages/HOAblog.cfm#196 poor gas mileage (less than 5 MPG!) and dirty diesel emissions.  That's all changing.  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Ohio-based Eaton Corporation developed a system called "hydraulic hybrid", which is now being tested in several cities.  The new system increases fuel economy up to 30 percent and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 40 percent or more in heavy-duty truck applications. UPS is also testing a variation of the design in some of its trucks.  Soon the only thing that stinks in this process may be your garbage itself!  ...  Following in the footsteps of Toyota, which recently announced a partnership with smaller electric car company Tesla, General Motors has invested in a hybrid auto maker called Bright Automotive. Bright Automotive, which was spun out of the Rocky Mountain Institute, plans to develop lightweight plug-in hybrids and utility vehicles. The company will get access to GM's technologies but plans to focus on weight, wind resistance and materials in its designs.  The relationship will also likely accelerate launch of a Bright vehicle, which may now appear in 2012 instead of a year later  ...  The price difference between the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt is already pretty stark but will dealer markups on the Volt drive an even larger wedge?  Since production on the volt is limited at first, it sounds like some dealers may be planning huge markups for the Volt.  Here's hoping the GM does not turn the Volt into the E(lectric)dsel! ...   ]]> http://www.hybridownersofamerica.org/backpages/HOAblog.cfm#195 compare the Volt and the Leaf.  But does that really make sense?  How can you have a "battle of the electric cars" with only one electric car in the match?  The Leaf is all electric; the Volt is not.  The Leaf is reported to be good for 100 miles fully charged; the Volt's electric battery can propel it for 40 miles.  After that, it switches to gas. And TheTruthAboutCars.com points out, the Volt's gas engine requires pricey premium unleaded.  And there's another big difference.  Chevrolet unveiled the price tag for the Volt and we find ourselves asking: Can the $41,000 Volt really compete with the $33,000 Leaf?  Seems like this fight is for PR purposes only.  It's really a case of fighters in two completely different weight classes  ...  Following the concept we mentioned last week of hybrids approaching the same cost as their gas counterparts, it looks like a trend may be emerging.  Ford announced this week that it will price its 2011 Lincoln MKZ hybrid the same as its gas counterpart.  Although some hybrids still have a much higher price tag than their gas twin, like the Mercury Mariner with a $6,100 price differential, other hybrid-gas twins are very close in cost.  The Toyota Camry only has a $515 price difference and the Cadillac Escalade hybrid only outpaces the gas version by $148. We'll let you know how this trend develops ... ]]> http://www.hybridownersofamerica.org/backpages/HOAblog.cfm#194