Hybrid Car Reporter

Lincoln's green MKZ Hybrid

2011-05-21T16:04:00.000-07:00

The new Lincoln MKZ Hybrid offers relief at the fuel pump without premium price. In confused times like these, with gasoline prices through the roof, I generally advise against leaping for the familiar hybrid life preserver. Hybrids typically exact a $5,000 or so premium for their technology and expensive battery packs. Moreover, the new 40 mpg compacts are taking over the market.

But then there comes the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid that looks to be an exception to the rule. Lincoln charges no premium for its hybrid. The MKZ Hybrid gets 41 mpg city and 36mpg highway and carries the same base price of just under $35,000 that the standard version costs. Consumers have taken notice as the sales rate for the MKZ Hybrid is up over 20% through April.

As in the Prius, the MKZ's gas engine shuts off at stops. Its electric motor gets the car going again, with the gas engine taking over acceleration demands get too great.

Demand for Hybrid Cars soaring as gas prices rise

2011-03-28T08:46:00.000-07:00

The rapidly rising gas prices are pushing buyers to hybrid cars at a record pace. Honda, Hyundai and Toytota are reporting brisk sales. In fact, some analysts are calling it almost a panic buying situation. Gas prices coupled with aftermath of the Japanese earthquake could make getting these hybrids even more difficult since none is made here in the United States.

"All of our hybrids which includes the Civic, Insight, and the CR-Z are produced in Japan. They have stopped production on those vehicles temporarily and we feel it's going to have a real affect on our supply over the coming months," said Tom Kurlough of Sunnyside Honda in Middleburg Heights.

The demand for fuel efficient cars always increases when the prices at the pump are high. Right now, Kurlough only has eleven Hybrid cars left on his lot. Normally, he would have four times that many.

Many Honda and Toyota vehicles are made right here in the US. It's the hybrid cars like the Prius that are made exclusively in Japan. If you're in the market to purchase a hybrid vehicle, sooner is better than later. The uncertainty of vehicle production in Japan will be

New, Sportier Hybrids planned from Toyota

2010-07-10T10:57:00.000-07:00

In line with Toyota’s plans to offer a hybrid in each range by 2020, new models will soon get the versatile gas-electric hybrid system that is seen in the Prius model.

This year, Toyota is expected to build almost a million hybrid drivetrains that will go to its Prius and Auris HSD models. Toyota has proven the reliability and cost advantages of its engine/electric motor/nickel-metal hydride batteries system and so it is hesitant to create a new system for future hybrids. Toyota plans to launch more hybrids but its current hybrid system already possesses sporty driving features, according to Toyota’s powertrain guru, Gerald Killman.

He claims that Toyota’s hybrid technology is “adaptable” and that instead of developing a new one, it makes more sense to give “more character” to what they currently have. Rumors have been proliferating about Toyota’s ongoing development of a sporty hybrid to compete with the Honda CR-Z. The FT-CH Concept, which was shown at the Detroit show last January, is believed to be a preview of how this model is expected to look. On whether these new hybrids would take on the Prius name to form a family of cars, Killman replied that the marketing department has yet to decide on this matter.

Suzuki unveils plans for Swift plug-in hybrid

2010-05-16T08:50:00.000-07:00

Suzuki has announced plans to introduce a plug-in hybrid version of its Suzuki Swift compact car using batteries supplied by Sanyo Electric, the automaker said.

Suzuki dealerships in Japan will test sixty units of the car in the second half of 2010. The hybrid Swift runs over nine miles on a fully charged battery and will have a 0.66 liter engine to generate electricity. No plans have been released by Suzuki as to when or where the car may go on sale.

The carmaker follows Toyota and General Motors in announcing plans to sell hybrid vehicles that can be recharged at household electrical outlets. Suzuki formed an alliance with Volkswagen AG in December that will include cooperation on hybrid and electric cars, and chairman Osamu Suzuki said in January his company planned to introduce electric vehicles in Japan.

Suzuki displayed the Suzuki Swift plug-in hybrid at the Tokyo Motor Show late last year. The two companies plan to develop hybrids and electric vehicles together under both car brands, Suzuki said in December.

Ferrari to introduce hybrid option with 599 hybrid electric

2010-03-08T07:51:00.000-08:00

Ferrari is going green and will have the sexiest hybrid on the market soon. Ferrari unveiled their new hybrid electric Ferrari 599 HY-KERS concept recently unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show and it was a hit drawing praise from all corners of the market.

The lithium ion batteries and rear axle mounted electric motor adds around 100kgs to the vehicle mass but the electric motor output is 100bhp, so the power to weight ratio is not compromised. The batteries are mounted flat and low on the chassis, giving a centre of gravity lower than the standard V12 599 model that helps road holding.

The new Ferrari hybrid electric will still have all the zip of the traditional Ferrait; 200 mph, zero to 60 in 3.5 seconds, and 125 mph in 10.5 seconds, albeit without the traditional roar of the engine associated with Italian speed demons.

Toyota to recall Prius Hybrids

2010-02-06T19:43:00.000-08:00

The Toyota recalls have spread to the Toyota Prius. Brake design flaws and public concerns are reaking havoc on Toyota Motors and the Prius is just the latest in a series of recalls to try and remedy the problems.

"The company has notified its dealers in Japan that it would recall all the (new model Prius) vehicles sold in the country," the mass-circulation Yomiuri Shimbun daily said without naming its sources.

The recall, which would repair a software programme for the antilock braking system designed to prevent skidding, is expected to affect some 270,000 vehicles in Japan and the United States alone.

Toyota, already reeling from massive worldwide recalls due to sticky accelerator pedals, has come under fresh fire after it said it had fixed the Prius brake system in January without warning drivers who already own the model about the possibility of brake failure.

Subaru to unveil Tourer Hybrid

2009-10-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

Subaru will show off its new Hybrid Tourer model in Tokyo. The Hybrid Tourer combines Subaru's traditional boxer engine/all-wheel drive layout with two electric motors. One at the front and one at the back. The concept foresees that the Hybrid Tourer would normally be powered by the boxer engine, with the rear electric motor taking over only at start-up and lower speeds. The front electric motor would kick in as required to boost acceleration and enhance climbing performance. The Hybrid Tourer also features Subaru's new Lineartronic automatic gearbox, which is already available in the newly introduced Legacy.

The Subaru Tourer Hybrid swoopy design, with its gull wing doors, represents quite a departure for Subaru, which traditionally produces cars with a rather simple design. There's quite a strong hint of Alfa Brera in the Hybrid Tourer's waistline and tail, while the radiator grille looks slightly Jaguary, although the overall effect is quite pleasing.

Toyota Planning Supra Hybrid

2009-06-27T16:43:00.001-07:00

Toyota is planning on a hybrid version of the Supra. A version of the Toyota Supra Hybrid was seen as early as the 2007 Detroit auto show but it had been shelved. Now it appears to be back in the plans again.

The gas-electric hybrid drivetrain is expected to be a derivative of the 3.5-litre V6 mated to the electric drive system found in the Crown Hybrid, with 400 hp to the rear wheels. The gas only Supra will sport a V6 with the same displacement.

With the worst of the economic downturn behind us and rising oil prices on hand expect more hybrid auto plans that might have been on hold to be gaining revival steam.

Honda Fit Hybrid to hit market next year

2009-05-28T08:45:00.000-07:00

Honda Motors plans to roll out a gas-electric hybrid version of its Fit subcompact in mid 2010 to tap growing demand for low-emission vehicles. The Honda Fit hybrid will hit the market about a year and a half ahead of schedule as Honda looks to take advantage of receptive marketplace trends.

Amid the devastating global slump in demand for cars, hybrid cars have become a bright spot for the industry with Honda seeing robust demand for their latest models.

Honda spokeswoman Akemi Ando said the automaker has not decided the timing of release, price or sales target for the Honda Fit hybrid.

GM unveils new hybrid engine the HCCI

2009-05-22T02:04:00.000-07:00

General Motors unveiled their new homogenous charge compression ignition engine (HCCI) that will eventually be used to power its lineup of hybrid and plug-in vehicles. In the HCCI engine the air and fuel mixture is compressed to ignite rather than using a spark. When combined with other advanced technologies, the HCCI engine provides up to 15% better fuel economy.

"We're not fully set up for plug-in electric vehicles or fuel cell vehicles. Until we get the infrastructure in place, we have to have a variety of solutions available. There will be some cities that can accommodate these new technologies, but for the rest of the public, we don't want to leave them stranded," she explained.

March Hybrid Car Sales down over 40%

2009-05-06T09:42:00.000-07:00

The Green Car Congress reported that US Hybrid Car sales declined by a whopping 44% from a year earlier reflecting lower gasoline prices and the economic downturn in the US. The Toyota Prius suffered a sales decrease of 57% while the Camry Hybrid was off 63%. General Motors reported 1612 hybrid sales during March led by the Tahoe Hybrid.

Sales are expected to improve along with the US economy during the 2nd half of 2009. Oil prices have also been rising lately and with the summer months looking a rise in gasoline prices is also expected.

Ford Fusion Hybrid goes over 1400 miles on a single tank

2009-05-02T08:12:00.000-07:00

Ford Motors announced that a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid had broke a world record for a gasoline powered midsized sedan travelling over 1400 miles on a single tank of gas. Of course the driver was trained in hypermiling and mileage maximization techniques. The Ford Fusion Hybrid got 81 mpg on the trip. The average driver like you and I is expected to be able to get around 700 miles to the tank in normal driving conditions.

China to increase investment in Hybrid vehicles

2009-04-08T15:00:00.000-07:00

China aims to become one of the leading producers of hybrid and electric vehicles within the next three years. The goal, which radiates from the very top of the Chinese government, suggests that Detroit’s Big Three, will face even stiffer foreign competition on the next field of automotive technology than they do today.

China is behind the United States, Japan and other countries in making gasoline-powered vehicles, but by skipping the current technology, China hopes to get a jump on the next. Japan is the market leader in hybrids today, which run on both electricity and gasoline, with cars like the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight. The United States has been a laggard in alternative energy vehicles. GM’s Chevrolet Volt is scheduled to go on sale next year, and will use rechargeable batteries imported from South Korea.

China’s intention, in addition to creating a leading industry that will produce jobs and exports, is to reduce urban pollution and decrease its dependence on imported oil. But electric vehicles may do little to clear China’s smog-darkened skies or curb its rapidly rising emissions of global warming gases. China gets three-fourths of its electricity from coal, which produces more soot and more greenhouse gases than other fuels.

A report by McKinsey & Co last autumn estimated that replacing a gas powered car with a similarly sized electric car in China would reduce greenhouse emissions by only 19%. It would reduce urban pollution, however, by shifting the source of smog from car exhaust pipes to power plants often located outside cities.

Hyundai hybrid plug-in Blue-Will planned for 2012

2009-04-02T14:19:00.000-07:00

Hyundai is planning on having a hybrid plug-in available in the United States by 2012 and be called the Hyundai Blue-Will. The Blue-Will will provide direct competition to the Chevy Volt and the Toyota Prius plug-ins due to arrive on the market soon.

Yang Woong-chul, president of Hyundai-Kia Motors said the Blue-Will can travel about 38 miles on electricity only. Hyundai claims a fuel economy rating of 106 mpg in plug-in mode and up to 55 mpg in hybrid-electric mode. The concept car features a panoramic glass roof with solar cells for recharging.

We want to be the world leader in fuel economy and alternative fuels,” he said.

Toyota to sell two Prius models in response to Honda

2009-03-26T10:44:00.000-07:00

The battle is on between Honda and Toyota in the hybrid car market. In response to Honda planning to introduce the Honda Insight hybrid which will cost over 10% less than the Toyota Prius, Toyota is planning on selling the 3rd generation Prius in addition to the smaller Prius model that is already available. The move is a clear attempt to ride out the Honda challenge in the hybrid car market that Toyota has dominated.

"Honda has made an excellent car that addresses ecological problems," Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe said of the Insight at a Tokyo showroom. "It will stimulate the development of hybrid technology, including cost-cutting. And that is also our goal."

Toyota Yaris to aim for best low cost Hybrid Car

2009-03-25T13:21:00.000-07:00

Toyota is taking aim squarely at the Honda Insight and is introducing the Toyota Yaris hybrid in an attempt to become the low cost efficiency leaders in the hybrid car market. The Toyota Yaris will be available in the US and Japan.

The Honda Insight has been grabbing market share away from the Toyota Pruis recently. No time frame has been established, but the Toyota Yaris is expected to hit the market in 2011 and be priced under the Honda Insight market price.

Honda Insight to hit the streets

2009-03-24T06:06:00.000-07:00

Honda is introducing the Honda Insight next week to the US market and Honda is saying it is the first affordable hybrid car to arrive. The Honda Insight has been a huge hit in Japan as consumers ordered almost twenty thousand of the Insight in its first week of availablility. The pricing of the Honda Insight is in the very reasonable neighborhood of $20,000 which could force Toyota to drop prices of its popular Prius model if the Insight really takes off in the States.

Unlike the original two seat Insight, the new hybrid Insight has a back seat and is roomy enough for five people. Fuel-economy ratings are forty miles per gallon in the city and forty three on the highway using a combination of a four cylinder gas engine with intelligent variable valve timing and an electric motor. With a 10.6 gallon tank, the Insight has a range of at least 400 miles between fillups.

Obama pledges $2.4 billion for electric cars

2009-03-19T17:36:00.000-07:00

The green movement and electric cars got a boost on Thursday when President Barack Obama pledged a whopping $2.4 billion to electric car research and development. The pledge puts the US in the race to become the world leaders in the green car environment. Obama set a target of putting a million of the environmentally friendly vehicles on US roads by 2015.

The plan would also give a $7,500 dollar tax credit to people who buy electric hybrid vehicles, Obama said, as he toured a plant in southern California developing the new generation transport.

The funds, dispersed by the Department of Energy, will offer up to $1.5 billion dollars to US manufacturers who produce highly efficient batteries and half a billion dollars for firms that produce other components for the vehicles.

Ford puts Fusion on display in Kansas City

2009-03-12T10:32:00.000-07:00

Ford has unveiled their first hyrbid car, the Ford Fusion, making a public appearance at the Greater Kansas City International Auto Show. The Ford Fusion will be available for public purchase later this spring.

The Fusion’s exterior largely resembles the Ford Fusion already on sale. But refitted with an electric motor and a four cylinder gas engine, the Fusion has been tweaked by Ford engineers to give it bragging rights for the best mileage among midsized gas powered sedans.

The Fusion hybrid has earned some buzz at other auto shows around the country. Car and Driver magazine recently declared that “Ford beats the Japanese at their own game.”

Ford banking on the Fusion

2009-03-03T13:46:00.001-08:00

The 2010 Ford Fusion is expected to be a winner for Ford Motors. The car company is looking for its 2010 Ford Fusion and Fusion hybrid to gain market share for Ford in the midsize car segment. Ford is also hoping to start changing the perception that the company doesn't make fuel efficient cars.

Ford plans to aggressively market the Fusion with three new commercials tonight during the mega popular American Idol on Fox. The ads will emphasize Fusion's 34 miles per gallon on the highway and 41 mpg of the hybrid in city. The base price for the 2010 Fusion is $19,270, and $27,220 for the hybrid.

China unveils new electric car the S18

2009-02-23T07:18:00.000-08:00

China's largest homegrown auto maker, Chery Automobile, has debuted its new plugin hybrid that is able to run 90 miles on a single charge. The S18 can be fully charged at a home electrical outlet in about five hours and can hit speeds over 70mph. The S18 uses iron-phosphate based lithium-ion batteries.

"Our electric vehicle uses the world's latest technology, highly efficient energy conservation and is easy to use," Yuan Tao, the company's deputy general manager, said at a ceremony held earlier this week at Chery's headquarters in eastern China's Anhui province. "The pricing will be very suitable for families," Yuan said in a statement.

Chery did not give details on pricing or timing for introducing the vehicle to the market. However, the Shanghai Daily cited an unnamed company official as saying that Chery will first supply the vehicles to government agencies for trial use and then introduce them to the retail market within a year. It said the compact sedans would cost less than less than £10,293.

China has been pushing automakers for progress on electric vehicles as part of its effort to limit the country's growing dependence on imported oil and to help clear smog from its polluted cities .

Hybrid Car Sales Fall Further

2009-02-10T02:39:00.000-08:00

It is a double whammy right now for hybrid car sales. Not only are gas prices way down from the past couple of years, the economy is in such a state where nobody is buying new autos. Sales of the popular Toyota Prius fell 29% in January and other hybrid lines fell the same.

Hybrid sales are falling at the same time Congress is pushing automakers to create greener more fuel efficient vehicles, something the industry is spooling up for. Honda is set to roll out the Insight this spring, Ford has a Fusion hybrid ready for prime time and Toyota is set to announce the next gen Prius.

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid qualify for largest tax credits

2009-02-01T20:04:00.000-08:00

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid will both qualify buyers for a $3,400 tax credit from the federal government. It is the largest federal tax credit available for hybrid buyers. Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid are considered the most eifficient mid-sized sedans on the market today.

Fusion Hybrid’s class leading 41 mpg rating in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, which is based on a vehicle’s potential fuel efficiency. Together, the fuel savings and tax incentive can help significantly offset the premium to the customer for hybrid-electric technology over a conventional gas powered vehicle.

Mercedes BlueZERO Series

2009-01-22T13:58:00.000-08:00

Even in hard financial times such as these, some automakers can see the future and continue to develop hybrid autos with this in mind. Enter the Mercedes BlueZERO series of three models. The ECELL version is battery-electric and is the greenest of the three options rumoured to be able to travel 120 miles on a single charge. The FCELL will be hydrogen powered and will have a range of around 250 miles. Finally, The hybrid engined E-CELL PLUS should be able to hit 375 miles, but that's because the electric engine gets a boost from a small built-in gasoline-powered motor.

All three models were on display at last month's Detroit Autoshow.

The 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid

2009-01-06T14:33:00.000-08:00

One of the most notable aspects of the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid is that it has the same basic appearance and capabilities as the non-hybrid, V8 powered Tahoe. The Tahoe Hybrid benefits from an advanced two mode hybrid system combining an electric motor system with a conventional V8 engine. It involves no special skill set compared to the standard Tahoe; simply climb in, turn the key, choose a gear, and drive. You'll also go up to 50% farther on a gallon of gas.

The 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid has a look that might be mistaken for one of the other Tahoe models except for subtle badging, along with an aerodynamically refined exterior. Inside, the Tahoe Hybrid is equipped much like the premium Tahoe LTZ, but the instrument panel is unique, as are the lightweight leather trimmed front seats.

