Hybrid Digest For The Week Ending Friday 07/13/2007
Mazda Tax Credit Kudos to Mazda and the $3,000 tax rebate for their 2WD Tribute hybrid.
Loss Leader The rumor mill has it that GM will be running lean on their upcoming two-mode hybrid vehicles (Yukon, Tahoe hybrids). Apparently the two-mode hardware is a bit pricey at $10,000
50% of People Buy a Prius to "Make a Statement"
You would think that the people looking to buy a hybrid vehicle, like the iconic Toyota Prius, are doing it either to save fuel money or to do their part in saving the environment. This isn't exactly the whole picture. According to a recent study by CNW Marketing Research, over half of the people that bought a Prius did so primarily to "make a statement about themselves."
The smart fortwo Hybrid Drive Has Twelve Percent Lower Consumption and Emissions
The combination of an electric motor and a combustion engine makes the smart fortwo even more economical and environmentally friendly than ever. The hybrid concept reduces consumption and emissions for both the diesel and the petrol version by around 12 percent. For example, the standard consumption (NEDC) of the smart fortwo hybrid drive (hd) diesel is reduced from 3.3 litres to 2.9 litres per 100 kilometres. Carbon dioxide emissions fall from 88 to 77 grams per kilometre.
Mazda Hybrid Gets Tax Credit
Buyers of a hybrid SUV made by Mazda will qualify for a tax credit intended to encourage sales of the fuel-efficient cars, the government said Friday. The two-wheel drive version of Mazda's Tribute hybrid for the 2008 model year will be eligible for a $3,000 credit, while the four-wheel drive version will be eligible for a credit of $2,200, the Internal Revenue Service said.
Chevy Malibu Hybrid making debut at MLB All Star Game
It won't hit dealerships until October, but the Chevy Malibu Hybrid is now officially on display in San Francisco at the MLB All Star Game's Fan Zone, which opened to the public today. The Malibu Hybrid is basically the fraternal twin of the Saturn Aura Green Line we recently reviewed at Autoblog and AutoblogGreen. Powered by the same mild hybrid setup, the Malibu Hybrid boasts a 24/32 city/highway EPA fuel economy rating, a slight upgrade over the non-hybrid 4-cylinder.
Hybrid credits available
If you're still debating the merits of a hybrid, you should know that yes, you can still get federal money when you buy something hybrid and fuel-efficient. But if you're looking at a Toyota, you might not get as much as you've heard. And soon, you won't get a dime. How does it work? You used to get a tax deduction when you bought a hybrid. Then the Energy Policy Act of 2005 offered up the more valuable credit -- which reduces, dollar for dollar, the amount of tax you have to pay (or increases your refund).
Travelling a greener road
Eddie and Margaret Chengiah bought their first hybrid car, a Toyota Prius, in 2002. They liked it so much, they traded it for a 2004 model with more options, including navigation. "Our first Prius was so quiet and responsive, we just took to it," he says. In November, the Newport News residents became a two-hybrid-car couple, purchasing a Camry version.
Ford, Edison to test hybrids
Southern California Edison Co. and Ford Motor Co. are expected to announce a partnership today that will include a multimillion-dollar test of plug-in hybrids. Plug-ins are envisioned as the next-generation development of the current crop of gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles such as the Toyota Prius. Equipped with more powerful batteries that could be recharged overnight, plug-ins are designed to run for significant periods on electricity alone — greatly increasing their fuel economy.
Lawsuit against Honda challenges hybrid mileage claims
Facing $3-a-gallon gasoline prices in California last year, John True decided to stop driving his Mercedes-Benz E320 and bought a Honda Civic Hybrid. Impressed by the gas-electric hybrid's advertised mileage — 49 miles per gallon in the city, 51 mpg highway — True plunked down $28,470, at least $7,000 more than for a comparable non-hybrid Civic EX. After 6,000 miles of driving, True said he averaged just 32 mpg in mixed city/highway driving.
2008 Malibu hybrid debuts
The 2008 Chevy Malibu hybrid made its debut at the All-Star game festivities for MLB. According to Edmunds, the new Malibu will achieve 24 miles per gallon in the city and 32 mpg on the highway for a 2 mpg overall improvement compared to the conventional Malibu. As an option on the LS Malibu, the hybrid version uses "a 36-volt electric motor/generator paired with the 2.4-liter Ecotec VVT four-cylinder engine and a four-speed transmission.
A Toroidal CVT in the Genset?
CVT Corp. has developed a high efficiency toroidal CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) suitable for the heavy-duty vehicle market. The company claims that their product dramatically reduces fuel consumption (as much as 25%). Despite their improved efficiency over conventional geared transmissions, manufacturers have yet to apply CVTs in heavy duty vehicles. To date the mechanical strain associated with high torque vehicles has meant questionable durability.
