Hybrid Digest For The Week Ending Friday 07/06/2007
High Gas Prices Driving Hybrid Demand Every once in a while, an article comes along that illuminates everything and we're compelled, no, wait, required, to stop and ponder the mystery that has been revealed. This was not one of them.
Lawsuits Ahoy A disgruntled musician has sued Honda over his hybrid Civic's mileage (32 mpg). We think it's time for him to stop riding the brakes.
Nissan to introduce newest hybrid car technology
... Nissan Motor Co. CEO Carlos Ghosn, who has been given credit for completely revitalizing and saving Nissan from complete failure back in 2001 or so, indicated yesterday that the company he leads is working hard to develop the next generation of smaller, lighter auto batteries. This move will make Nissan (hopefully) more competitive in the technology field that is sure to be used more and more in the future for not only auto batteries, but 100% electric-powered vehicles as well.
Toyota Memo Raises Concerns Over Plug-in Conversions
... Based on Argonne National Lab testing of two converted Prius hybrids to PHEVs -- the Hymotion and Energy CS PHEV conversions -- both generate significantly higher NOx and total HC emissions when compared to a stock Prius. This is particularly evident after cold start, when Prius emissions are virtually zero. (See the attached chart.) This raises the question of whether the government should be paying people to make their cars dirtier?
Porsche Cayenne, Panamera getting hybrid power
Automakers and legislators in Europe are tightening the screws on CO2 emissions, and Porsche may turn to hybrid powertrains for the Cayenne and Panamera to meet a proposed 130 gram per kilometer limit. Bosch and Audi are reported partners in the effort to bring a gasoline/electric system to the Cayenne before 2010, with the Panamera falling in line, as well.
Jump-start a secure, clean energy future with plug-in hybrid vehicles
... That future also includes plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which Toyota, General Motors, Ford and others say they will soon produce. A regular gas-electric hybrid, such as the Prius, can get up to 50 miles per gallon. A PHEV, with a larger battery that can be recharged at night, will get over 100 mpg. And if gasoline in a PHEV is supplemented with Northwest biodiesel, the miles per gasoline gallon jump even higher.
Cadillac Looks to Hybrid Future
Officials from General Motors Cadillac Division have confirmed the automaker is considering the feasibility of offering a hybrid powertrain in all of its future products. Cadillac spokesman Kevin Smith said given the current regulatory and fuel-prices environment, the only prudent policy is too look at all possible powertrain options for vehicles that are now in the planning process. The effort will include looking at whether hybrid powertrains make sense for any or all of Cadillac's future vehicles, said John Howell product planning manager.
Three Reasons You Should Hate the Prius
There are good points and bad points for every technology, and for the most part, I focus on the good points of hybrids. But for this post, let's take a look at the bad points.
1. If you drive like you always do, you'll never get those EPA numbers.
2. Toyota gets to look like the good guy in automaker circles. But really, they are no better or worse than the others.
3. Hybrid Electric Cars may not be the best choice for you.
Peugeot comes up with diesel Hybrid 308
PEUGEOT will offer a diesel hybrid version of its new 308, but it won't appear until about two years following the arrival of the 307's replacement in the autumn. Peugeot says its diesel hybrid will have fuel economy of around 4 L/100 km and have the lowest carbon dioxide emissions of any car other than a pure electric.
High Gas Prices Driving Hybrid Demand
It is no surprise that a look at the top-10 vehicles consumers shopped in May were dominated by vehicles offering hybrids or better fuel efficiency when you consider gas prices reached an all-time high of $3.19/gallon in May. Out of the top-10 vehicles shopped, six of them offer hybrid models.
Toyota Prius: Where's the hybrid love?
While the US and Britain have embraced hybrid cars, Australia is lagging a long way behind. The world's first mass-produced hybrid vehicle, the Toyota Prius, was launched in Japan in 1997. It reached North America, Europe and here in 2000. The company now makes hybrid minivans, SUVs, rear-wheel-drive sedans and other vehicles. Last month, Toyota announced the sale of its one millionth hybrid worldwide while Toyota Australia set a monthly record of 380 Prius sales.
Series Hybrid Signifies Electricfying Changes
At a recent electric drive conference in Brussels1, a display included a Toyota illustration of how a plug-in hybrid combines the advantages of BEV and HEV. A plug-in hybrid shares the advantage of a Battery-powered all-Electric Vehicles in that it has a more efficient, electric drive and, as a grid-able vehicle, it can use an infrastructure that exists throughout all developed countries, and increasing the power comes from renewable resources.
How Popular Is The Prius? Uh, Very
Automakers released June sales numbers today, and its gives us a chance to see how things are faring after half of 2007. And the continuing and growing success of the Prius hybrid is worth noting. Toyota dealers have sold nearly 100,000 Priuses so far this year. (94,503 actually.) That’s nearly double from the 48,156 sold in Jan-June 2006. In June, Toyota sold 17,756 Prius models, up 76% from the number sold in June 2006.
Hybrid hype rings true with Escape
At the risk of sounding like a broken record -- a very broken record -- I'm going to say it again: I have a hard time seeing the point of owning an SUV in the city of Chicago. They guzzle gas. They take up too much space. And I usually only see one person, the driver, in them at any given time. But, I believe I have finally found The One. The 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid not only is compact but also gets gas mileage that bests most sedans.
Daimler-Chrysler to unveil first diesel hybrid bus
Stuttgart - DaimlerChrysler will unveil the first prototype of the diesel-electric hybrid bus this year, the company has announced. The prototype, based on the Citaro G bus, will enable emission-free operation in battery-only mode. Series production is planned for 2009. "The new hybrid drive Citaro is an important step towards cost efficient and zero-emission driving," said Andreas Renschler, DaimlerChrysler board member responsible for trucks and buses.
Saturn Aura Green Line is affordable
The gasoline-electric hybrid car with the lowest starting price in America is no longer a Toyota or a Honda. It’s the Saturn Aura Green Line sedan. This newest version of the mid-size, five-passenger Aura retains the handsome looks and commendable handling of a regular Aura while combining a 164-horsepower, 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine with electric motor assist — all for a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, of $22,695.
Council Supports Campaign For Plug-In Hybrid Cars
Future steps to make Long Beach a more environmentally-friendly city may include cars that are even more fuel efficient than traditional hybrids. Known as Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), the cars would reduce the pollution emitted from the city’s fleet of cars, trucks, motorcycles and other equipment. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night in favor of partnering with a national campaign to support the use of PHEVs.
Hybrid owner sues Honda over 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 on the highway -- True plunked down $28,470, at least $7,000 more for a comparable nonhybrid Civic EX. But after 6,000 miles of driving, True said he averaged 32 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. So in March, True, an Ontario, Calif., professional jazz piano player, filed a class-action lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Riverside, Calif., in what appears to be the first legal challenge of the mileage claims of hybrid vehicles.