The Chevy is capable of running up to 32 mph on only electric power, so don’t be surprised if the engine doesn’t start. That so-called full-hybrid operation is a feature that brings especially good fuel economy in town. By achieving EPA fuel economy ratings of 21 mpg city and 22 mpg highway for the two-wheel-drive model, the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid takes small sips compared to the 5.3-liter V8 in the standard Tahoe, which guzzles 14 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway. The Tahoe Hybrid's mileage nearly equals that of midsize sedans in city driving.

All of this economy does not compromise the Tahoe Hybrid’s 6,000-pound towing capacity, and there is an abundance of power and extra torque from the twin electric motors propelling this fullsize SUV. When the Tahoe Hybrid runs on battery power, it can be eerily quiet, but as you get used to it, other vehicles seem loud. The advanced powertrain of the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid combines a specially outfitted 332-horsepower 6.0-liter V8 with what looks like a regular automatic transmission. The two electric motors combine with the 4 speed automatic transmission. The technology (codeveloped with BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Chrysler) works well, and the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid drives beautifully.

Rest assured that the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid includes all the goodness that comes with the standard Chevy Tahoe model. New standard features on the 2009 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid bring more of a high-tech feel to the package inside; they include adjustable power pedals, Bluetooth connectivity, OnStar 8.0 with Stolen Vehicle Slow Down, XM Satellite Radio with new realtime NavTraffic feature, turn-by-turn navigation, and Destination Download.

Chevrolet does charge a premium, approximately $5,000, for the Tahoe Hybrid. As such it could take more than five years of driving to recoup that expense. This premium is even harder to swallow considering the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid suffers from some of the same issues as the standard Chevy Tahoe, such as a cramped third-row seat. However, the editors of TheCarConnection.com anticipate a much more impressive resale value for the Tahoe Hybrid compared to other fullsize SUVs, especially in times of high gas prices.

Autos in 2009 - Cheaper Gas to Hurt Hybrid Sales

2009-01-01T15:58:00.000-08:00

In an economic climate as unsettled as this, even the bravest Nostradamus wannabes tend to get cautious. Very few saw this automotive meltdown coming six months ago and you can bet anyone with a reliable view into the future would be in high demand in Detroit, Tokyo and Munich. Thus, it is probably more determination than actual prognostication that sees me peering into 2009’s crystal ball.

Like almost everyone, I don’t expect the current low gas prices to last long. However, I do expect them to endure through next year and, considering most US consumers have short memories, I suspect that sales of trucks will rebound.
Actually, this one isn’t much of a stretch. Lost in all this talk of a paradigm shift in the form of a new automotive consumer is the fact that Ford’s F150 and Chevy’s Silverado are selling well. In fact, though their total sales are diminished, they are still the two best sellers south of the 49th parallel.

Gas-guzzling SUVs, on the other hand, will not fare so well. The “need” for a cargo hauling pickup is easily justified, but there are plenty of vehicles that can ferry the kidlets to grade school better than a Lincoln Navigator. The first autojournalist tests of the Chevrolet Volt will be successful.

Much of the skepticism surrounding GMs Electric Extended Range Vehicle involves its lithium ion batteries, which, no less an automotive authority than Honda has said are not ready for prime time. Nonetheless, the Chevrolet will shock the world with the first foray into this game changing technology.

GM will, however, be sweating bullets over the previous prediction as the fuel sipping sedan with an approximately $7,500 premium for its electronic gadgetry is a tough sell when gasoline is hovering between 70 and 80 cents a litre. In a perfect world, The General is probably hoping for a continuation of this cheap gasoline for all of 2009 so it can squeeze out as many pickup sales as possible and then betting on a gradual uptick in crude oil pricing as the Volt is being unveiled to the public.

It’s definitely wishful thinking, but it is in the realm of possibility. Honda will once again become a significant competitor to Toyota in the hybrid market . Not as high-tech as the Prius, its new Insight will be inexpensive, a huge boon in an economic climate as clouded as this. However, thanks to the glut of cheap oil swirling about, the Insight will take some time before hitting the 200,000 units Honda predicts it can sell in a year.

As for Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn’s prediction of purely electric cars becoming 10% of the global automotive market. Hybrids have been around for almost a decade now and, despite the headlines they generate, they still account for only about 2% of the market. There will be pomp and circumstance every time someone introduces a new electric car, but sales of the battery-only-powered automobile will remain low for quite some time.

Even in Uncertain Economic Times Hybrids Still in the Plans

2008-12-14T05:49:00.000-08:00

Gas prices have been dropping like a rock recently and along with the poor economy hybrid car sales have been affected dramatically. Thankfully, the auto world clearly is still thinking green even in this environment. Whatever the future of the American auto industry, President-elect Barack Obama has said automakers should be "retooling for energy efficiency." And as you strolled the aisles of the New England International Auto Show earlier this month, green cars were to be found at every turn.

Each autmoaker sees going green differently though. A number are rolling out gas-electric hybrid cars like Toyota's powerhouse the Prius. Othersare promoting cleanburning fuels, flex-fuel engines, and hydrogen fuelcell concepts which are all fairly unfamiliar to us now, but coming fast. Others are investing in 100% electric vehicles , or cars that run on compressed natural gas just like some MBTA buses.

So it's nice to see that even in uncertain economic times with gas prices low that the automakers are not turning their back on hybrid technologies. They continue to be planning and rolling out new hybrid vehicles so be on the lookout!

Ford Looking at Two New Hybrids for Next Year

2008-12-11T12:18:00.000-08:00

Ford plans to introduce two gasoline-electric hybrid early next year, based on the redesigned 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans. Both hybrids were unveiled at the recent Los Angeles auto show, and will go on sale in the spring. The move comes just in time to show Washington lawmakers contemplating a bailout of the industry that it is working on rolling out alternative-fuel vehicles.

These are the first hybrid sedans from Ford and they will join two similar models from General Motors, the Chevrolet Malibu and Saturn Aura, and the Toyota Camry as the only hybrids offered in the mass-market midsize sedan class.

Nissan, makes a hybrid version of its midsize Altima sedan at its Smyrna plant. But the car is built in very limited numbers and sold only in California and a few Northeast states that have smog rules that are more restrictive than the rest of the nation's.

Toyota still has the best-selling hybrid on the market, the compact Prius hatchback, and is building a factory near Tupelo, Miss., so it can assemble those models in the United States rather than importing them from Japan.

Honda had a hybrid version of its popular midsize Accord sedan, but dropped it last year for lack of consumer interest. The car had a relatively thirsty V-6 gasoline engine, and a purchase price of well above $30,000.

Ford's only hybrids now are the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner compact crossover utility vehicles, which entered their second generation this year. Ford said at the Los Angeles rollout that the Fusion and Milan hybrids would have best-in-class fuel economy, beating the Camry hybrid by at least 6 mpg in the city.

Unsold Hybrids Sitting at US Ports

2008-12-09T07:42:00.000-08:00

It's not just the HUVs and pricey luxury sedans that aren't selling right now. Hybrid cars are tought to sell as well. Scores of automobiles made overseas are stacking up at ports and parking lots around the United States as supplies far outstrip demand amid the nation's worst auto market in more than 25 years.

At the Long Beach port near Los Angeles, Toyota vehicles including Prius hybrids, FJ Cruiser sport utility vehicles and Lexus IS 250 luxury sedans are being stored on a vast construction site that will one day be a new container terminal. The site became a gigantic parking lot when Toyota and Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz asked the port for space to store thousands of vehicles that dealerships have not been able to take on due to sluggish sales.

The port has not counted how many additional cars were being stored, but Wong said Toyota has leased an additional 23 acres of space while Mercedes-Benz has leased about 20 more acres.

Big 3 CEOs Head to Washington in Hybrids to Look for Aid

2008-12-03T08:30:00.000-08:00

Well I guess they learned from their last disaster trip in which the Big 3 CEOs were blasted for taking private jets while their companies were going bankrupt. If the Detroit Three automakers have learned anything since their last trip to Washington, it’s that the old way of doing business just will not fly.

So the decision by auto executives to travel in hybrid cars rather than corporate jets is just the start to overhauling their image as the industry pleads its case for $25 billion in federal loans.

Automakers “should not be afraid to acknowledge their mistakes,” said Adam Mendelsohn, a partner in Mercury Public Affairs and former communications director for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. “It’s not necessarily a weakness. It’s actually a positive. It will send a very clear message that they intend to make changes.”

The CEOs of GM, Ford and Chrysler are making the 500 mile trip from Detroit to Washington in hopes of securing loans to help them through the recession and the worst sales downturn in 25 years. Hearings are scheduled for Thursday and Friday. Ford CEO Alan Mulally left for the capital Tuesday in a small Ford Escape sport utility vehicle, which runs on gas and electricity. Rick Wagoner of GM departs today in a hybrid Chevrolet Malibu. Chrysler LLC said its chief executive, Robert Nardelli, would leave Tuesday night, driving a hybrid Dodge Durango or Chrysler Aspen SUV.

The move to travel more like regular Americans comes after the CEOs’ last hearing visit for hearings in November turned into a public relations disaster. Lawmakers learned that all three had flown in separate corporate jets to ask for the bailout dollars, and critics harangued the CEOs. In an effort to curb bad publicity, Ford and GM said their CEOs would take the wheel for at least part of the nine hour trip.

Ford also announced Tuesday it will sell its five corporate jets, and GM said it will close its corporate jet operations on the new year and try to sell remaining lease time on its seven aircraft. Spokeswoman Lori McTavish said Chrysler rents but does not own any jets.

Act Fast Before Tax Incentives for Hybrid Cars Expire

2008-11-11T17:36:00.000-08:00

Time is running out and hybrid car buyers only have until the end of the year to get their tax credit for buying a Honda Civic hybrid, one of the more popular fuel saving vehicles on the market. The expiring tax credit is the latest in a series of changes chipping away at the financial incentives to buy a hybrid. Tax breaks tied to Toyota's popular Prius, which gets over 45 mpgn, and its other hybrid models ended about a year ago. Now the federal government is phasing out the similar incentives on the Honda Civic hybrid, which gets 42 mpg.

Combine that with the fact that fuel prices have fallen from their historic highs above $4 a gallon this summer, and it's getting a lot more expensive to be an environmentally conscious driver. Hybrid tax incentives start to go away when a car maker sells its 60,000th vehicle, a level Toyota reached mid 2006 and Honda hit in third quarter 2007. The amount of the tax credit is first reduced by 50% before disappearing altogether over several months. Honda's tax credit, currently $525, will be phased out by yearend, according to the IRS. The Civic credit had been as high as $2,100 before the phaseout began in January.

Sales of hybrids, though still only about 2% of the overall market, have grown rapidly since the Prius made its debut in the US in 2000. Toyota and Honda were the first to have these vehicles in dealer showrooms when fuel prices started skyrocketing in the past few years.

Hybrids get better mileage because they pair a traditional internal combustion engine with an electric motor, which is powered by a rechargeable battery. Electric motors boost power to the regular gas engine, allowing automakers to install smaller, more efficient motors in hybrid cars. Some hybrids run on electric power alone at low speeds, further saving fuel.

Higher sticker prices and lower fuel costs make hybrids less economical than their gas counterparts because it takes far longer to earn back the hybrid's price premium through savings at the pump. Hybrids can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $7,000 more than conventionally powered cars. The Honda Civic hybrid retails for $21,954, compared with $17,820 for a conventional Civic, according to Edmunds.com, an autoresearch firm.

A Honda spokesman says the automaker has no plans to discount its Civic hybrid in light of the disappearing credit. Next year, Honda is releasing a new Insight model, expected to be priced around $19,000, much cheaper than most other hybrids, though it will not be eligible for a tax credit. In any event, many customers have grown accustomed to hybrids' prices and buy them to brandish their environmental credentials, not save money. So dealers and analysts don't expect Toyota and Honda hybrids to suffer.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Hybrid Car

2008-11-05T20:22:00.000-08:00

Even though gas prices have been retreating to more reasonable levels, many families are still interested in hybid cars. The country is still in a financial crisis and global warming remains a long term issue. Most experts also agree that once the gloobal economy recovers oil and gas prices will increase again. Luckily, drivers have more options than ever before when it comes to saving money and reducing their carbon footprint.

10 years ago Toyota came out with the Prius, the world's first mass produced hybrid car which utilized both gas and electric engines. Now nearly every carmaker is attempting to produce its own version of the hybrid and consumers are chomping at the bit. The sales of "green" vehicles rose 38% last year alone according to AP.

If you are thinking of a hybrid here are some issues to consider:

Is a hybrid car really economically efficient?
Make sure you do your research on the true market value so that you are able to negotiate effectively. Keep in mind that hybrid prices vary greatly depending on the demand in the region. Hybrids can also be priced more highly in metro areas or after a new model first comes out. You should also note that most of your savings with a hybrid actually come over the longterm and that they are typically more expensive to buy or lease than other cars.

What type of hybrid do I want?
The Toyota Prius is a gas-electric hybrid, the electric motor is used for short distances and the gasoline engine kicks in at higher speeds to power the wheels and recharge the battery. The Chevy Volt, one of the upcoming series of plug-in hybrids, will travel 40 miles on the battery when the gas engine recharges it. Plug-ins will be recharged through an electrical outlet in the wall. The new bailout bill also provides new tax credits for plug-in hybrids, up to $7,500 depending on the kilowatt capacity of the battery.

How much will I save on gas by driving a hybrid?
With hybrids costing between $1,200 and $8,000 more than traditional cars, it can take at least 100,000 miles to offset the increased cost of the car. Two other factors to consider are the distance of your commute and the price of gas in your area. Obviously, the more you drive the more quickly you'll earn back the added cost of the car. Be aware that there are other fule efficient cars on the market. But if you are interested in a hybrid you have a variety of choices.

How important is the environmental impact of the car?
Not all hybrids are created equally. The Automaker rankings of 2007 listed Honda as the Greenest Automaker. If you are concerned about your car's impact on the environment, visit www.fueleconomy.gov and you can check out the listings for every year of a car, make and model and learn about the car's carbon footprint, EPA air pollution score and petroleum consumption.

Toyota and Honda Duel it out for Top Hybrid

2008-10-26T04:01:00.000-07:00

The two carmakers leading the race on hybrid fuels are ready to go head-to-head with their next generation hybrid models. Honda and Toyota both believe their products will give them the edge. Honda has already revealed that the Insight hybrid will be pitched around $5,000 less than the Civic Hybrid when it reaches the UK market in spring.

“Despite offering space for five and the convenience of a hatchback, this car has been developed purely as a hybrid,” said Honda engineer Thomas Brachmann, who is based at Honda R&D Europe in Germany. “Because the bodywork has not needed to be adapted, we have achieved savings in construction and production, as well as price reduction resulting from major steps in electronic systems,” he added.

But the fresh competition from Honda will not prompt any changes in Toyota’s approach to super-clean mobility, said Toyota Europe sales and marketing vice-president Andrea Formica. He claimed Prius was still the most advanced expression of hybrid motoring.

“Our present car delivers customer benefits that go beyond Honda’s proposed new model, and when our next generation version is unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in January, we expect it to offer further benefits.”

Formica added: “More than one million examples of our pioneering petrol-electric powertrain technology have been sold so far and plans are in hand to achieve one million annual sales by 2010. Present strategy is linked with the Prius, but we will expand our hybrid applications and field models in every market segment by 2020.”

The Mercedes-Benz S400 Blue Hybrid

2008-10-03T08:48:00.000-07:00

Mercedes-Benz is making waves with its ‘BlueHYBRID’ which has the bodyshell and mechanicals of the S-Class with a modified V6 petrol engine and a compact hybrid module. The German luxury carmaker claims that its S400 BlueHYBRID is the world’s most economical luxury saloon with a spark-ignition engine. In the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) combined fuel consumption, it is rated at 29.8 miles per gallon, and also has the world’s lowest CO2 emissions in this vehicle and performance class at 190 gms/km.

Mercedes-Benz emphasises that even with such environment-friendly numbers, brisk performance is maintained. The 3.5-litre petrol engine develops 205 kW/279 bhp while the electric motor generates 15 kW/20 bhp with a starting torque of 160 Nm. The combined output is therefore 220 kW/299 bhp with maximum torque of 385 Nm. The S400 BlueHYBRID is also the first production model to use the next generation of batteries with the more efficient lithium-ion process. The battery is specially developed for automotive use and is said to offer more efficient performance.

As mentioned earlier, the model is a S-Class, specifically the S350 and features an extensively modified drivetrain. This encompasses a further development of the 3.5-litre engine, an additional magneto-electric motor, the 7G-TRONIC 7-speed automatic transmission specially configured for the hybrid module, the necessary operating and control electronics, the transformer and a high-voltage lithium-ion battery.

When the brakes are applied, the electric motor acts as a generator and recovers braking energy by a process known as ‘recuperation’. Working in finely-tuned partnership, the electric motor supplements the braking effect of the petrol engine and the wheel brakes to deliver a smoothly progressive braking action. The recuperated energy is stored in the compact lithium-ion battery in the engine compartment, and made available when required. This complex system is managed by a high-performance control unit, which is likewise located in the engine compartment.

The centrepiece of the modular, very compact and highly efficient hybrid drive system is the new high-voltage lithium-ion battery. Major advantages over conventional nickel/metal hydride batteries include a higher energy density and better electrical efficiency, together with more compact dimensions and a lower weight. Thanks to space-saving installation in the engine compartment, where it replaces the conventional starter battery, the generous interior space and boot capacity of the S400 remain unchanged.

Especially on rural journeys and on motorways, the S400 BlueHYBRID is claimed to achieve superior efficiency improvement by moving the so-called ‘operating point’ of the petrol engine to produce a lower specific fuel consumption. The extremely high start-off torque made possible by the boost effect of the electric motor gives the driver a particularly exhilarating feeling of powerful acceleration and yet fuel consumption and emissions are reduced.

The compact electric motor which is installed in the torque converter housing between the engine and speed automatic transmission, improves efficiency even further. This is a 3-phase AC external rotor magneto motor with an operating voltage of 120V. This compact motor also acts as a starter and generator, adopting the functions of both these conventional ancillary units.

The S400 BlueHYBRID has a claimed acceleration time of 7.2 seconds from 0 – 100 km/h and reaches an electronically-governed top speed of 250 km/h. Compared to the conventionally-powered S350, fuel consumption is said to be about 22% better while CO2 emissions are reduced by 21%. To suit the hybrid driver, the well proven 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission has a different control program for the transmission management system. A newly-developed auxiliary oil pump ensures reliable lubrication of the transmission even during phases when the internal combustion engine is switched off. This complex system is managed by the modified high-performance engine control unit. This incorporates extensive functions, and distinguishes between operating conditions such as city traffic, rural journeys, motorway driving or slow manoeuvring.