Brammo Launches First Production Battery-Electric Motorcycle; Uses Valence Li-Ion Batteries
Brammo Motorsports announced the Enertia, the world’s first production zero-emissions battery-powered plug-in electric motorcycle. The chassis integrates six Valence lithium-phosphate batteries in a 3.1 kWh battery pack that powers a permanent magnet DC pancake motor to drive the Enertia to a top speed of more than 50 mph (80 kph). The range of the Enertia is 45 miles (72.4 km), and it requires 3 hours to fully recharge.
GM may take loss on vehicles with Two Mode hybrid system
GM may have to take a loss on early runs of vehicles equipped with its upcoming Two Mode hybrid propulsion system in an effort to make the vehicles more attractive to customers. According to a recent report in Automotive News, the initial cost of the system is north of $10,000, a premium few customers will likely to be willing to pay. The Two Mode hybrid system uses a pair of small electric motors to backup the engine instead of the more common single motor setup.
MIT Students Convert Porsche 914 to Electric
The most wonderful car I ever owned was my 1972 Porsche 914. It was a bomb, figuratively and literally; it handled fabulously but it was a mid-engine and you drove with nothing but a tank of gas between you and the front end. Now some lucky kids at MIT are converting one into an electric car. According to MIT News, their goal is "To demonstrate the viability of advanced electric vehicle technology and to help clarify what research and development has yet to be done."
Lotus consults on Mercedes S-Class Hybrid
Following spy shots of S-Class Hybrid prototypes leaving the Lotus facilities in Norwich, England, industry insiders have concluded that Mercedes has turned to the British sportscar maker and engineering firm for input on the sedan's hybrid power system.
Hybrid Car Sales, June 2007
As we hit the six month mark, Toyota hybrid car sales have once again increased remarkably from last year. Overall, hybrid cars sales are up 48.8% to 34,300 units sold in the month of June. Through the month of June, hybrid car sales are up 55.5% over last years first six months for a total of 181,972 units sold. There are three main stories to tell this month. First, hybrid sales trends are way up in 2007.
'Everything will be hybrid,' Toyota exec says
Toyota Motor Corp.'s North American chief said vehicles powered by gasoline-electric hybrid engines will dominate U.S. roads as fuel prices continue to rise. "Eventually, everything will be a hybrid," said Jim Press, president of Toyota Motor North America, in an interview today in New York. Hybrids have been driving Toyota's growth in the U.S., he said.
Japan Report: Honda CRX To Be Hybrid, Pushed Back To 2011
Honda has now decided to make the new CRX a hybrid. That’s according to latest word from inside Honda Central Command. ... Lately, however, the resistance has softened and a design specifically recalling the classic, tiny, revvy 1983-1992 CRX coupes has been approved. Now the thinking has changed again, and the product planners have decided it must be employ a hybrid drivetrain ...
Hybrid Technologies starts production of lithium BMW Mini Cooper
After two years of research, Hybrid Technologies, engaged in the development and marketing of lithium-powered products worldwide, has moved into production with the BMW Mini Cooper all-lithium model. Based on market readiness and an extensive vehicle selection process, Hybrid Technologies engineers have selected the Mini Cooper.
Support builds for hybrid tax perk
Support is growing in Congress for tax breaks for hybrid owners who convert their vehicles to plug-ins, even though doing that invalidates the manufacturer's warranty. U.S. Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., head of the House global warming committee who's been pushing a 40 percent boost in vehicle mileage standards by 2018, proposed his "Plug-in Hybrid Opportunity Act of 2007" on Wednesday. It would give gasoline-electric hybrid owners a 35 percent tax credit to defray the costs of converting their vehicle to plug-ins.
smart Micro-Hybrid Going Into Production
With the weekend’s Live Earth concerts as a backdrop, smart announced that it will begin production of a micro-hybrid variant of the smart fortwo. (Earlier post.) The smart micro-hybrid will be available as a coupé and a cabrio in all three lines: pure, pulse and passion. The 52 kW (70 hp) smart fortwo micro-hybrid drive (mhd) uses a belt-driven starter generator from Valeo (StARS 137) to provide stop-start functionality.
Hybrid heavy-duty trucks can dent energy needs
Hybrid-drive passenger cars like the Toyota Prius have captured the imagination of American drivers, reflecting society's increased focus on energy security and environmental protection. But if you think the 3,000-pound Prius is impressive, imagine a hybrid system that delivers the same kind of fuel savings and reduced emissions, but can move a 64,000-pound Mack truck from a dead stop, dozens of times a day, under electric power.