The driver is also able to monitor the status of the hybrid drive system visually. The instrument cluster has a separate, centrally positioned, display showing the energy flow during boost and recuperation phases, as well as the battery charge status. As is usual at Mercedes-Benz, the development engineers gave safety aspects their very special attention. Knowhow incorporated into the series-production car included long years of Daimler research experience with fuel-cell technology. The challenge lay in not only complying with all the worldwide and inhouse legal crash test requirements, but also in ensuring the greatest possible safety for the electrical components.

Thanks to its compact dimensions and modular design, the additional weight of the overall system is only 75 kgs, including the comprehensive safety systems. The intelligent high-performance engine management system responds very sensitively to different driving conditions, and optimally configures the drive system for the relevant application, ensuring that both fuel consumption and emissions are kept to the lowest possible level. Pricing has been mentioned at about a $1500 premium to the S350 and Mercedes says consumers should break even in about 3 years from gas savings.

Credit Crunch Hitting Auto Sales

2008-10-02T09:32:00.000-07:00

Major automakers reported plunging American sales for September, led by a 34% slide at Ford Motors, as an escalating credit crisis hit the slumping industry and raised new doubts about when the world's largest auto market would stabilize. The 26% drop in industry-wide auto sales was sharper than expected and coincided with a crisis on Wall Street that automakers said rocked consumer confidence and made it harder for remaining shoppers to finance vehicles.

Sales were down 24% at Honda, 32% at Toyota and 37% at Nissan. Chrysler sales were down 33%. General Motors Corp, which was more aggressive in its discounting by offering an employee-price sale, posted a 16% sales decline. That was a narrower decline than analysts had expected, and it made GM the only major player to gain significant share in a collapsing market.

Across the board, auto executives said Americans had either walked away from vehicle purchases or been stymied by a lack of financing or requirements for larger down payments. The bleak sales results represent one of the earliest readings of the impact on Main Street from a now global credit crisis that has triggered a consolidation on Wall Street.

Toyota's sales decline was its steepest since 1987. The Japanese automaker's sales were down by over 40% in key regional markets, including California, where the drop in housing prices has hit consumers the hardest. As the stock market fell and the debate in Washington on a financial bailout raged this week, some buyers of Toyota's luxury Lexus models asked for deposits back.

"We saw the trend steadily decline," Toyota sales chief Bob Carter said of the uncharacteristically weak demand at the end of the month when sales normally peak at dealerships.

Ford also said the debate over the still-pending, banking bailout stopped buyers in their tracks by injecting a new note of uncertainty. "It was tantamount to a natural disaster," said Ford sales analyst George Pipas.

Ford's sales decline was deeper than analysts had expected, suggesting "continued pressure" on its share price, JP Morgan analyst Himanshu Patel said in a note. Erich Merkel, an auto analyst and consultant with Crowe Horwath LLP, said it appeared Ford, the No. 2 US automaker behind GM, had lost sales to its larger rival's employee price offer. "Those two tend to swap punches quite a bit," he said.

Shares of Ford fell almost 13% on Wednesday. GM shares were almost unchanged. Shares in both Toyota and Nissan fell 3.8% in Tokyo, while Honda slid 4.5% after the sales data, making it the biggest drag on the Nikkei 225, which was down 1%.

Some analysts and industry executives had held out hope that American auto sales had hit bottom in August after a summer of wrenching declines tied to higher gas prices. But the September sales result was far weaker than expected with overall sales dropping to an annual rate near 12.5 million vehicles, according to sales tracking firm Autodata Corp.

The drop in sales comes despite stepped-up discounting by automakers, a move that cuts into profit margins. Edmunds.com, an industry tracking service for consumers, estimates that the discount on the average vehicle for September was $2,801, up 19% from a year earlier. Sales for luxury German brands were also hammered. Sales for Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz dropped 16%. BMW was off 30 percent; Porsche fell%.

"We're in a recession -- I keep saying that to people," Merkle said. "And this is how the issues we have in housing are spilling into the broader economy."

The weak sales underscore the risks for auto dealers, who are contending with dwindling sales, higher costs for inventory and increasing difficulty finding lenders for their customers. The top US auto dealership group AutoNation Inc said on Tuesday that car loan approval rates had dropped to about 60 percent from 90% a year ago.

Ford Motor Credit and Chrysler Financial, now owned along with Chrysler itself by Cerberus Capital Management, both were forced to raise the interest rates charged to dealers to finance inventory, executives said. Advisory firm Grant Thornton said in a forecast released Wednesday that it expected more US car dealerships to close over the remainder of this year and into 2009.

Bill Heard Enterprises Inc, one of the biggest General Motors Chevrolet dealerships, filed for bankruptcy protection on Sunday, citing losses, decreased demand and lack of credit. At its peak, annual revenue for the Alabama-based retailer was about $2.5 billion, according to the bankruptcy filing.

Honda to Reintroduce Insight with new Hybrid

2008-09-19T07:03:00.000-07:00

Honda Motors, plans to unveil a new lowcost, five door hybrid next month that revives the Insight name. The hatchback will be displayed October 2 at the Paris Auto Show and go on sale in the US next year, Honda said recently. President Takeo Fukui has said the car will cost less than any hybrid, including Toyota's Prius, which starts at $21,500, and Honda's $23,550 Civic Hybrid. Honda targets worldwide annual sales of 200,000 for the new Honda Insight hybrid, with about half of those in the US. That would dwarf those of the original Insight, a tiny two door that got 70 miles per gallon and debuted in the US in 1999, months before the Prius. Honda was the first automaker to sell gas-electric cars in the United States.

Plugin Modified Prius Getting 100 mpg

2008-09-15T10:03:00.000-07:00

A recent article in North Carolina´s The News & Observer has highlighted a Raleigh-based company, Advanced Vehicle Research Center (AVRC), that has four employees and can retrofit a Prius in about four hours for a cost of $10,400. The AVRC is one of eight US companies authorized to install lithium ion batteries manufactured by 23 Systems, a Massachusetts company. AVRC´s converted Prius can get from anywhere between 60 and 100 mpg, depending on driving habits, which roughly doubles the gas mileage of a standard Prius. Advanced Energy, a Raleigh nonprofit research organization and one of AVRC´s customers, has even exceeded 200 mpg in a test under optimal conditions.

The conversion process is relatively uncomplicated. The mechanics remove the spare tire in the trunk, and replace it with a 170-pound lithium ion battery pack, like a much larger version of a cell phone battery. A plug from the back of the bumper can be inserted into a conventional wall outlet, where a full charge lasts about 3.5 hours and costs less than 75 cents.

The modified Prius draws from the new battery first, giving the car a range of about 35 miles on all-electric power, making gasoline optional on short commutes. When the battery is depleted, the Prius runs like a standard hybrid, using its gas engine and regenerative braking to charge its nickel metal hydride battery.

According to the Plug-In Hybrid Coalition of the Carolinas, there are about 150 plug-in hybrids on US roads today. Most of the AVRC´s customers have been corporations with large fleets, but they recently made their first conversion for an individual. Their clients include Progress Energy, Duke Energy, the city of Raleigh, and North Carolina State University´s Advanced Transportation Energy Center. These organizations are tracking and sending data on the cars to the Idaho National Laboratory, a federal research institute that is studying plug-in hybrids.

The plug-in modifications aren´t authorized or endorsed by Toyota, which plans to make its own Prius plug-in commercially available in 2010 in the US. Also in 2010, Chevrolet plans to release the Volt (which runs on the same 23 lithium ion battery used by AVRC), which is expected to be more economical than AVRC´s conversions.

The AVRC acknowledges that $10,400 is a hefty price tag for the average driver, AVRC founder and president Richard Dell estimates that it could take 140,000 miles to recover the cost through fuel savings. But the important thing is that they´ve demonstrated that the technology is viable and available right now. "It´s given us more confidence that it´s not a matter of if plug-in vehicles will happen, but when," said Mike Rowand, Duke Energy´s director of advanced customer technologies.

Dodge Ram Hybrid Pickup on the Way

2008-09-03T07:39:00.000-07:00

The Dodge brand will be getting a Ram Hybrid pickup truck, but it won't arrive until after 2009, Chrysler confirms today. As it previews the 2009 Dodge Ram lineup today in Michigan, Chrysler's confirming the hybrid Ram with the caveat that it won't arrive until the 2010 model year at the earliest. The Hybrid version, when it arrives, will use the two-mode hybrid powertrain also found in the new Durango HEMI and Aspen Hybrid SUVs. With the added motors and batteries, the Ram should see a fuel economy boost of 40% in the city and up to 25 percent overall, same as the SUV hybrids TheCarConnection.com drove last week.

Chrysler's cylinder deactivation technology, MDS, will also be featured on the Hybrid version, as will regenerative braking. Chrysler's also promising best-in-class aerodynamics for the Dodge Ram 1500 Hybrid. For the 2009 model year, the Ram returns with Cummins turbodiesel and V-6 engine options to help with fuel economy. At the HEMI end of the spectrum, horsepower has risen 13 percent to 390 horsepower.

We'll keep you posted on the Ram Hybrid, and stay tuned for our driving reports on the 2009 Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid and the 2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid.

Chrysler New Hybrid Electric Vehicles Rolling off the Line

2008-08-23T08:07:00.000-07:00

Chrysler's Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) began rolling off the assembly line this week at its Newark Delaware Assembly Plant. Chrysler is offering the two-mode hybrid powertrain on both vehicles built at the plant, Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen. In order to smoothly add one of the automotive industry's most advanced technologies into their established build process, cross-functional launch teams conducted highly accurate, cost-effective computer simulation of new assembly processes. Similar efforts were conducted at tooling suppliers.

"The implementation of this new manufacturing process was done intelligently, with both quality and cost in mind," said Joe Ozdowy, Plant Manager of Newark Assembly. "I'd like to congratulate and thank the team for their dedication while bringing these important new products to market to help satisfy the changing needs of our Dodge and Chrysler customers."

The production of early pilot vehicles was done on the plant's assembly line which helped to root out anomalies early in the preproduction process, helping to ensure a higher quality launch. Production of vehicles with the hybrid powertrain differs in several ways from production of those with conventional powertrains. New processes were implemented to accommodate HEV production, including a unique powertrain assembly process, and ergonomic-assist systems to aid in new functions, such as HEV battery installation.

Chrysler LLC's advanced, state-of-the-art two-mode full hybrid system, developed in partnership with General Motors, Daimler and The BMW Group, integrates proven automatic-transmission technology with a patented hybrid-electric drive system to deliver the world's first two-mode full hybrid. As a result of low and high speed electrically variable transmission (EVT) modes, the system is defined as a "two-mode hybrid." In addition, the sophisticated fuel saving system incorporates four fixed-gear ratios for high efficiency and power handling capabilities. During the two EVT modes, the system can use the electric motors to improve fuel economy, acceleration, and for regenerative braking to utilize energy that would normally be lost during braking or deceleration. The energy is stored in the batteries for later use.

The system's two modes are optimized for city and highway driving.
In the first mode, at low speed and with light loads, the vehicle can operate in three ways:

• Electric power only
• Engine power only
• Any combination of engine and electric power

The two-mode hybrid provides all of the fuel-saving benefits of a full-hybrid system, including electric-only operation. In this mode, the engine is "shut off," with the vehicle moving under electric-only power at low speed. The result is a significant reduction in fuel consumption in heavy stop-and-go traffic.

The second mode is used primarily at highway speeds. In addition to electric assist, the second mode provides full power from engine when conditions demand it, such as when passing, pulling a trailer or climbing a steep grade. Pricing for the full-size 4x4 sport-utility hybrid electric vehicles is nearly $8,000 below the competition. The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the new 2009 Dodge Durango HEMI(R) Hybrid is $45,340, including $800 for destination. The MSRP for the new 2009 Chrysler Aspen HEMI Hybrid is $45,570, including $800 for destination. Additionally, customers are expected to receive an estimated tax credit of $1,800.

A Look at the Cheverolet Malibu Hybrid

2008-08-19T12:25:00.000-07:00

Saving the planet is a good idea, as long as we’re willing to make sacrifices or drastically change the way we live. The automobile has been targeted as a polluter, so we must either get rid of it or find new ways to get around without further hurting the environment. Hybrid vehicles are the craze right now, bridging the gap between gas-powered and electric vehicles, but hybrids are on another mission, it seems. Hollywood celebrities always buy the latest environmentally-friendly vehicles for driving down to the Oscars; nothing looks socially better than stepping out of a green car before walking down the red carpet. The Toyota Prius was a hot seller in that regard, although I’m sure these actors also have a Hummer parked in their driveway.

Now, GM is entering the hybrid market with a full-fledged attack. On the frontline are the Malibu as well as the Saturn Vue Green Line and Aura Green Line, and they’re supported by heavy artillery such as the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon. Later, the Cadillac Escalade and GM’s full-size pickups will offer hybrid powertrains.

Without reading the brochure or press material on how the Malibu’s powetrain works, one would think it’s a cheaper setup than what you’ll find shoehorned in hybrid Camrys or Altimas. And, well, that’s pretty much what it is; small battery pack, no glitzy LCD screen with system operation diagrams, but a lot a Hybrid badging on the outside.

Unlike the Camry, you cannot drive the Malibu on battery power alone. The latter acts as a support to the 2.4-litre engine to lighten the load, thus improving fuel economy. You can consider it as a mild application of a hybrid setup. It also benefits from a stop/start feature when the car is immobilized at stoplights and such, and the whole kit is mated to a 4-speed automatic.

The end result, though, is not exactly impressive; the on-board computer is displaying an average of 8.6 L/100 km, and calculating my consumption the old-fashioned way gave me a result that’s a little higher than that. With 164 horsepower on tap, the Malibu Hybrid’s straight-line performance is not the car’s top priority, of course. But we managed a respectable 0-100 km/h time of 10.6 seconds, while the quarter-mile mark is reached in 17.4 seconds at 132 km/h.

One of every Malibu’s strong points is how quietly the car performs its duties. At 100 km/h, the Hybrid’s engine is spinning at just 2,000 rpm, and while driving, all you hear is a little suspension noise. You can talk to fellow passengers, or to yourself if you’re lonely, with the same tone of voice as you would in your living room. Cockpit ergonomics are great, as all controls and readouts are within the driver’s reach or sight. Five fullgrown adults can sit comfortably in the Malibu, and the front seatbacks are carved out to allow for more rear-seat legroom.

There are a couple of things that bug me, though. Although GM is slowly but surely improving the look and feel of its vehicle interiors, there’s still room for improvement. The one-piece, moulded plastic door pockets look cheap, and the trim around the shift lever was loose in our test car. The A-pillars are too large, as they create blind spots. Also, the car’s interior color combination isn’t really attractive, but that’s a question of taste more than a shortcoming; the brown two-tone scheme (it’s called cocoa and cashmere) makes me feel like I’m sitting in a giant Reese peanut butter cup.

Honda Going Greener with 4 New Hybrids on the way

2008-08-14T07:53:00.000-07:00

Honda seems to be the only major automaker making it through the tough times of high gasoline prices and for the future the Japanese automaker plans to keep doing what its doing, keeping compact and green. Honda plans to offer more hybrid technology in its future lineup which will also get smaller. “A smaller minivan could fit into Honda’s future,” Dan Bonawitz, vice president for corporate planning and logistics at American Honda Motor Co., told Automotive News. ”Ultimately, there will be a lot more smaller cars. The US will look a lot more like Europe.”

So far dealers are waiting on the arrive of the redesigned 2009 Honda Fit. A hybrid version of the Fit will arrive in 2011. Of course let’s the five-door hatchback that’s been keeping Honda in the headlines recently. The dedicated-hybrid model will arrive next year as a 2010 model year and will cost below $20,000. Both of those hybrids will be followed by the Honda CR-Z hybrid that is due out in late 2011. The CR-Z will be followed by a redesigned Civic and Civic Hybrid along with a diesel powered Accord. The diesel engine will also make its way in the CR-V in 2010.

As for the gas-guzzling and larger models, the S2000 roadster’s future is unclear after sales have fallen off dramatically. The new redesign Pilot just hit the market this year and Honda has already cut production of the new SUV. The Honda Ridgeline was just refreshed for the 2009 model year, the Element will see a redesign in 2010 along with the Odyssey. Another minivan, the Japanese Honda Stream, is expected to be imported to the US by 2010 as a rival to the Mazda5.

Here comes the Escalade Hybrid

2008-08-10T09:09:00.000-07:00

General Motors Corp. announced Friday that it has officially begun rolling out the latest addition to its growing stable of hybrid vehicles, the Escalade. The 2009 Cadillac Escalade is the biggest and priciest of GM's luxury sport-utility vehicles to be fitted with the thrifty gas-electric power combination.

"In a changing marketplace emphasizing fuel economy technology, Cadillac is proud to be the only luxury brand offering a hybrid in this segment," Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager, said in a statement marking the launch.

The Escalade hybrid edition carries a $71,685 price tag, $3,600 more than the conventional V8 model that's been on the road since 1999. Four-wheel drive and power running boards are available, but cost extra. The company said the EPA gave its three-ton Escalade hybrid a fuel rating of 20 miles per gallon in town and 21 on the highway. That compares with 12/19 mpg for the nonhybrid model, which carries a 31 gallon tank.

GM is hoping the latest addition to its hybrid line will bring some buzz to showrooms, which have grown quiet as a public reeling from $4-per-gallon gasoline drifts to competitors with wider ranges of thriftier cars. While sales have been slow for the entire industry, GM has been among the hardest hit. The company reported last week that car and light-truck sales fell 26% in July compared with a year ago. See full story. GM also posted a $15.5 billion second-quarter loss last week, sending its share prices to a 54-year low. See full story.

Critics of the Detroit carmaker have accused it of being slow to develop alternatives to a product line heavily weighted toward high-margin SUVs and pickup trucks. GM argues that it is aggressively overhauling its lineup to cater to drivers seeking better mileage while at the same time improving the quality and value of its vehicles. GM launched its first hybrids, the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Hybrid pickups, in 2005.

Nissan Shows off new Hybrid Vehicles

2008-08-08T01:27:00.000-07:00

Nissan pulled the wraps off a pair of prototype vehicles today, one is an all, electric and one a hybrid. Both of the vehicles take advantage of new lithium-ion batteries that Nissan and NEC jointly developed. The two vehicles were developed under the NISSAN GT 2012 business plan. The advanced lithium-ion batteries used in the prototype vehicles feature a compact, laminated configuration that delivers twice the electrical power when compared to traditional cylindrical configurations. Nissan says that the compact design of the batteries allows for improved vehicle packaging and a wider range of applications when compared to traditional batteries.

The full electric vehicle uses the advanced batteries along with a newly developed 80kW motor and inverter. Nissan says the electric vehicle uses a front-wheel drive configuration and that the advanced laminated batteries are installed under the floor of the vehicle. The laminated design of the batteries means that the vehicles interior and storage space are not sacrificed to battery storage. Nissan says that the full electric vehicle will go into production in 2010 and will feature a new and unique body style not based on existing Nissan vehicles.

Nissan's prototype hybrid electric vehicle introduces a pair of new technologies Nissan says are breakthroughs, a high-performance rear-wheel drive system and a parallel-powertrain hybrid system. Nissan says that both the hybrid technology and the rear-wheel drive are original designs, in this case, the system is placed within a 2010 Infiniti G37 Sedan.

Nissan's parallel-powertrain system connects one motor directly to an engine and transmission via two clutches. This layout allows the vehicle to switch between the dual clutches to optimize and conserve energy utilization and improve fuel-efficiency. Nissan says its parallel-powertrain eliminates the need for typical torque converters and contributes to higher responsiveness and linear acceleration.

Nissan describes the action of the hybrid system as:

Idle-stop: The battery is used to power the motor to save on fuel.
Regular driving: The engine is used to power the motor as well as regenerate the battery.
Acceleration: Both the engine and battery (power assist) is used to power the motor to achieve smooth acceleration.
Deceleration: Energy from braking is conserved and re-routed back to regenerate the battery.

Nissan isn’t alone in introducing new hybrid vehicles. Yesterday DailyTech reported that Honda was bringing the Insight back to the US as a 2010 model for an MSRP of $18,500. The Insight is rumored to get over 70 miles per gallon.

More and More SUV Hybrids Coming to Market

2008-08-05T20:49:00.000-07:00

Many people are ditching their gas-guzzling SUVs and trucks and buying smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. But what if you really need a big set of wheels? Here is a closer look at hybrid sport-utility vehicles. It's been a bad sales year for large SUVs, thanks to the cost of fueling them up. But we're starting to see the "Hybrid" badge on a few of them. "Hybrid" is a term that some people assume means a magic bullet for fuel mileage.

"Hybrid isn't always what it's cracked up to be. It doesn't mean an instant 50 miles per gallon," said Edmunds.com Road Test Editor Brian Moody.

The newest player in the big-hybrid SUV game is the Dodge Durango. With its V-8 engine and three rows of seats, it has lots of attributes, including substantial towing capacity. But its two-mode hybrid system means it can glide along on battery power alone in traffic, giving it an EPA city fuel economy rating of 19 miles per gallon; but it also has big V-8 power for passing. Nineteen miles per gallon might not sound great, but compared to the conventional hemi-powered Durango, that's a 46-percent advantage.

The Durango follows the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid and its twin, the GMC Yukon Hybrid, into the marketplace. Their fuel economy improvement is similar at 43 percent.
Also being introduced this year is a hybrid version of the big Cadillac Escalade. It manages 20 mpg city, a major improvement over the non-hybrid Escalade. But the fuel savings comes at a cost.

"Because hybrids are typically more expensive than their non-hybrid counterparts. So it might just be better to get a fuel-efficient crossover or sedan and call it a day," said Moody.

The premium for a hybrid is usually several thousand dollars, money that would buy an awful lot of gas. Dodge doesn't expect to sell a lot of these hybrid Durangos, and GM has pretty low forecasts for their full-size SUVs. But it gives the automakers something besides sales numbers: the cachet of having hybrid vehicles in their line. That hybrid buzz may only take them so far once all the numbers are worked out. Still, those hybrid badges are expected to work at least a little magic in the showroom, if only to show that car companies can build more fuel efficient SUVs, for a price.

Exercise Patience When Hybrid Shopping

2008-08-03T15:05:00.000-07:00

So you want to buy a Prius. I do, too, and both of us will have to get in line. When gasoline prices hit $4 a gallon a couple of months ago, demand for smaller cars, hybrids and Priuses in particular, soared. At many Toyota dealers, the wait for the popular hybrid has grown to roughly three months since May, and prices have climbed steeply, too. On the face of it, that would indicate the dealers hold all the cards. But in the wacky and weird world of new-car buying, that extraordinary demand could turn out to be a good thing for patient buyers. Because the lead time is so long, picky but determined buyers have the unusual luxury of almost custom-ordering their cars. That can be cheaper than negotiating for whatever cars happen to be on a dealer's lot, especially if those have expensive options you don't want.

First, though, you should figure out if a Prius, or any hybrid, will provide the savings you expect. The Prius's gas mileage averages in the 45 miles-per-gallon range; that's impressive, but the base price, following a $400 increase in May and a $500 jump that goes into effect Friday, is fairly steep for a car of its size, especially if your main goal is to save money by buying less gasoline. Next month, the basic Prius will start at $22,720, while the sportier Touring version will have a base price just under $25,000, including destination charges.

That's more than the roughly $21,000 for a basic Camry, which is larger, and more than other reasonably fuel-efficient sedans, like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Nissan Altima or Ford Focus. It's worth calculating your fuel savings to see how long it will take to make up the price difference.

The price has shot up, too. Kelley Blue Book, which tracks the actual prices paid, says the average Prius now sells for $1,000 to $2,000 above the manufacturer's suggested retail price. Toyota of Richardson, in the Dallas area, is charging $2,500 above MSRP, for example. Earlier this year, you could negotiate a price a few hundred dollars below MSRP. But you don't have to pay a premium if you can shop around. Toyota frowns on prices above the sticker because it angers consumers, and several dealers contacted around the country said they were selling the cars at the sticker price.

If you're committed for environmental reasons or want to make a political statement with that pointy Prius nose, you'll have to wait. Toyota Motor Corp. supplied about 175,000 of the cars to the US last year, when there was no waiting, and expects to offer about the same number this year, largely because it can't get enough batteries and other components to boost production. May and June were particularly tight, with Prius sales down 36 percent from a year earlier, when dealers had more inventory. Currently, Toyota says its dealers have a one- to two-day supply, meaning that virtually every car is spoken for before it reaches the lot.

Dealers get Prius allocations from Toyota roughly every two weeks, and because they know exactly what their buyers want, they can request cars that fit customers' orders. With supply so tight, the results don't always match up, says Ray Murphy, new-car manager at Toyota of Des Moines, Iowa, where about 100 people are on a Prius waiting list. Those deliveries go to buyers who are less particular and more willing to pay for color and options they didn't necessarily want. In other words, the more flexible you are, the more quickly you'll get a car.

The best strategy for buyers is to email multiple dealers within an hour's drive to see what they're charging and how willing they are to help you find the exact car you want. Many dealers require a $500 refundable deposit to get on their Prius waiting lists. When I first shopped for a Prius in February, a dealer in the Dallas area had a car in the color I wanted, but it included a $2,580 option package with a six-CD changer and Bluetooth, as well as $350 of extras like “lusterizing sealant.”

With $900 off the MSRP, the price was still $25,400. Even if I had negotiated brilliantly and brought the price down a bit further, I would have paid for options I didn't want. When I finally joined a waiting list, Toyota had raised the base price. But I was able to specify a $575 basic option package and a couple of extras that could be easily added. Though paying MSRP felt almost immoral, my car would cost about $750 less than the one I found back in February

Nissan Altima Hybrid getting good reviews

2008-07-31T14:28:00.000-07:00

The Nissan Altima Hybrid, which offers the efficiency and fuel economy of a hybrid drivetrain with the performance and excitement customers have come to expect from the Altima line-up, has been named one of the "Top 10 Green Cars" by the editors of Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. In compiling the list, the kbb.com editors considered factors such as comfort, performance, utility and technology, along with fuel economy and price. "The Nissan Altima Hybrid combines impressive fuel economy with much of the same sporty character that has helped establish the Altima's reputation as one of the most fun-to-drive mid-size sedans," said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst of Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. "The advanced technology isn't confined to the engine bay, either, as the Altima Hybrid offers a slew of electronic comforts and digital conveniences like push-button start, navigation with traffic info and a rearview camera."

"The Altima Sedan has been a success with consumers offering high levels of performance, quality, and fuel efficiency," said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. "For Altima Hybrid, we took all the best qualities from the popular Altima Sedan, added a hybrid powertrain, and not only achieved improved fuel economy but added another successful product to the Nissan line-up."

The 2009 model year Altima Hybrid goes on sale at Nissan dealers in select markets on August 1, 2008 in states that have adopted California emissions regulations: California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. The Altima Hybrid, Sedan and Coupe are assembled at Nissan's manufacturing plant in Smyrna, TN. Nissan also produces the Altima Sedan at its plant in Canton, MS.

A Look at the Hydrogen powered Toyota fuel cell hybrid

2008-07-22T14:40:00.000-07:00

Some auto makers hope they hydrogen car is the automobile of the future. The special hybrid is great on fuel and great for the environment. The only problem is finding a place where you get fill it up. The hydrogen powered sport utility vehicle is one of many new automotive technologies in Williamsport this week. The Toyota fuel cell hybrid vehicle is at the Pennsylvania College of Technology this week for an automotive conference.

Some automakers think hydrogen powered vehicles are the answer to skyrocketing fuel prices. When you talk about cars there is generally a lot of hood popping that goes on. So what better way to get a feel for the Toyota fuel cell hybrid than to get behind the wheel and drive it. Along with a Toyota representative we hit Williamsport's streets, looking for people and their thoughts about a hybrid that doesn't use a single drop of gasoline.

"Great, that's what we need. Does it have any power?" asked Patrick Fallon of Watsontown. He wondered why car makers weren't pushing hydrogen cars 20 years ago.

This one uses hydrogen to power a fuel cell. The fuel cell makes electricity and that's what powers the wheels. The only emission is drops of water.

"That's what we need. We've got to get away from pollution and the dependency on oil. Anything that they can come up with. This country is unfortunately long overdue to get something like this," said Gary Moyer of Williamsport.

He said he's considering a hybrid for his next car purchase to get better mileage. Jose Saavedra liked the hybrid even though he just bought a big gas guzzler. "There's going to be some more coming out? Will it be out on the market soon?" he asked.

that's the big question. With the only hydrogen fuel stations located in California, New York and Washington DC, hydrogen-powered cars don't have many options to fill up. "It's similar to the early 1900s when they were coming out with gasoline vehicles, because there weren't a lot of places you could get gasoline. Of course the infrastructure caught up with the technology. The same thing is going to happen with the fuel cell vehicles. The infrastructure will catch up with the technology," explained Chris Peterson of Toyota.

It could be almost ten years before you can get a hydrogen vehicle. While it sounds like a long time car makers said it will take that long to make the hybrid affordable and build fueling stations.

New York Replacing Entire Taxi Fleet with Hybrids

2008-07-20T06:43:00.000-07:00

Three major auto manufacturers are promising to reserve 300 new hybrid vehicles each month exclusively for the city as it replaces its entire fleet of yellow cabs. Nissan North America, General Motors and the Ford Motor Co. said Wednesday that they are setting aside the environmentally friendly cars to help the city reach its goal of making all yellow cabs green by 2012. Today there are about 13,000 cabs on the street and more than 1,300 are hybrids.

New city regulations require that any new cab coming into service after October 1, 2008, achieve a fuel efficiency standard of 25 miles per gallon. The following year, that increases to 30 miles per gallon. The standard yellow cab in use today, the Ford Crown Victoria, gets about 14 miles per gallon. But some hybrid models, which run on a combination of gasoline and electricity, achieve as much as 36.

The government does not own the city's yellow cabs, but sells licenses to drivers and operators, who must purchase vehicles that meet the specifications of the Taxi and Limousine Commission. The agency regulates and licenses all for-hire vehicles in the city. Some taxi fleet owners had recently complained to Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration that there would not be enough hybrids available on the market for all drivers to meet the city's fuel efficiency regulations by the deadline. Bloomberg said the help from the auto companies guarantees that won't be a problem.

"We want to ensure there is more than enough supply to meet the demand for hybrid taxis," Bloomberg said in a statement.

At least one fleet owner said Wednesday that there was not enough research yet about how safely hybrids can perform as taxi cabs, which can clock tens of thousands of miles each year and are on the road for longer lengths of time than regular cars.

Ron Sherman, of the Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade, said the city "is asking taxi passengers and taxi drivers to become human crash test dummies."

Bloomberg, when asked about the safety issue at a news conference later Wednesday, said every study the city has examined says hybrids are safe for use as cabs. He suggested that dirty exhaust from standard cabs poses more of a safety hazard.

"Maybe that's not what you should be worrying about, try the air that you're breathing when they go by," he said.

Both the city and taxi driver advocacy groups acknowledge that drivers or fleet owners will have to spend more money up front when purchasing hybrid vehicles , but point out that they will save money on fuel. The Taxi and Limousine Commission estimates that a hybrid cab saves a driver $6,500 per year. The life of a city taxi is typically about three to five years because the commission requires all vehicles to be retired within a certain time frame.

Toyota to place solar panels on next gen Prius

2008-07-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

Toyota plans to install solar panels on its next generation Prius hybrid cars. It will make Toyota the first of the major automakers to use solar power for a vehicle, the Nikkei business daily reported on Monday. The paper said Toyota would equip solar panels on the roof of the high-end version of the Prius when it redesigns the gasoline-electric hybrid car early next year, and the power generated by the system would be used for the air conditioning.

Toyota plans to use solar panels made by Kyocera Corp, the Nikkei said. A Toyota spokeswoman could not immediately confirm the report. The Toyota Prius, the world's first massproduced gas electric hybrid car, first went on sale in Japan in late 1997 and in other markets in 2000, and its cumulative sales have topped 1 million units worldwide. Toyota remodeled the Prius with an improved hybrid system in 2003 and is expected to launch a third generation version by next year.

Huge Demand Making Toyota Prius Tough to Get

2008-06-30T08:06:00.000-07:00

Toyota's Prius hybrid already owns the so-called nerd niche, the legions of greenies, techies and trendies smitten with the little gas-electric sedan. But with fuel prices hovering around $4 a gallon, scores of regular people are joining them, snatching up every Prius they can find and driving up prices at some area Toyota dealerships by as much as $5,000 over window sticker. In fact, a year-old Prius with average mileage is now worth more than it was new, or more than $28,000, according to many dealers' Web sites.

"Lots of folks are so unsettled by fuel prices that they're mad and really want to strike back," said John Mathews, managing partner of Pat Lobb Toyota and Scion of McKinney. "It's hybrid hysteria."

Most small car sales in general are up as buyers continue their dramatic shift away from trucks and SUVs. Through May, for example, US sales of the compact Honda Fit were up 64%, and the previously slow selling Toyota Yaris rose 50.4%. But with a dazzling fuel rating of 48 miles per gallon in the city, the Prius, for many buyers, stands atop the heap of small cars in prestige and image.

Dealers are feeling the heat of the hot little car, which is powered by an electric motor in concert with a 1.5 liter, 110 horsepower 4 cylinder engine. Last year at this time, "we had 30 or 40 of them on the lot," said Dane Minor, general manager of Freeman Toyota in Hurst. Now the dealership has none on the lot and a list of 50 prospective buyers clamoring to buy one.

Chrysler Hybrid SUVs Hitting the Market

2008-06-24T20:33:00.000-07:00

The market for hybrid fullsize sport utility vehicles may be small, but Chrysler is determined to get a piece of it, saying that its new hybrids will be nearly $8,000 cheaper than competitors from General Motors. Chrysler said its 2009 Dodge Durango hybrid will have a suggested retail price of $45,340 while its 2009 Chrysler Aspen hybrid will start at $45,570. A comparable fourwheel drive version of the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid starts at $53,295, while the 2008 GMC Yukon hybrid starts at $52,855.

Chrysler spokesman Nick Cappa said the hybrid Aspen will cost $3,550 more than a comparable model with a gas engine, while the Durango will cost $3,655 more. Hybrid buyers will be able to reduce that premium with a hybrid tax credit of $1,800, he said. The Durango and Aspen are Chrysler's first entries into the hybrid market and will go on sale in August. Chrysler said the hybrid SUVs get up to 20 miles per gallon and improve fuel economy by 40 percent in city driving and up to 25 percent overall.

Chrysler's hybrid system was developed in a partnership with GM, Mercedes-Benz and BMW AG, and it's the same system that's in the GM SUVs. The system, called a two-mode hybrid, can operate in electric only mode at low speeds or with a combination of the gas engine and electric assistance for more power at higher speeds. Sales of fullsize vehicles have tumbled this year, the victim of high gas prices and growing consumer preference for smaller cars. But it's unclear if hybrid SUVs will lure some buyers back to the segment.

Would It Be Wise to Wait for Next Generation Hybrids?

2008-06-22T15:53:00.001-07:00

Roland Jones / MSNBC.com

Time was when hybrid gas-electric vehicles appealed only to the greenest car consumers more concerned about saving the environment than saving on gasoline bills. Gas prices hitting $4 a gallon have changed all that. Now there’s an out-and-out stampede to buy hybrid vehicles, as drivers downscale from large SUVs to smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. Popular models like the Honda Civic Hybrid are in short supply, and dealers are reporting waiting lists.

Toyota, maker of the popular Prius, is struggling to keep up with booming demand. The Japanese automaker said this week it’s unable to make enough batteries to supply demand for the hybrids, and the crunch on battery production is likely to remain a problem for the rest of the year. It’s clear that for many consumers hybrids have gone from an eco-friendly fad to a virtual necessity. Now the issue for many drivers is whether they should jump on the hybrid bandwagon now or wait for some of the new hybrid models expected to arrive in showrooms over the next few years. One issue is that, even though gas prices are at record levels, hybrids are priced at a significant premium over similar, conventional models. Depending on how much you drive, it could take years to make up the extra cost with savings at the pump.

“A lot people are freaked out by high gas prices right now, and they’re making panicked decisions that impact their finances, so it’s probably not the best time to get into a hybrid car,” said Phil Reed, consumer advice editor at automobile information Web site Edmunds.com. “We are still in a plateau in terms of hybrid development and there’s nothing very new out there, and what’s available right now is high-priced,” Reed said. “The entire automotive industry is reshaping itself, so if you have a car that you can keep for a few more years it might be a good time to relax and wait for some of the good things that are about to come out."

The next major development in the hybrid space is expected in 2010, when GM’s Chevy Volt, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle , is expected to go into production, says Aaron Bragman, an automotive analyst at consultancy Global Insight. The Volt, which can be recharged from a home electrical outlet, is expected to go on sale in early 2011 and may be worth waiting for, said Bragman. “It represents a big change in what vehicles are,” he said.