Hybrid-cab drivers see incentives fuelling more green vehicles
Large dollops of taxpayer dollars would put more hybrid taxis on Alberta's roads, some cab drivers say. The province is one of five that doesn't offer a rebate to people who purchase hybrid vehicles. If it did, more taxi drivers would choose a hybrid vehicle, said Harphool Mundi, one of about seven Co-op Taxi drivers that own a hybrid.
Review: 2008 Ford Escape hybrid
Not all hybrids are created equal -- and, thanks to a strong head start, most are associated with Toyota and Honda. But American brands have been in the market now for some time. GM offers the Saturn VUE Green Line and the Aura Green Line as "light hybrids" (meaning that, though less expensive, they don't move on battery power alone). The GMC Yukon has gone green as well, employing a heavy-duty, two-mode hybrid system similar to those now employed in GM buses worldwide.
LI lawmakers seek hybrid tax exemption
Some Long Island Republicans, Democrats and environmentalists called Thursday on the state Assembly to reinstate a sales tax exemption for hybrid and certain other fuel efficient cars. The measure, sponsored by state Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), leader of Long Island's GOP delegation, passed the state Senate but not the Assembly before the most recent session ended. "This legislation is an important first step toward reducing our dependence on foreign oil and protecting our environment," Skelos, who is the Senate's deputy majority leader, said in a statement.
Hybrid taxi paid for itself in no time
The world's first Toyota Prius cab driver is sold on hybrid technology, which allows his vehicle to run on either a gasoline or electric motor, or both in tandem. Vancouver's Andrew Grant says his 2004 Prius paid for itself in less than 24 months through savings on parts, service, labour and fuel. Few, if any, other hybrid drivers could say the same thing, but that's due to the fact that Mr. Grant and his partner keep their Yellow Cab on the road for 22 to 24 hours a day, and average 160,000 kilometres a year.
Congressman, actor Rob Lowe push for plug-in car tax breaks
The chairman of the House global warming committee and actor Rob Lowe called for tax incentives for hybrid owners to convert their vehicles to plug-ins. To tout the effort, the pair tooled around Capitol Hill today in a plug-in hybrid Toyota Prius surrounded by photographers and camera crews. U.S. Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., held a hearing to tout his proposal to offer hybrid owners a 35 percent tax break to convert their hybrids to plug-ins.
Honda Civic Hybrid: the latest model
Honda's hybrid technology has come a long way since the Insight in 2001. The two-seat Insight was an expensive, rather odd-looking thing, with performance and handling best described as interesting. The Civic Hybrid that followed in 2003 was a huge step forward and the second generation, petrol-electric Civic launched last year raises the bar again. Fuel economy has been pegged back even further, but by far and away the biggest appreciable difference is in the packaging of the car.
2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid: What’s New
Along with the similar Ford Escape/Escape Hybrid, Mercury's Mariner duo has been updated extensively for the 2008 model year. Sheetmetal changes are teamed with powertrain changes under the Hybrid model's skin to make it sleeker and more efficient than the first generation vehicle that's being retired. Changes you can see include the new sheetmetal up front. The new hood has what designers call a bigger "forehead," referring to the surface at the hood's leading edge.
Test Drive: Altima hybrid offers a carload of fun, some shakes
Nissan finally began offering a fuel-saving, low-polluting, gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle in the U.S. earlier this year, some six years after rivals Honda and Toyota pioneered the technology here. While pledging to have a Nissan-developed hybrid, as well as a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle, in U.S. showrooms in 2010, Nissan is marking time with an Altima midsize sedan powered by rival Toyota's hybrid system. It's also used in the Toyota Camry hybrid.
2008 Ford Escape Hybrid: new look inside and out with performance and safety improvements
The Ford Escape Hybrid is still the cleanest and most fuel-efficient SUV in the world, combining the fuel economy and emissions benefits of a full hybrid with the go-anywhere capability, toughness and spaciousness of the Ford Escape – America’s favorite small SUV. For 2008, The Ford Escape Hybrid combines a fresh new look, inside and out, with infotainment and safety features, a choice of two hybrid-specific upgrade packages and four new exterior colors.
Road test: Honda Civic Hybrid
These Japanese motoring giants seem set to be joined by more and more car-makers in producing hybrids, which are now being viewed as a viable economic alternative. Let's do the sums: The Honda Civic ES CVT Hybrid costs £16,300 and offers fuel economy of 61.4mpg. Thought that fuel figure might grab your attention. The two-tier futuristic dashboard display will be instantly familiar to drivers of the regular Honda Civic.
Ford and SCE to Advance Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles
Ford Motor Co. and Southern California Edison (SCE) are combining resources to explore ways to make plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) more accessible to consumers, reduce petroleum-related emissions and improve the cost-effectiveness of the nation's electricity grid. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle technologies are not yet competitive due primarily to the high cost of advanced batteries. Ford and SCE will explore whether these batteries have other uses that could reduce their cost to consumers.