The Volt, he noted, is designed to remain primarily in electric mode in first 40 miles of driving. “Considering that most Americans have a 20 mile commute it’s feasible that you’d never use your gas engine,” Bragman said. Toyota plans to introduce a plug-in hybrid in Japan, the United States and Europe by 2010, although it will target leasing customers first. The new vehicle will use next-generation lithium-ion batteries that are seen as key to jump-starting the hybrid market. They are currently used in laptops and produce more power than the nickel-metal hydride batteries used in existing hybrids.

Toyota is expected to upgrade the Prius sedan for 2009, and Japanese rivals Honda and Nissan also are stepping up their hybrid programs. Nissan is expected to launch a new hybrid by 2010, while Honda plans a lineup of new hybrids by 2015, including a redesigned Civic hybrid, a hybrid version of the Fit subcompact and a hybrid based on the sporty CR-Z. Honda also plans to challenge the dominance of the Toyota Prius with a dedicated hybrid model due for release next year. The slate of hybrid offerings from US automakers looks less full. Updated versions of existing hybrids are expected, and Ford is due to offer hybrid versions of the 2009 Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans, Bragman said.

“There’s not a whole lot coming for Ford and Chrysler on the hybrid front, but Ford does have some small, fuel-efficient European cars that could sell well over here,” said Edmunds.com’s Reed. “Chrysler really hasn’t charted a new course in this area, and in terms of fuel efficiency seems to not have a clue about what to do other than offer gas cards.”

GM’s hybrid plans are more extensive. The Chevy Malibu, the Saturn Aura and Vue Green Line use the automaker’s “mild” hybrid technology, the BAS, or belt alternator starter system, which is less complex than most other hybrids on the market. Unlike more intricate hybrids like the Toyota Prius these cars’ electric motors cannot drive the wheels on their own, but they but still save significantly on gas.

“These systems are considerably less expensive than the Japanese hybrid systems,” Bragman said. “GM is thinking of adding the system to just about any car globally.”

If you’re dead set on buying a hybrid right now there’s a deal to be had on GM’s Chevy Tahoe Hybrid and the hybrid GMC Yukon hybrid, the industry’s first big hybrid sport utility vehicles, noted Bragman. With sales of SUVs tumbling, GM is offering cash incentives of as much as $4,000 on the hybrid Tahoes and Yukons, which before the incentives were offered sold for about $50,000, about $20,000 more than the conventional versions, a premium that put off many customers. “These vehicles are remarkable, but the problem is the stigma” associated with large SUVs, Bragman said. “People don’t want to be viewed so conspicuously in a big SUV.”

General Motors Offering Cash Incentives on Hybrid SUVs

2008-06-15T14:00:00.000-07:00

General Motors, for the first time, is offering cash incentives of as much as $4,000 on its fullsize 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and 2008 GMC Yukon Hybrid. The automaker is also increasing cash incentives, including as much as $6,000 back, on such big SUVs as the 2008 Cadillac Escalade and up to $5,000 on fullsize pickups such as the 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche and Silverado.

In e-mail correspondence Tuesday with Inside Line, GM spokesman John McDonald underscored that "this is the first time we've offered any incentives on them [the company's full-size SUV hybrids]."

The hybrid versions of the large SUVs went on sale in late January. McDonald noted that owners of GM models from the 1999 model year or newer qualify for the cash offers. The cash incentives cover seven large SUVs and pickups from Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC.

"We really are trying to build awareness with our core base of [full-size SUV] consumers to show them they can get great technology and fuel savings with a new hybrid ," said McDonald.

The cash incentives are in effect until June 30. What this means to you: GM seems to be getting more desperate to move its hybrid SUVs.

Toyota Plans to Roll out New Hybrids

2008-06-13T08:12:00.000-07:00

After last weeks Honda announcement of three new hybrids it became clear that Toyota was not going to let one of its rivals outgreen it on its own turf. In that spirit, the automaker struck back with its own pledge of two more hybrid models, which will mark the beginning of Toyota's Lithium-Ion quest.

According to Technoride, the two vehicles will be allotted to the Toyota and Lexus brands respectively, and will add to the third generation Prius, due out next year. While little is known of the Lexus, the car maker's head of r&d Masatami Takimoto emphasized that the new Toyota hybrid will not be just another iteration of the Prius. "It's a totally new car," he said, adding that it will be larger and will likely get a Lithium-ion pack in 2010.

In addition to new hybrids, the production version of Toyota's iQ microcar is expected to hit showrooms later this year as well. Edmunds says that the iQ will offer "seating for four in a body just under than 10 feet long. By comparison, the two-seater 2008 Smart Fortwo is 8 feet 8 inches long and the four-seater 2008 Mini Cooper is 11 feet 8 inches long."

Lack of Supply Hurting Hybrid Sales

2008-06-11T04:27:00.000-07:00

Auto dealers can't get their hands on enough hybrids to meet soaring customer interest. "We've got about a four to five month wait on Prius Hybrid and about a three month wait on Camry Hybrid," said Chad Ratliff, general sales manager for Mike Fox Toyota in Rochester Hills. "As a dealer body, we are all screaming." With customer demand for hybrids surging, several automakers, including Toyota Motor Corp., General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co, are struggling to produce enough hybrid cars to meet the need, causing sales of many hybrid models to drop in May.

"I think what happened in May was basically an availability problem," said Tom Libby, senior director of industry analysis for J.D. Power and Associates. But no vehicle experienced a volume drop on par with hybrid market leader Prius. Toyota said last week that sales of the Prius declined 37.5%, to 15,011, compared with 24,009 in May 2007. Also, sales of its Camry Hybrid sank 12.5%, to 5,999. That's in stark contrast to April, when Prius sales increased 61% and Camry Hybrid sales rose 51%.

Toyota said Prius sales slumped in comparison to a surge in May '07 because of a promotion designed to clear out inventory. But perhaps the biggest factor is that Toyota and its suppliers were unable to make enough batteries and other hybrid component systems to meet rising global demand.

"We're pushing for every bit of production we can get," Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota division, said last Tuesday.

Ford and GM also saw hybrid vehicle sales drop in May. Ford reported that sales for its Escape Hybrid dropped 20.2%, to 2,139, and its Mercury Mariner Hybrid dropped 55.2%, to 239. John Obeid, part owner of Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury in Garden City, said he sells four or five Mercury Mariner Hybrids per month. If he could get his hands on more, he said, sales could easily triple. "They are hard to come by," Obeid said.

Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, said demand for the Mariner Hybrid and Ford Escape Hybrid has outpaced the volume the company expected at the beginning of the year. "We are down to very low availability," Fields said. "Part of it is we are capped by the amount we can produce, and some of the suppliers we deal with have other customers, as well."

Even with availability problems, Mike Omotoso, a senior manager and hybrid expert at J.D. Power and Associates, said the Escape Hybrid is the bestselling non Japanese hybrid and has outsold the Lexus RX 400h, a similar sized crossover vehicle. Meanwhile, GM faced a battery recall that disrupted production of batteries for its Saturn Vue and Saturn Aura hybrids. The recall forced GM to use batteries intended for this year's models to replace those in the 2007 models.

GM's batteries are made by Orion Township based Cobasys, a joint venture of Chevron Technology Ventures and Energy Conversion Devices. GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson declined to comment on reports that GM is considering a purchase of Cobasys. But even with the industry's battery availability issues, JD Power and Associates said hybrid vehicle sales are still expected to grow this year, while sales of most segments fall.

Omotoso said he anticipates total hybrid sales to top 400,000 this year, up from 350,000 last year. "The hybrid market is growing in a declining light-vehicle market," Omotoso said.

Hybrid Demand Continuing to Outpace Supply

2008-06-09T12:52:00.000-07:00

Soaring gas prices heading into the summer driving season are sparking record demand for fuel-efficient hybrid cars , resulting in a short supply of the gas-electric vehicles at Boston-area dealerships. While customers in early spring were able to drive new hybrids off lots, dealers now brandish waiting lists for the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, and Ford Escape hybrids. Wait times range from a few weeks to several months, depending on the model and the dealership. Some customers are waiting up to six months for a Prius, the first hybrid to enter the US market and still the most popular.

"We can't get them in fast enough," said auto dealer Herb Chambers, owner of Herb Chambers Cos., based in Somerville. Chambers said hybrid orders are running ahead of last year at his Massachusetts and Rhode Island dealerships. "We could sell six or eight times as many Priuses if we could get the product from the manufacturer," he said.

Industry analysts attribute the backup to supply-chain problems. Manufacturers have finally deployed hybrid technology on a wider scale, but they have failed to create a global supplier and transport network that can get parts to assembly lines and vehicles to dealerships in time to satisfy consumers spooked by $4 gas prices.

"All of a sudden demand has exploded, and they're not ready," said Kevin O'Marah, chief strategist for AMR Research in Boston.

O'Marah said US automakers have acute logistics shortcomings. But as the scarcity of domestic hybrids has boosted orders for Japanese models, it has also put pressure on the Toyota and Honda supply chains. "Since the US companies aren't capable of responding, all the demand is showing up at one door," O'Marah said. Toyota Motor Corp. plans to ship between 170,000 and 180,000 Priuses to the United States this year, the same number as last year, but that won't be enough to meet demand. The company sold 79,675 Priuses in the first five months of 2008, up from the 76,747 sold in the same period last year. Worldwide, about 1 million have been sold since they were first introduced in Japan in 1997, more than half of them in the United States.

When the Priuses were introduced in the United States in 2000, customers waited months to get one of the cars, which were considered a novelty for early adopters. Since then, there have been waiting lists. The new swarm of buyers includes not only previous owners of fuel-efficient compacts, dealers said, but also drivers of gas-guzzling vehicles who are trading in pickups, vans, and sport utility vehicles for hybrids. Ernie Boch Jr., president and chief executive of Boch Enterprises in Norwood, said the jump in gas prices from $3 to $4 a gallon may have been a tipping point. "At first it was the tree huggers," Boch said, "but now everybody's purchasing hybrids.

That includes David Winthrop of Sharon. Winthrop planned to buy a sports car to replace his Audi, which had clocked more than 140,000 miles. But after talking to his wife and friends who switched to hybrids, Winthrop opted for a 2008 Prius. He took delivery Wednesday from Boch Toyota in Norwood, and became a convert. "This is the way all vehicles should be - the gas motor combined with the DC [electric] motor," said Winthrop, who expects to get about 50 miles a gallon on his suburban commute, double the fuel efficiency of his Audi. "It gets phenomenal gas mileage. That's the best benefit. I saw gas at $4.09 a gallon today in South Norwood."

Like other hybrid owners, Winthrop also considers the car's reduced emissions a point of pride, though not the primary reason he bought a hybrid. Environmental advocates estimate today's hybrids can cut carbon dioxide emissions by almost half. By last year, annual Prius sales had topped 9,000 in New England, an alltime high, but dealers still had ample inventory. Though hybrids represent a small fraction of overall auto sales - Chambers estimated the cars will account for 3 to 4 percent of his business this year, up from less than 1 percent five years ago - they are the fastest-growing market segment. Hybrids are projected to make up a large share of the US automotive fleet in the future, especially if gas prices remain high or rise even more.

Other fuel-efficient cars, such as gas-only Honda Civics and Toyota Corollas, also are enjoying brisk sales, while sales of trucks and SUVs have been tumbling across the nation. Last week, General Motors Corp. said it would shut down four assembly lines in North America where it builds pickups and SUVs. Still, questions remain about whether fuel savings on a hybrid will offset its higher sticker price over the life of the car. Honda's five-speed manual Civic hybrid sedan starts at $22,600 and gets 42 miles per gallon, compared with a starting price of $15,010 and a mileage estimate of 29 miles per gallon for the conventional Civic Sedan in its most basic version.

It is difficult to determine whether a hybrid ultimately will save a driver more than a conventional Civic or Corolla because operating costs depend not only on fluctuating fuel prices but also on where, how fast, and how long a car is driven. But with the cost of hybrids climbing, many see fuel-efficient traditional compacts as a better alternative for most drivers. The Civic last month surpassed Ford's F-Series pickup to become the top selling vehicle in the United States for the first time. But to get one, drivers will have to take a financial hit on their current car or truck, the tradein value of gas-guzzlers has plummeted as the cachet of gas-stingy vehicles has increased.

"Everyone's concerned about the price of fuel," Chambers said. "The hard part is when it comes to trade-ins on trucks and SUVs, because we can't give people what they expect to get."

If You Are Considering a Hybrid Be Prepared to Wait

2008-06-05T04:23:00.000-07:00

David Solon has been selling cars for 36 years. He's seen a lot of changes in the business in that time but none so rapid as the scramble to trade in SUV's for hybrid cars.

"Yeah, lots of changes in the industry but I've never seen a change as fast as this." said Solon. This little sedan is the impetus for a lot of that change. "This is a Prius. A hybrid vehicle which is very good on gas mileage with ultra low emissions and currently in big demand."

Hybrid models from all manufacturers are in big demand right now, not just the Toyota Prius. Sales are up 23% this year so getting one takes patience. "Right now, were backed up 30 to 90 days depending on which package you want." The big draw, of course, is phenomenal gas mileage. "It's rated 40 to 50 miles per gallon. I read a blog the other day where people are trying to see how good they get on mileage and the current record is 67 miles per gallon."

David Solon of Kolar Toyota says people hoping for a hybrid may be shocked a bit if they want to trade in an SUV on one. "We do take them in trade but the value has dropped tremendously. If it can't pass a gas station, people are very cautious in buying."

David tells us the demand for hybrids like this will stay up for awhile because he doesn't see gas prices going down anytime soon. "This is a long term trend in my opinion." said Solon.

Can you drive a hybrid in extremely cold or hot weather? Hybrid cars are designed to operate in the same range of conditions and temperatures as conventional vehicles. For example, Honda’s specs indicate that its Integrated Motor Assist system will operate as low as 22 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. We have seen reports of a Prius in Barrow, Alaska suffering from a frozen and damaged battery pack at 56 below zero. Master hybrid technician Craig Van Batenburg reports that nickel metal hydride batteries can take heat up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. He said, "It just doesn’t get that hot. The air cooling works fine." Gas mileage during cold weather is diminished for all vehicles, hybrid or not.

Hybrid SUVs Slow to be Embraced

2008-05-31T07:18:00.000-07:00

They’ve been criticized as gas hogs, dinosaurs and land yachts. Now Detroit is hoping to cast its biggest sport utility vehicles in a new light: green. General Motors and Chrysler are betting that their 5,500-pound, eight-seat SUVs, long the scourge of environmentalists, can be reformed as hybrid models, albeit ones getting 20 miles to the gallon.

Consumers have been slow to embrace the first two models from G.M., which are relatively new to the market. GM has sold about 1,100 of its Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon hybrids since their introduction in January, according to company sales briefings. That pace is well behind its goal of 12,000 sales a year, and a fraction of the more than 100,000 hybrids sold so far in the United States this year.

“To this point, the GM hybrids aren’t getting any traction at all,” said Mike Omotoso, a senior manager with the research firm J. D. Power & Associates.

Giving a four wheel drive Tahoe a gas electric hybrid engine raises fuel economy for city driving to 20 miles a gallon from 14. But to get the better mileage, consumers pay a high price: $53,000, at least $4,000 more than a conventional Tahoe. Environmentalists see the jumbo hybrids as a small step forward in the effort to reduce America’s fuel consumption.

“Is this a green vehicle? I think it could be a lot greener,” said David Friedman, research director of the vehicles program for the Union of Concerned Scientists, a nonprofit group in Washington that focuses on the environment. “The question is whether the improvement in fuel economy is worth the cost.”

Hybrid or not, large SUVs are fading fast in a market that is shifting quickly to smaller cars and crossovers, SUV-like vehicles built on a car chassis. Last year, traditional, truck-based SUVs, once the king of Detroit’s fleets and a huge source of profits, accounted for 8 percent of the nation’s market. But recently sales have dropped to 4 percent, according to the research firm RL Polk.

With gas prices surging to $4 a gallon, Americans are downsizing their cars drastically. One in five vehicles sold now is a compact car, and the move to smaller vehicles is accelerating. GM plans to follow the Tahoe and Yukon with hybrid versions of the Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Silverado pickup. Chrysler is planning hybrids of its Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen sport utilities and the Dodge Ram pickup.

But the behemoth hybrids seem out of step in a marketplace dominated by smaller hybrid models that can get more than 40 miles to the gallon. Toyota sold 64,000 Priuses through April, a 23 percent increase over 2007. It now ranks as the ninth-best-selling car in the United States. And while GM and Chrysler are converting their biggest vehicles into hybrids, other automakers are going in the other direction. Honda, for example, recently said it would build a hybrid version of its Fit subcompact.

Hybrid technology pairs an electric motor with a gas engine, allowing the vehicle to run on electricity when idling and at slow speeds. The benefits in fuel economy are significant, particularly in city driving. The hybrid version of the Toyota Camry gets 33 miles a gallon in city traffic, compared with 21 for a conventional Camry.

Despite the slow start for the Yukon and Tahoe hybrids, G.M. officials said they are pleased with the initial market reaction. At Chrysler, sales of big SUVs have plunged 22 percent this year. But a spokesman for the automaker, Nick Cappa, said adding hybrids, which will be available this fall, reflected the company’s commitment to the full-size sport utility market.

“Why shouldn’t people with large SUVs, who need that kind of utility, be able to get a hybrid?” said Mr. Cappa.

The third Detroit automaker, the Ford Motor Company, has no plans to convert its full-size SUVs to hybrids. A Ford spokesman, Jim Cain, said the company expected customers needing a fuel-efficient, larger vehicle to choose the new Flex crossover, a seven-passenger model with a V6 engine that gets 24 miles to the gallon. The advent of SUVs and pickup hybrids fills in two of the remaining gaps in the spectrum of hybrid models. With the exception of sports cars and minivans, hybrids are now represented in most of the major automotive segments in the United States. Toyota’s Lexus luxury division sells hybrids at the upper end of the market with its LS 600h sedan and its RX 400h crossover, neither of which has sold in big numbers. GM is hedging its bet with the Tahoe and Yukon hybrids. Most of its dealers do not even carry the vehicles in stock. Instead, they order from a central pool.

“You have to wonder if G.M. is really committed to this, or just using them for public relations purposes,” said Mr. Friedman of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

The high cost of the hybrid SUVs could limit their sales more than any other factor. Glenn Galvan of Reno, Nev., was hoping to replace his Honda pickup with one of the G.M. hybrids until he saw the prices. “I don’t mind paying the extra cost for environmental reasons, but it doesn’t have near enough fuel savings to justify it,” he said. But a couple in Longview, Tex., Michael and Cindy Pittmon, have found that their Yukon hybrid was worth the investment. “I’m getting 20.8 miles to the gallon compared to 13 on my old Yukon,” Mrs. Pittmon said. “It costs $75 to fill it up, and that’s lasting me two weeks instead of one.”

She said that the big hybrid generates quite a bit of attention at stoplights and in shopping malls, particularly because of multiple “hybrid” badges and decals that GM put on the exterior. “People are always saying, oh, they didn’t realize that hybrids came this big,” she said. “But I’m thinking about taking some of the badges off so it doesn’t stand out as much.”

Toyota to Ramp up Hybrid Production

2008-05-27T11:41:00.000-07:00

Toyota is preparing to ramp up production of their hybrid vehicles, announcing Tuesday its third plant in Japan for producing batteries that are key components for the green cars . Just last week, it announced that it was building a second such battery plant.

Toyota Motor Corp. has emerged the world leader in hybrids with its hit Prius, which has sold more than a cumulative 1 million vehicles over the last decade. Sometime after 2010, it hopes to sell 1 million hybrids a year. For that, it needs to boost battery production as Honda Motor Co. and other automakers aim to catch up with their new gas and electric hybrids , a technology that is growing in appeal for the world's drivers as gas prices soar.

The $291 million plant in Miyagi prefecture, northern Japan, will be operated by Panasonic EV Energy Co., Toyota's joint venture with Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Set to be running by 2010, the factory will make nickel metal hydride batteries, with production capacity at 200,000 a year, with start up production at about half of that.

The latest move follows a similar announcement just last week about Toyota's plans to build a $194 million plant in Shizuoka, in central Japan, also to produce nickel-metral hydride batteries for gas-electric hybrid vehicles.

Hybrids reduce pollution and emissions that are linked to global warming by switching between a gasoline engine and an electric motor to deliver better mileage than comparable standard cars. Last week, Honda, Japan's second-biggest automaker after Toyota, said it will boost hybrid sales to 500,000 a year by sometime after 2010. Honda said it will introduce a new hybrid-only model next year for a lineup of four hybrids.

Nissan Motor Co., which still hasn't developed its own hybrid for commercial sale, said it will have its original hybrid by 2010. Nissan says its joint venture with electronics maker NEC Corp. will start mass-producing lithium-ion batteries in 2009 at a plant in Japan.

Lithium-ion batteries, now common in laptops, produce more power and are smaller than nickel-metal hydride batteries. Toyota has said lithium-ion batteries may be used in plugin hybrids, which can be recharged from a home electrical outlet, but it has not given details about a plant on such batteries.

Honda Raising Production of Hybrid Cars

2008-05-21T10:22:00.000-07:00

Honda Motor said Wednesday it will spend 1.5 billion dollars on two new plants as it steps up production of fuel-efficient cars, including a cheaper hybrid due to be launched early next year. Japan's second-largest automaker will build a plant making fuel efficient engines in 2009 and a new manufacturing plant in 2010, both in Japan, Honda Motor president Takeo Fukui told a press conference.

Honda confirmed it was on track to introduce in early 2009 what it describes as an affordable hybrid. Hybrids are equipped with an electric motor and a standard petrol engine, making them more economical and environmentally friendly than conventional autos.

It is aiming for initial annual sales of 200,000 of the compact five-door passenger size car. Honda also plans to introduce a hybrid version of its Fit compact car along with a sporty hybrid and a new petrol-electric version of its Civic.

It is targeting total sales of the four models of 500,000 vehicles a year by around the mid-2010s, Fukui said. He said Honda wanted to move hybrids on from the "current image-oriented stage" to one of mass appeal. Along with rival Toyota Motor Corp., Honda is a pioneer of hybrid-engine cars, which are attracting growing interest at a time of soaring oil prices.

But the petrol-electric cars are still more expensive than conventional cars and represent just a small share of the total vehicle market. Honda aims to reduce the premium customers have to pay for a hybrid to about 200,000 yen (1,800 dollars), from as much as 500,000 yen now, Fukui said.

"If we could shrink the price gap to less than 200,000 yen, then hybrids can compete with conventional cars" based on their lower fuel consumption, he said.

Toyota has taken a lead in sales of hybrids. It has sold more than one million of its Prius, the world's first mass produced hybrid, since its launch about a decade ago. Honda also said that it was considering releasing cheaper compact cars than its current models amid fierce price competition in fast-growing markets like India.

The car would "be equipped with the full functions of a car and at the same time offer price competitiveness," he said. Fukui has previously said Honda is staying out of the race to develop ultra-cheap cars, hoping motorists in fast-growing markets like India will pay more for safer, greener vehicles.

India's Tata earlier this year unveiled a $2,500 car, the world's cheapest, which is set to hit the roads there by October. French-Japanese partners Renault and Nissan aim to launch a similarly priced vehicle by early 2011.

Don't Miss Out on the Federal Tax Credits for Hybrids

2008-05-17T07:42:00.000-07:00

Here is an update on the Federal Tax Credits for 2008 Hybrid Vehicles . Dont miss out as many of the credits are expiring or reaching their quotas.

Expired:
Toyota Camry hybrid
Toyota Prius
Toyota Highlander
Lexus RX 400
Lexus LS 600h

Phasing out:
Honda Civic CVT $1050 credit until June 30 then $525 until Dec 31

$3000 Credit:Ford Escape hybrid 2wd
Mazda Tribute 2wd
Mercury Mariner 2wd

$2300 Credit:
Nissan Altima hybrid

$2200 Credit:
Chevy Tahoe hybrid
Ford Escape hybrid 4wd
GMC Yukon hybrid
Mazda Tribute hybrid 4wd
Mercury Mariner hybrid 4wd

$1550 Credit:
Saturn Vue Green Line

$1300 Credit:
Saturn Aura hybrid
Chevy Malibu hybrid

Toyota Prius Hits a Million in Sales

2008-05-15T15:51:00.000-07:00

Toyota's Prius started out a decade ago as a risky experiment in green technology . Today, it's the world's first mass produced gas-electric hybrid vehicle to hit the one million mark in sales. The Prius, which went on sale in Japan in 1997, has been a big hit with drivers around the world and is now sold in 40 countries and regions. And its popularity is going strong amid surging gas prices and growing concerns about the environment.

A cumulative 1.028 million Prius vehicles have been sold globally as of the end of April, Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday. Toyota, Japan's top automaker, sells other hybrid models, but the Prius has been by far the most popular model. Toyota has said it plans to sell a million hybrids annually sometime in the few years after 2010. When including the other hybrid models, Toyota's cumulative overall sales of gas-electric vehicles total 1.46 million, according to Toyota, which also makes the Camry sedan and Lexus luxury cars.

Toyota said introduction of the Prius has resulted in 4.5 million metric tons less of global warming gases compared with having standard gas engine cars on the road instead of the hybrid.

A Review of the Chevy Malibu Hybrid

2008-05-09T07:07:00.000-07:00

Here's a review from Larry Printz of The Virginia-Pilot:

A neighbor stopped me in the new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid to ask about its fuel economy. Having received the car the night before, I said I'd let her know. What I found surprised me. Pleasantly. Some background: Although this car wears a hybrid badge, it's a "mild" hybrid . Unlike systems from Toyota and Ford, this hybrid never runs solely on electricity.

The small electric motor and battery merely aid the acceleration of the same 169-horse, 2.4-liter, four cylinder engine found in the base Malibu. The motor also stops the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop and restarts it when the driver accelerates. The net gain over the nonhybrid four cylinder Malibu in EPA ratings is a mere 2 mpg in both city and highway driving.

The 2008 Malibu is the beautifully executed new midsize sedan from Chevrolet, one that has been getting raves and has garnered "North American Car of the Year" and "2008 Automobile Magazine All-Star" awards. It's a well-made, nicely finished car. The dual-cowl cockpit recalls classic Chevys, yet this car handles in a way older cars can't match. Plus, it has a ride quiet enough to please a librarian and supportive, roomy seats.

The only quibbles: V-6 models get hydraulic-power steering, while other models get electric power steering, which feels much more artificial. And I would like a rear-seat center armrest, but I can't have everything. Now for some math, and I promise it won't be painful. The hybrid has a base price of $22,140 and is comparably equipped to a Malibu LT with a four cylinder engine and a base price of $21,280. But hybrid buyers get a $1,300 tax credit. And the hybrid will save its driver $145 in annual fuel costs, according to the EPA.

Now, based on those EPA estimates, I wasn't expecting the stupendous gas mileage you get from a Prius. GM's mild system costs less that Toyota's system, but the results are also less dramatic. Putting the pedal to the metal and really abusing the car yielded 24 mpg, about the same as any four cylinder midsize car. But imagine my surprise when I drove the car gently, with an eye toward better fuel economy: The Malibu Hybrid returned an impressive 35 mpg,that's 3 mpg better than its EPA ratings (24 city, 32 highway).

Keep in mind that the car is almost as large as a Chevrolet Impala, Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. It comfortably holds four corn-fed Americans and all of their stuff. And I do mean all of their stuff. Many Toyota hybrid models have small trunks because of the space taken up by the hybrid-battery pack. The Malibu doesn't have this problem; there's little loss in trunk space because the battery pack is significantly smaller. The Malibu is the first desirable midsize Chevrolet in decades. And a mild hybrid at a mild price is one more reason to put the Malibu on your shopping list.

Hybrid Concerns and Answers

2008-05-05T14:25:00.000-07:00

There are alot of things to consider before buying a hybrid vehicle. Here are some common concerns and those concerns addressed.

1. Hybrids lack power
This may have been true for some of the early hybrids, but current models have just as much juice as their gas powered brethren. For example, the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid can accelerate with almost the same V-6-like power as its gas powered sibling, and the 2008 Lexus GS 450h can go from 0-60mph in just 5.2 seconds. Of course, all other things being equal, more power generally translates into poorer fuel economy.

2. Hybrid batteries have a short lifespan and are expensive to replace
While the nickel-metal hydride batteries used in the current generation of hybrid cars would indeed be expensive to replace, costing at least a few thousand dollars, the reality is that most car manufacturers warranty their batteries for 8-10 years or 100,000 miles. Since there aren’t yet many hybrids on the road that have hit those lengthy milestones, it’s difficult to ascertain how long hybrid batteries will actually last. Anecdotally, however, a cab driver in Vancouver drove his Toyota Prius 200,000 miles in 25 months, and his car’s batteries remained strong.

3. Hybrids need to be plugged in
This common myth confuses hybrid cars with electric cars. The latter indeed rely on an external plug for their power, and their range is therefore limited (not to mention the fact that purely electric vehicles are almost non-existent in today’s market). Hybrid cars, however, use a mechanism known as ’regenerative braking’ to charge their batteries, essentially transforming the car’s deceleration into electrical energy that is then stored in the battery. What many ecocar enthusiasts are waiting for, however, is a combination of the two, a plugin hybrid that would run entirely on electricity for its first 60 miles, switching over to hybrid technology only for longer trips. In theory, for many commuters this could mean never having to fill the gas tank.

4. All hybrids have great fuel efficiency
While hybrids get better mileage than their gas-only counterparts, some models’ fuel efficiency is far from spectacular. For example, the Toyoto Highlander SUV may be a hybrid, but its unspectacular fuel efficiency of 30 mpg is handily beaten by a host of nonhybrid vehicles currently on the road, albeit smaller ones. Furthermore, a hybrid’s fuel efficiency is largely dependent on the type of driving you do. Because hybrids generate electrical power through braking and save power by switching off the gas engine when they come to a stop, they get better mileage in the city than they do on the highway,the opposite of standard gas-powered cars. If you intend to do a lot of long distance highway driving, a hybrid may in fact provide very minimal fuel efficiency benefits.

More of the Toyota Prius Experience

2008-05-01T11:18:00.000-07:00

Although driving a hybrid car has its environmental benefits, John Ishiyama said he zooms around in his Toyota Prius for the sheer wonder of the technology it offers.

"It has good gas mileage, but the technology is absolutely amazing," the professor of political science said. "The synchronization between the electric motor and the gasoline engine is all monitored by computers, and the only way you can tell you're shifting power sources is by the screen in the car."

Whether it's the technology, environmental concerns or having a full wallet driving away from the gas pump, there is something about hybrid cars that keeps their popularity on the rise. Power Information Network Data reported there is a correlation between hybrid sales and gasoline prices. When gas prices go up, hybrid sales increase, and when gas prices go back down, their sales decrease. With gas prices on a steady rise since April 2007, RNCOS E-services Pvt. Ltd. issued a report in 2007 stating that hybrid cars constitute just 1.9 percent of total vehicle sales, but they expect a net sale of 1.68 million by the year 2012.

Ishiyama purchased his silver Prius in 2006 and said he is convinced that he will never own another type of car. "I know there are other hybrid models like the Honda Civic, and Ford has their Explorer, but they aren't new models," he said. "They're the old models with a hybrid power plant put into them. The Prius is a new model specifically designed around the hybrid engine, so it's a very cool-looking car."

Getting 50 miles per gallon is no problem for Ishiyama, and he said he could possibly get 100 miles to a gallon if he didn't have to be anywhere in a hurry.

"The maximum miles per gallon is 100, but that's only if you're running on all electric," Ishiyama said. "If I'm driving under 35 mph, I can run the car entirely on electric, but in normal situations I can get about 49 miles per gallon."

The small gas tank in the Prius was another attractive feature for Ishiyama, he said. The Prius only has a 10-gallon tank, so that means it costs me a little over $30 to fill up, while most people are spending $50 to $60," Ishiyama said. "You can get about 480 miles per tank, so I can drive to Chicago on one trip to the gas station easily."

Hybrid cars get high gas mileage because of the combination of a gasoline engine with an electric motor. "The beauty of the system is that as the gasoline engine is running, it's charging the battery, so it's completely self-contained," Ishiyama said.

He also said the car will charge the electric motor when the brakes are applied and even when the car is stopped. "You lose fuel efficiency when your car is idling, so the neatest thing about the Prius is when you stop at a stop sign or stoplight, the computer turns off the whole engine," Ishiyama said. "So the car will go completely silent, and some people think it's stalling, but the engine starts right back up when I press on the gas pedal."

Ishiyama bought his Toyota in Columbia, Mo., but the sale of hybrid cars has risen in Kirksville as well. Ray Harvey, salesman at Jim Robertson Motors in Kirksville, said the dealership has been selling the hybrid Prius since it was first developed and ready for sale in 1999.

"Every year the sale of hybrid cars absolutely does rise," Harvey said. "And the most popular hybrid would most likely be the Toyota Prius, although we do have new models from Toyota like the Camry and the Highlander."

Like Ishiyama, Harvey said he was enthusiastic about the gas mileage a consumer can get out of hybrid vehicles. "I'm staying in touch with present Prius owners, and they're bragging that they are getting 48 to 50 miles per gallon on average, so it's really quite good," Harvey said.

Harvey said he thinks the No. 1 reason hybrids are becoming so popular is because of the price of fuel. He said that in one day fuel went up six cents, making it $3.36 per gallon. The average gas price in Missouri is $3.09, and the national average gas price is $3.30.

Even in Poor Economy Hybrids Selling Fast

2008-04-29T08:16:00.000-07:00

Even though the economy is in what many are calling a recession, sales of hybrid vehicles may have never been better. Sales consultant Michael Gruen of DCH Wappingers Falls Toyota said the hybrid Prius is selling like hotcakes.

“We’re hoping that Toyota will be coming out with more vehicles to meet the demand,” he said. “At this point, we are at a six to eight week wait and more people are coming to order and that can probably continue out.” Gruen said the Prius model first came out, people were waiting as much as a year to buy one.

The only hybrid in sight on the lot at that dealership was a used 2008 Toyota Prius , selling for nearly $24,000. According to Gruen, the hybrid Toyota Prius is ahead of the market with its state of the art technology, and is currently selling its first generation hybrid patents to other makers like Ford-Mercury, which just recently jumped into the hybrid pool.

Gruen said the economic slowdown hasn’t played a role in auto sales at the dealership in general, but rising gas costs have been a major factor in consumer expectations for purchasing fuel efficient transportation like that of the new 50-plus mile per gallon 2009 Toyota Prius. Michael Rockwell, sales manager at Friendly Honda in Poughkeepsie, noted there wasn’t much of a push on a nationwide level for Honda’s Civic Hybrid, but that they sell four to five per month, consistently.

“Honda doesn’t advertise the Civic Hybrid that much because most of our cars have excellent gas mileage, but we do sell quite a bit, especially considering Honda no longer makes the Accord Hybrid,” he said. “We don’t anticipate a decline in sales either, given that people still desire gas-friendly vehicles like Honda offers.”

The most recent model of the Civic Hybrid offers 40/45 miles/gallon city/highway, according to the Honda website. Other makes and models that have recently entered the Hybrid market in the past year include the Ford Fusion, and several trucks from Lexus, Chevy, and Ford.

A Look at the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid

2008-04-22T21:52:00.000-07:00

The Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid is among the first vehicles to utilize the advanced two mode hybrid powertrain developed jointly by BMW, DaimlerChrysler, and General Motors. This full size SUV launches a new breed of larger vehicles that are significantly greener
than their gas powered versions. Perhaps that is why the Tahoe Hybrid received the questionable title of “Green Car of the Year” at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show. They may have jumped the gun a little, as this hybrid does not meet the corporate average fuel economy standard as of yet. The crux of the Tahoe Hybrid’s powertrain is GMs 6 liter Vortec V8 with cylinder deactivation technology. In other words, this engine can shut down four of its eight cylinders when the additional power is not needed. That saves fuel. Beyond the engine, there’s a 300 volt battery that hides below the second row seats. The vehicle's two electric motors are housed within the transmission.

In order to keep the vehicle running at peak efficiency, this hybrid system is able to run in one of two separate modes hence the name "two-mode hybrid." For low speed, low impact driving, the powertrain works just like other hybrids; it stops the V8 engine whenever possible so that it may draw power from one or both of the electric motors. The second mode is mostly for highway driving, at which time one or both electric motors can run concurrently along with the V8 engine in order to provide a power boost. The two mode transmission is the key to the whole system, which attempts to keep the engine running at the optimum rpm for low fuel consumption. Essentially, it manages a balancing act between the V8 engine and the electric motors. It is also responsible for making the transitions between the two modes practically seamless.

All of this technology results in a 25 percent improvement in overall fuel economy over the Tahoe hybrid’s gas powered counterpart. More impressive is a 40 percent improvement in city driving. The Tahoe Hybrid two wheel drive model has an EPA rating of 21 city/22 highway, as compared to the conventional Tahoe’s 14 city/19 highway. Unbelievably, this huge SUVs city fuel economy is equivalent to that of a four cylinder Toyota Camry.

Aside from its efficient powertrain, the Tahoe Hybrid achieves greener motoring by utilizing a new power conserving air conditioning unit, and lightweight, low resistant aluminum wheels. Despite its focus on fuel efficiency, the Tahoe Hybrid still delivers all the power and capability needed from a full size SUV. It boasts 332 horsepower, and can tow up to 3 tons. And it is available in both two wheel and four wheel drive models. Its four drive system is comparable to most trail rated pickup trucks, allowing the Tahoe Hybrid to drive offroad or through difficult road conditions with excellent traction and stability. On normal, dry pavement, this SUV offers a comfortable and smooth ride, as opposed to the rigid feel of many larger vehicles. The Tahoe Hybrid grants plenty of capability for work related endeavors, and an abundance of space and amenities for large families, even up to eight.

Manufacturers having trouble keeping up with public demand for Hybrids

2008-04-22T13:18:00.000-07:00

One of the more viable ways to preserve the environment and contribute to green living is to drive a hybrid vehicle . Unfortunately, manufacturers are having trouble keeping up with the current consumer demand.

"As soon as we get them, they sell out," claims new car sales manager Jimmy Linley of Dave Edwards Toyota on Reidville Road. "But I think the demand for them is greater when gas prices go up because we see a lot of interest in them every time that occurs."

Currently the Toyota Prius is the best seeling hybrid car hybrid car according to J.D. Power & Associates. Consumer Choice has it listed as the top "green car" for five straight years based on reliability, road tests and safety, with an average 46 mpg. The Spartanburg dealership began selling them in 2000, although the first generation was introduced in 1997. Today, there are reportedly 750,000 units on roads throughout the world.

"Many of the models are really not new technology like everybody thinks it is," said Linley. "We're currently selling the fourth generation Prius, which is more reliable and its longevity has greatly improved."

With limited production, there's a waiting list for them. Thus Dave Edwards' inventory of that brand rarely exceeds three percent overall. Another strong selling Toyota hybrid, the Highlander, is also limited in supply, as is the Toyota Camry.

Mark Dowling, general sales manager for Vic Bailey Honda on Daniel Morgan Avenue, has witnessed a similar trend with its models, the 1999 Honda Insight and mainstream 2000 Honda Civic. Their inventory is also capped due to a shortage.

"We've sold everyone we've ever gotten," he said. "The Insight is still available, but isn't as popular in our area because it's a two seater and is more appropriate for city traffic like New York. It doesn't have the desired power needed for interstates and country roads."

Like Linley, Dowling said anytime gas prices spike, demands for hybrids increase. At Foothills Ford of Chesnee, the Ford Escape Ford Escape has been its best hybrid seller, according to Used Car Manager Troy Martin.

"We have very few hybrids because we can't get our hands on them," Martin said. "The demand is so high that suppliers can't keep up. I wish we had a lot full of them."

Meanwhile, Farrell Chevrolet on Asheville Highway is just entering the hybrid market and is already experiencing similar problems. "We have a low percentage on our lot, probably only 10% of our total inventory," said Dealership Owner William Farrell, adding that its star hybrids, the 2008 Malibu and Tahoe, were first delivered just a couple of weeks ago. "The Tahoe is very popular because it's the first SUV that size coming out with a hybrid," he said. "I may be wrong, but I don't think anyone is marketing one that's larger. And what's good about it is there's no compromise on the power. It's a dual-mode hybrid where both function well at high and low speeds."

The full size Tahoe can tow a boat and other heavy loads without complications. It sells for about $50,500 and averages 21 mpg, based on national reports.

Hybrid Car Sales Rise Dramatically

2008-04-21T20:22:00.000-07:00

Kim Fenske drives a bus in Colorado by day, but when he's not working, he zooms around the mountains in a 2007 Toyota Prius . Fenske, an attorney by training who has also worked as a forest ranger, was an environmentalist long before hybrid cars like the Prius hit the market. In the early 1990s, he ran unsuccessfully for the Wisconsin state legislature on a renewable energy platform. But he recently decided to go one step further and make an environmental statement with his car.

"My decision is a very political decision. I want to get people in this country off their dependency on foreign oil," said Fenske, 48, who lives at the Copper Mountain ski resort near Frisco.

A growing number of buyers feel like Fenske. US registrations of new hybrid vehicles rose 38% in 2007 to a record 350,289, according to data to be released Monday by RL Polk & Co., a Southfield-based automotive marketing and research company. Hybrids made up just 2.2% of the US market share for the year, but they were growing steadily even as overall auto sales declined 3%.

Lonnie Miller, director of industry analysis at Polk, said rising gas prices may affect some buyers, but they're not the main driver of hybrid sales. Instead, he thinks sales jumped in 2007 because buyers had more options, including the new Nissan (NSANY) Altima, Saturn Aura and Lexus LS600h hybrid sedans and hybrid versions of the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon and Mazda Tribute sport utility vehicles. While some of these vehicles weren't on sale during 2007, or sold in low numbers, marketing and media reports about them have increased consumer awareness of hybrid vehicles, Miller said.

"The gas price thing is a constant that is keeping consideration in their minds," Miller said.

Another important factor is that hybrids have been on the market long enough for consumers to trust the technology, Miller said. The Prius, the second mass-market hybrid after the Honda (HMC) Insight, went on sale in the U.S. in 2000. The Toyota (TMC) Prius remained the best selling hybrid in 2007, commanding 51% of the hybrid market, up from 43% in 2006 despite the influx of new hybrids.

Fenske's previous vehicle was a van, which he bought to move his belongings from the Midwest to Colorado. But Miller said most buyers appear to stay within the segment they were in previously when they opt for a new hybrid. For example, more than half of those who bought the Lexus LS600h had a previous vehicle in the luxury segment. Miller said that's why it's important for automakers to have hybrid SUVs, even though some drivers like Fenske argue that big hybrids don't save enough fuel.

"It's a good call on automakers' parts to not make their hybrids so funky and out of body style than what's already out there," Miller said. "People have requirements for what they need."

California remained the top state for hybrid sales in 2007. Twenty six percent of all hybrid registrations were in California, up 35% from 2006. Florida, New York, Texas and Washington followed.

Look for more luxury and power in coming Hybrids

2008-04-17T07:22:00.000-07:00

Car shoppers have been flocking to hybrid vehicles as gas prices have risen over the past year, and now automakers are about introduce a herd of higher performance, low consumption vehicles. While arguments rage in the automotive community about whether hybrids actually save money versus economy cars, consumers are doing their homework and snapping them up.

The Toyota Prius , the green gorilla of the hybrid market, racked up 181,000 sales last year, up 69 percent from 2006. That's a giant leap, especially for a vehicle that has been on the US market for nine years and largely unchanged for four. Sales were up in January and again in March.

It is no wonder Honda Motors, which introduced the first hybrid vehicle to US drivers, plans to sell a new hybrid only model next year. Little wonder as well that Dodge wants into the game with its Ram pickup and Durango sport utility. Cadillac will sell its Escalade Hybrid this summer, and BMW plans a gasoline electric version of its X6 for 2010.

Toyota's luxury line, Lexus, now offers three hybrid vehicles, including the highest end 600h L, which retails at more than $104,000.

Generally, hybrids use a gasoline engine and one or more electric motors powered by battery packs. Not all hybrids are equal. Some provide significantly better mileage than their gasoline counterparts, and some do not. Some can drive short distances solely on electric power, others cannott.

They tend to cost a few grand more than gas vehicles. For instance, the manufacturer's suggested retail price on a Ford Escape Hybrid starts at $26,604 while the nonhybrid base version starts $6,500 lower. Also, individual results may vary. Drive a Prius on the highway at sustained speeds, and you might as well have a Yaris. The Prius thrives on stop and go. As further evidence of disparity, General Motors offers a couple of kinds. The mild hybrid system ups fuel economy by a few miles per gallon, but its two mode technology, which puts an electric motor inside the vehicle's transmission, does far better.

General Motors claims trucks using two mode, which include the Tahoe, Yukon and upcoming , can achieve up to 50 percent better city fuel economy.

With all the variables and coming summer $4 gas, what's the draw?

"Because of the iconoclastic nature. And because some people feel like it's the right thing to do even if it costs more," said Lou Ann Hammond, chief executive officer of automotive Web site Carlist.com. "For less money you could get a Ford Focus that's a partial zero emission vehicle that gets 35 mpg and is just as clean."

The Prius is the alternative Hammond sees putting a dent in gasoline usage to the tune of millions of gallons a year saved, thanks to its high fuel economy and the sheer number whisking down U.S. roads.

"Now, whether people actually drive less because they own a Prius makes a difference, too," she said.

Jackson resident Sarah Bentley and her husband bought a hybrid in December, right in the middle of gas price hikes. "We bought the hybrid Highlander because we wanted a larger car but weren't comfortable with buying an SUV that gets low mileage," she said. "We had to actively pursue it. We went to Kansas City, Mo., to get it. We would have been on a waiting list here for months."

Bentley said the Highlander SUV averages about 30 mpg in combined city and highway driving. "I love how quiet it is. Its smooth riding and has all the amenities we wanted," she said.

Toyota Camry Hybrid sales hit 6,930 in March, up 45 percent from March 2007. General Motors reported 577 hybrids sold last month, 450 of which were the new, two mode trucks. The remainder were mild hybrids. While those numbers are low especially for the country's largest automaker, supply could be the issue, not demand.

Considerations when looking for a Hybrid Vehicle

2008-04-13T20:29:00.000-07:00

It was not too long ago that SUVs were considered the ultimate suburban status symbols. The joke was that Americans spend more on designer water than gasoline. However, with gas prices projected to reach almost $4 a gallon soon, suburban soccer moms who roll silently up to the playing field in their sleek new hybrid cars increasingly claim the title of coolest ride. A Maryland law passed last year to tighten emissions standards to combat global warming has further added interest in local showrooms.

Becoming a hybrid hipster, however, is a lot more complicated than it was a few years ago. Rival carmakers have greatly expanded their hybrid offerings in a bid to catch up with Honda and Toyota, which popularized hybrid technology with their gas/electric Civic and Prius models, respectively. But many of the newer entrants employ hybrid technology in a variety of ways that produce drastically different results. That makes choosing tougher for the uninitiated.

Car experts and various consumer Web sites offer tips to help economy minded car buyers navigate options. The first thing to consider is whether a hybrid vehicle is the right choice to begin with. Start by asking yourself how and where you do most of your driving. So-called "full" hybrids, such as the Prius and Civic, achieve their maximum fuel economy in stop and go traffic in the city, when the car's batteries do much of the heavy lifting.

So if your daily commute is at mostly highway speeds, consider buying a fuel-efficient gas only car, such as the conventional Civic or a Toyota Corolla, said John Wolkonowicz, senior automotive analyst for Global Insight. Often, those cars can equal or beat a hybrid in gas mileage under highway conditions, but cost thousands less to purchase.

"Carefully consider what kind of commute you have because your commute may actually be more suited to a small, four cylinder or even certain six cylinder gasoline cars," he said.

If you decide a hybrid is the way to go, keep in mind that not all hybrids are created equal, said Jim Kliesch, a senior engineer with the Union of Concerned Scientists, which has a Web site featuring tips and data on fuel efficient cars.

"Just because a vehicle is a hybrid does not necessarily make it an environmentally friendly car and does not necessarily make it a fuel efficient vehicle," he said.

Some hybrids are more about boosting horsepower than saving gas. An extreme example is the Lexus LS 600h, a 438 horsepower luxury hybrid that uses the car's electric motor to help its five liter gas engine get from zero to 60 in seconds. The price starts at just over $100,000. If gas mileage is what you're aiming for, full hybrids such as the Civic and Prius are still the first that come to mind among the experts. Both employ a small, gas-sipping engine assisted by a battery powered electric motor. The electric motor powers the car at very low speeds and complements the gasoline engine at times when extra acceleration is needed, such as while passing.

Both also make good use of regenerative braking, in which the electric motor helps stop the car and acts as a generator to recharge the batteries. Most hybrids also shut down the gas engine when stopped at traffic lights, saving fuel and cutting emissions. The Prius and Civic score high in customer satisfaction ratings and reliability. And both do well in safety tests, but hybrids cost thousands more and can be costly to repair when things go wrong.

Still, the time it takes to recover the extra cost is diminishing with each increase in gas prices. For example, a Prius, which starts at about $22,000, costs more than $7,000 more than a similarly sized Chevrolet Cobalt. Yet Consumer Reports magazine recently reported that when you factor in gas, insurance, maintenance and other expenses, the total cost of owning a Prius over five years is about $2,000 less than the Cobalt. The Prius averages 46 miles per gallon in city/highway driving, while the Cobalt averages 25, according to Environmental Protection Agency data.

The Prius also came in thousands below the four cylinder Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion and other well known family cars in the magazine's analysis. "In the short run, you're paying a lot," said Mike Quincy, an automotive specialist with Consumer Reports. "But in the long run, it can work out."

Are Hybrid Cars too Quiet????

2008-04-09T13:46:00.000-07:00

A bill intended to protect blind people and other pedestrians from the dangers posed by quiet cars will be introduced today in Congress. The measure would require the Transportation Department to establish safety standards for hybrids and other vehicles that make little discernible noise, including an audible means for alerting people that cars are nearby.

The Baltimore based National Federation of the Blind has pushed for the legislation to protect those who rely on their hearing to know when to cross the street. While the organization is not aware of people being struck by cars they couldn't hear, NFB President Marc Maurer has said he fears it's only a matter of time.

Preliminary results of an ongoing study have indicated the cars pose some risk. The study found that hybrids operating at slow speeds must be 40 percent closer to pedestrians than combustion-engine cars before they make enough noise to be detected. Hybrid vehicles operate on battery-powered electric motors when idling and traveling at slow speeds; internal combustion engines, with their distinctive rumble, kick in when the cars speed up.

Ford Escape Hybrid - Edmunds review

2008-04-08T08:40:00.000-07:00

Over the coming years, the hybrid SUV will become more popular as automakers hope to offer something for families looking to go green , but still have a larger vehicle. Even as the market expands, history will note that the Ford Escape Hybrid was the first. The Ford Escape was released in 2005 and was not only the first mainstream hybrid SUV to be produced, but the first to come from a domestic automaker. Looking essentially identical to its non hybrid brother, the Hybrid effectively offered the power of the V6 model with the fuel economy of the four cylinder.

Today, the Ford Escape Hybrid benefits from a recent redesign. Much of the sheet metal has changed, but the underlying hybrid components are still the same. As a choice for a hybrid powered small SUV, the Escape is worth a look. The current Ford Escape Hybrid remains the most fuel efficient SUV on the market. A two wheel drive Escape Hybrid should be able to deliver close to 33 mpg in real world city and highway driving. Its powertrain consists of a 2.3 liter four cylinder gasoline engine, a pair of electric motors and an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission that basically works like a regular automatic transmission.

Under full acceleration, both power sources work together to provide maximum power, but under lighter load conditions, such as stop and go traffic, the Escape Hybrid alternates between the two, oftentimes running purely on battery power alone. A regenerative braking system converts energy normally lost as heat into electricity to recharge the car's batteries. Although the cumulative horsepower rating of 155 doesn't sound very impressive, the Ford Escape Hybrid is quicker than the regular four cylinder Escape and feels almost as fast as the V6 model. Two wheel drive or all wheel drive models are offered.

In 2008, Ford updated the entire Escape line and that included the hybrid. Changes were limited primarily to exterior and interior tweaks. The look of the interior is fresher and more contemporary than the previous Escape's cabin, although the interior overall is still lacking when compared to other smaller SUVs. The main difference between driving an Escape Hybrid and driving a regular Escape comes down to handling: The Hybrid feels topheavy around turns due to its extra 300 pounds of curb weight. And like the gasoline only Escape, this hybrid SUV is best suited for onroad duty, as its unibody construction and all wheel drive system limit its offroad abilities.

Hyundai looks to enter Hybrid Car market

2008-04-06T15:36:00.000-07:00

Hyundai Motor Co. of South Korea has said that it will enter the hybrid car market. The South Korean car maker and India's third largest producer of passenger cars says it is planning to launch its first liquid petroleum gas and electric hybrid car by 2010, the Hindustan Times reports. Hyundai is expected to begin its first mass production with the compact sized LPG model, the Avante, or Elantra Liquefied Petroleum Injection hybrid as increasing oil and gas prices are driving the market up for more fuel efficient vehicles worldwide.

By 2010, Hyundai said it has plans to also introduce mid sized hybrids that use gasoline and LPG. "The importance of developing futuristic, environmentally-friendly cars is increasing for sustainable growth," said Hyundai-Kia Chairman Chung Mong Koo. "Therefore, technology for advanced cars, like the hybrid, is imperative. We also plan to produce a small fleet of fuel cell electric vehicles from 2012."

A Hybrid Cost Comparison

2008-04-05T06:42:00.000-07:00

from the Toronto Star:
When it uses its electric motor or generator instead of its gas engine, a hybrid vehicle can sip less fossil fuel and emit fewer tailpipe emissions than its gasoline-only counterpart. But despite the potential for reducing fuel costs, does driving a hybrid vehicle really save money? What are the real financial economics of going green?

We estimated the complete costs of ownership over a seven year lifespan, which is how long most Canadians typically own a vehicle from new. Based on driving an average of 24,000 km per year (typical of most leases), we made sure to include all those often forgotten financial factors like destination charges, financing, taxes, government energy rebates, insurance – as well as the cost of fuel.

Because the majority of Canadians finance their new vehicles, our gas versus hybrid cost estimates first involved a "virtual" zero-down, 48-month factory lease with 96,000 free km. All factory finance rates and residuals were based on March 2008 numbers, which may change in April. We then "bought" the vehicle at its lease buyout value with a bank loan at 7.75 per cent annual rate, 2.5 over prime, for a final three year term. Because all three automakers offer three year/60,000 km bumper to bumper and eight year/160,000 km warranties for the unique hybrid components, with actual costs heavily dependent on individual use, we left this out of our cost estimates.

In regards to insurance costs, for our purposes, we used a 40-year-old male living at the Star's Yonge St. address. (Surprisingly, the differences were within tens of dollars per year in favour of the gas-only models.) Automakers themselves like to market hybrids against thirstier V6 gas models. "The Camry Hybrid offers the same level of performance as the V6 gas models," says Toyota Canada's Melanie Testani, a claim Ford Canada makes for its Escape.

But growing concerns about the economy and continually rising fuel costs mean many consumers today are choosing thriftiness over performance. Therefore, we've compared similarly equipped four cylinder models against the hybrids. One thing to keep in mind: in the case of Ford and Toyota, the hybrid version includes costly options not on the gas version. Hybrids are expensive to develop, and adding high-margin options can help recoup some costs.

If you're counting pennies more than kg of CO2 saved, even the Camry Hybrid – the most fuel efficient vehicle here – ultimately costs an estimated $1,298 more over seven years to own than its conventional gas counterpart, mainly due to its initial purchase price and a higher end-of-lease buyout. There's no argument: Drive a more fuel-efficient vehicle, and you'll cause fewer emissions. But as gas-vs.-hybrid cost comparisons prove, driving a hybrid does not equate to saving money.

After 168,000 km, an Escape Hybrid would emit an estimated 26,530 kg less CO2 than the gas XLT model, the greatest savings of this trio, but there is a real, measurable cost to "going green." At $1.50 a litre for gas, for each kilogram of CO2 saved, it costs an estimated 53 cents in the Ford hybrid. The Saturn works out to 14 cents and Toyota 7 cents.

But realistically, it would take European-like gas prices of $2 a litre before even a highly fuel efficient vehicle like the Camry Hybrid would start paying a return. Even then, after 96,000 km, the amount would be about $900. Unfortunately, when it comes to the economics of hybrids, there's no free lunch.

Hybrids popular but in short supply

2008-04-03T05:14:00.000-07:00

Amid the deepening gloom in the car industry, dealers have found one way to gouge for profit: hybrids. Hybridcars.com reports U.S. sales grew 38 percent to 350,000 units last year, with Toyota dominating the market. But if you want to buy a hybrid version of the Ford Escape, Saturn Vue, Chevrolet Tahoe or GMC Yukon, you can expect to shell out $3,000 to $5,000 premiums that go right into dealership coffers. You can also expect to sit on a waiting list.

Will you recoup these premiums in gas savings over the life of the vehicle? It's not likely. Is this bait and switch? Read after the jump. Supplies of hybrids are plentiful in some markets, wrenchingly tight in others. The success of Toyota's Prius has kept its production capacity up. A major San Francisco Bay area Chevrolet dealership we contacted had one hybrid Tahoe in stock. The gas-powered version sold for roughly $38,000. They hybrid cost a little over $52,000. A Bay-area Saturn dealership reported that the wait for a hybrid Vue is roughly six to eight weeks, though the price premium was only about $3,000 over the cost of the gasoline version. A spokesman for Ford said that production capacity of the hybrid Escape is limited, though it will be expanding with the introduction of two more hybrids next year. "We have a capability to product them which limits us to about 24,000 a year," he said. "They're hard to find."

Soaring gas prices have boosted demand for hybrids. And as National Public Radio reports, U.S. manufacturing capacity is maxed. What's galling is that carmakers continue to push these hybrids -- especially SUVs -- in advertising. Greenwashing an entire company with token products has proven to be enormously successful, and not only for the car industry, but for just about anyone else. To be sure, batteries have been in short supply. And automakers didn't anticipate the price of gas when hybrid production plans were inked. Even so, the markup at dealerships is shameless.

Tips for Better Hybrid Mileage

2008-03-30T13:07:00.000-07:00

You can get the best mileage from a hybrid car by using the same kind of driving habits that give you better mileage in your gasoline-engine car:

Drive slower - The aerodynamic drag on the car increases dramatically the faster you drive. For example, the drag force at 70 mph (113 kph) is about double that at 50 mph (81 kph). So, keeping your speed down can increase your mileage significantly.

Maintain a constant speed - Each time you speed up the car, you use energy, some of which is wasted when you slow the car down again. By maintaining a constant speed, you will make the most efficient use of your fuel.

Avoid abrupt stops - When you stop your car, the electric motor in the hybrid acts like a generator and takes some of the energy out of the car while slowing it down. If you give the electric motor more time to slow the vehicle, it can recover more of the energy. If you stop quickly, the brakes on the car will do most of the work of slowing the car down, and that energy will be wasted. The same reasoning applies to gasoline-powered cars: Abrupt stops waste a lot of energy.

Benefits of Hybrid Cars

2008-03-24T19:48:00.000-07:00

The rising price of gasoline and concern over U.S. dependence on oil have generated a lot of interest in hybrid cars, and with good reason. They typically deliver the best fuel economy in their classes. The Prius and Civic Hybrid delivered an excellent 44 and 37 mpg, respectively, in our real-world fuel-economy tests--the best gas mileage we've measured in any five-passenger vehicles. The Ford Escape Hybrid, which achieved the best fuel economy of any SUV we've recently tested, can save you about $900 per year in gasoline costs.

Hybrid cars emit less pollution, with some models classified as Partial Zero Emission Vehicles by the California Air Resources Board. Each gallon of gasoline not burned prevents the emission of 19 pounds of carbon dioxide, which many believe contributes to global warming .

Several hybrids--the Honda Accord, Lexus RX400h, Toyota Highlander, and Toyota Prius--are outstanding overall packages that score at or near the top of their categories in our Ratings (available to subscribers). Not only do the Accord, Highlander, and RX400h provide moderately better fuel economy than their conventional counterparts, but they also provide notably quicker acceleration. The Highlander and Prius are among our "Top Picks for 2006."

For those hybrids for which we have data from the "Annual Car Owner Satisfaction Survey," owners are enthusiastic about models with good gas mileage. But hybrids that emphasize performance over fuel economy earn less-glowing reviews.

In California, some hybrid drivers can use special car-pool lanes regardless of the number of occupants in the vehicle, a considerable benefit for commuters in traffic-choked areas. In Virginia, all hybrid drivers have this advantage. There are also federal and state tax incentives. Those benefits add up to an inviting package for many car buyers who are willing to pay a premium for them. But for those who believe that one of a hybrid's attractions is that it will save them money, our figures show that even the most cost-effective models require an investment of about five years for the owner to break even.

General Motors targeting 2010 for new hybrids

2008-03-24T11:46:00.000-07:00

General Motors will make good on its plan to deliver a gasoline/electric plug-in hybrid vehicle by late 2010, and testing of the lithium-ion batteries powering the car will begin this July, says Beth Lowery, GM vice-president for environmental affairs and energy.

"You're right, we've got to deliver" a production-ready version of the Chevrolet Volt concept car, she said following an appearance at the Globe 2008 environmental conference. "We will keep you up to date on our progress — no surprises. We just have so much riding on it, we can't have surprises."

GM, in fact, has been sounding a steady drumbeat of announcements on the hybrid and battery front, as well as pushing the case for ethanol-powered vehicles as environmentally friendly. The company used the recent Geneva Motor Show to tout the 2010 mass production of hybrid vehicles that use lithium-ion batteries and, in many cases, turbocharged small-displacement gasoline engines. That combination will let GM use the hybrid system on any size vehicle it produces.

GM is not alone here. At the Geneva show, Mercedes announced that its S-Class sedans will come in a hybrid version next year. It, too, will use a lithium-ion battery system and other auto makers have signed on to use the Mercedes batteries. Toyota has also said it will roll out low-emission vehicles using lithium-ion batteries in the near future, as has Ford. Honda is using them in its FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle right now. And Tesla Motors, a specialty company in California, is to begin production this month of a fully electric sports car using a package of nearly 7,000 laptop computer batteries with a catacomb of cooling channels.

Of all the developments needed to create a truly environmentally friendly car, batteries are emerging as the most critical — the real hub of any hybrid project. But it is not clear yet whether lithium-ion batteries, common in laptops and cellphones, may finally be ready for prime time in vehicles. The world's auto makers as a group believe lithium-ion batteries are better suited to power hybrids — and eventually fully electric vehicles — than current nickel-metal-hydride batteries. However, problems with heat management, durability and safety must be overcome.

Lithium-ion batteries also do not work well in cold weather and they are costly. On the other hand, they are lighter and smaller than other types of batteries, which make them perfect for packaging in a vehicle. The lithium-ion battery GM will use in its second generation of hybrids is a quarter the size of the nickel-metal-hydride batteries it now is using.

"We need a battery that is very compact and is very light," says Lowery. "Lithium-ion is a great enabler for that."

Nonetheless, GM plans to remain mum on which supplier will provide the batteries for the Volt's next-generation lithium-ion power supply until the second half of the year. There are limits, apparently, to corporate transparency. Meanwhile, though, with oil prices topping $108 (U.S.) a barrel and the U.S. economy apparently in the early stages of a recession, GM is looking at a shrinking market for its products, particularly the pickup and SUVs that deliver virtually all GM's profits in North America.

"Oil at $108 a barrel is not a good thing for us," Lowery says, adding that spiking pump prices only underscore the need for the United States to "get off its petroleum dependence."

GM has been one of the most vocal auto makers on this topic. To back up the rhetoric, GM has been pursuing a number of technologies, not just the Volt's plug-in system. In Geneva, GM vice-chairman Bob Lutz pointed to advances in his company's new "mild" hybrid system as an example of one of the many technologies directions GM is developing. The new powertrain is an upgrade on the automaker's current Belt Alternator Starter, or BAS, drivetrain that is used on hybrids such as the Saturn Aura and Chevrolet Malibu.

The so-called "mild" powertrain gets limited fuel savings because it doesn't generally drive on electric power alone — in contrast to the more efficient "full" system in Toyota's Prius car and GM's own Two-Mode Hybrid Chevrolet Tahoe. The new mild system from GM will be able to drive on electric power alone at very low speeds. As with the Volt project, the key to this other hybrid upgrade is in the batteries. GM plans to use more powerful lithium-ion batteries, calling the new system "BAS-plus." In this case, the first supply contract for the batteries reportedly will go to Japan's Hitachi Ltd.

Lutz said in Geneva that the lithium-ion battery would provide a charge of 120 volts, compared with the 30-some volts GM currently gets from nickel-metal hydride batteries. The system will deliver more than the 12- to 15-per-cent fuel economy boost of GM's current BAS system. The system is less expensive than other electric-only driving hybrid systems and therefore more cost-effective for consumers.

Toyota Prius rated top hybrid in Cars.com survey

2008-03-23T20:42:00.000-07:00

The Toyota Prius ranks as the top hybrid, according to a Cars.com survey. The Prius was one of four Toyota-made vehicles on the Web site's top 10 list, along with the Lexus RX400h, Toyota Highlander and Lexus GS450h. The Cars.com Hybrid Buying Guide was designed, the company said, to help consumers sort through a wide range of options in different body styles, from sedans to SUVs. The picks for the top hybrid vehicles are designed to help consumers get a clear understanding of these vehicles' fuel-efficiency and price differences compared to their non-hybrid counterparts.

"Hybrid rankings have often been simplistic," Cars.com senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder said. "Most are little more than lists of the highest-mileage models on the market. Here, we ranked hybrids based on how much fuel savings they get when compared to their non-hybrid version, as well as how much all that saved gas is going to cost you, since hybrid models always command a premium price."

The rankings were developed on the premise that most hybrid shoppers are looking for efficiency first, followed closely by price. All hybrids were compared to the lowest-priced, most-efficient gas-only trim level in their model line. The rankings then took into account the hybrid's mileage and price premium, in percent, as well as its suggested retail price.

"Examinations that compare hybrids to 'comparably equipped' versions miss an important point. Hybrids are almost always among the most expensive trim levels, if not the most costly," Wiesenfelder said. "We know that not all buyers are willing to pay the premium for the sake of driving a hybrid. There needs to be a payoff, so our ranking highlights those hybrids that give buyers the greatest return for their investment."

Toyota Prius
Manufacture's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP): $21,100
EPA-estimated mileage (city/highway, mpg): 48/45
After seven years on the market, the Prius is still the best hybrid for people who just plain want to burn less gas. It's arguably also the best for people who hope to save money in the long run. Built from scratch as a hybrid, it maximizes interior space and offers a roomy cargo hatch, whereas hybrid sedans tend to diminish trunk space and/or eliminate folding back seats. There is no gas-only version, but there doesn't have to be. It's both the most efficient and most affordable hybrid out there.

Saturn Vue Green Line
MSRP: $24,170
EPA-estimated mileage: 25/32
Dramatic mileage boosts get all the attention, but Saturn is onto something with this mild hybrid approach. The current Vue Green Line's premium over the lowest-priced gas-only version is modest -- only 14 percent. All the same, its city and highway mileage increases are 32 and 23 percent, respectively. What's more, it's priced below the V-6 version, whose mileage it roughly doubles. The only drawback: The Vue is the only hybrid SUV not to offer all-wheel drive. A second Green Line with 2 Mode technology is coming late in 2008 as a 2009 model.

Honda Civic Hybrid
MSRP: $22,600
EPA-estimated mileage: 40/45
Even though its cost premium over the base Civic is 51 percent, its city and highway mileage are 54 percent and 32 percent higher, respectively, than that already-efficient model, making the payoff quite high. It happens to be an excellent car, too.

Toyota Camry Hybrid
MSRP $25,200
EPA-estimated mileage: 33/34
Not everyone wants a small, less-refined car like the Prius, which makes the Camry Hybrid the one for the masses. Priced 36 percent higher than the base four-cylinder model, it gets 57 and 10 percent better gas mileage (city and highway), and even more dramatic improvements over the V-6 versions whose prices it rivals.

Lexus RX 400h
MSRP: $41,280
EPA-estimated mileage: 27/24
Though it's a luxury model, the RX 400h's price premium is a mere 10 percent over the gas-only RX 350. Combined with a 50 percent city mileage improvement and 4 percent highway bump, it's a compelling package overall. The RX is similar to the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, which has a lower overall price and 1 mpg higher highway mileage, but that model's higher price premium gives it a lower rank. With optional AWD, the RX 400h (26/24 mpg) is an even better deal, with mileage improvements of 53 percent and 9 percent compared to the all-wheel-drive RX 350.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid
MSRP: $33,700
EPA-estimated mileage: 27/25
The Highlander Hybrid comes only with AWD. The most efficient gas Highlander has FWD. In comparison, the hybrid costs 23 percent more and delivers 50 percent better city mileage but only a 4 percent highway improvement. If you want AWD, however, the hybrid costs only 17 percent more than the gas-only model and boasts 59 and 9 percent higher mileage in city and highway driving, respectively.

Ford Escape Hybrid
MSRP: $26,505
EPA-estimated mileage: 34/30
The Escape Hybrid's rank is a little surprising, given its impressive mileage, but it's hard to overcome the fact that it costs 40 percent more than the base, four-cylinder Escape. Because of this, its 55 percent city and 7 percent highway mileage improvement can't compensate.

Chevrolet Tahoe 2 Mode Hybrid
MSRP: $49,590
EPA-estimated mileage: 21/22
People who want or need a large SUV may have even better reason for cutting back on gas than the owner of an already-efficient car does. The Tahoe Hybrid gives up practically none of the original's capability, including towing, and gets a stunning 50 percent increase in city mileage and 16 percent bump on the highway. It comes in eighth not because of its size, but because of its added cost: 43 percent more than the lowest-priced gas-only Tahoe.

Saturn Aura Green Line
MSRP: $22,140
EPA-estimated mileage: 24/32
Known as a mild hybrid, the Aura Green Line delivers modest mileage improvements over the four-cylinder Aura -- 9 percent in the city and 7 percent on the highway -- but its price premium is a mere 12 percent. Chevrolet will soon also market a mild hybrid version of its Malibu. Later on, 2-Mode hybrid versions of each are expected to join or replace them, adding efficiency and cost.

Lexus GS 450h
MSRP: $54,900
EPA-estimated mileage: 22/25
Lexus' GS 450h sedan comes in last because its cost increase outweighs the gains it gets in mileage. The base GS is the GS 350, a relatively efficient and low-priced V-6 model. There's a 24 percent premium between it and the GS 450h, and what you get for it is a 16 percent city mileage improvement and a 7 percent decrease in highway driving.

Aspen trying out Hybrid police car

2008-03-23T20:37:00.000-07:00

The Aspen Police Department has a shiny-new green toy. This week, the department started testing out a 2008 Toyota Highlander hybrid gas/electric-powered squad car.

“We had a lot of concern about how it would handle all of our equipment,” said Sgt. Brian Nichols, who picked up the cruiser in Denver on Friday. “But so far we’ve had no problems.”

They’re testing how it handles the multitude of police electronics, and also how it handles in the ice and snow of Aspen. Aspen City Council prompted the department to explore replacing their fleet with hybrids in 2004, when the city’s contract with Saab expired. But they determined the still-developing hybrid technology wasn’t yet reliable enough to use in an emergency vehicle, and went with a fleet of Volvo XC90 sport utility vehicles instead. (The new hybrid looks almost identical to the silver-and-black Volvo patrol cars, except for a bumper sticker of the “Canary Initiative” emblem, the city’s global warming campaign.) Last autumn, Sgt. Nichols and former APD officer Adam Crider traveled to Lindsay, Calif., where the police have been using Highlanders in their 22-car fleet since 2006.

The Highlander pollutes less, and gets about twice as much mileage per gallon of gasoline. (And with gasoline prices topping $4 in Aspen, could potentially save some taxpayer dollars.) Police also say the silent engine will work to their advantage on street and alley patrols — allowing police to approach suspected criminals more stealthily.

“If it weren’t for the sound of the tires on the pavement, it’d be completely silent,” said Sgt. Rob Fabrocini.

In addition, they’re using the new car to test out upgraded electronic equipment. With $22,000 in gadgets — including an Internet-connected laptop computer and a magnetic strip reader for drivers’ license checks — the equipment allows officers to do background checks and administrative work while patrolling, which would normally have to be done at the department.

“We installed all this stuff to test out and see, ‘Do we need it out in the field?’” said Sgt. Nichols. “Do we want it in the rest of the cars?”

California’s Lindsay Police Department has had trouble with the hybrid generators, which created an electro-magnetic field that interferes with radar transmissions, meaning they have to use traditional hand-held radar guns to check drivers’ speeds. The APD trial hybrid has not had trouble with radar so far. If the Highlander experiment works out, the APD hopes to purchase hybrids for the rest of the fleet at the end of this year, when their contract with Volvo is up.

Hyundai to mass produce Avante hybrids in 2009

2008-03-23T20:28:00.000-07:00

South Korea's top car maker Hyundai Motor said Sunday it would begin mass producing hybrid cars next year amid growing demand for fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles. The first mass produced model will be a compact sedan, known as "Avante", the company said in a statement.

The hybrid models will then expand into mid-size vehicles in 2010, with fuel-cell cars also being produced in 2012, it said. Hyundai has produced about 2,800 compact hybrid cars since 2004, largely for government agencies, while Japan's Toyota Motor has dominated the global hybrid car market. Global demand for hybrid cars is rapidly growing, with 390,125 units sold in 2006 and 517,911 last year, Hyundai said, adding that the figure was likely to grow to 750,000 this year and more than a million by 2010.