German Carmaker Porsche to Develop Hybrid Version Posted 2007-07-23 12:19:53 tags: RumorPorsche(suggest tag) Citing rising environmental concerns among car buyers, German luxury sports car-maker Porsche said Monday it's developing a hybrid drivetrain for its Cayenne SUV to drastically cut fuel consumption. In a statement issued at its headquarters in Stuttgart, Porsche said its aim was to achieve average fuel consumption of 8.9 liters (2.35 gallons) per 100 kilometers (62 miles). ... Read the article(report dead link) :: Permalink :: View blog reactions
Study Demonstrates Environmental Benefits of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles Posted 2007-07-23 12:18:26 tags: Plug-InStudyEmissions(suggest tag) A comprehensive study conducted by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) shows that widespread use of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) can decrease both air pollution and greenhouse gasses. The study, which assessed the effect of increasing PHEVs in the U.S. fleet of light- and medium-duty vehicles from 2010 to 2050, was funded by FirstEnergy Corp. and more than a dozen utilities and organizations around the U.S. It was released today. ... Read the article(report dead link) :: Permalink :: View blog reactions
Mariner hybrid redeems Mercury Posted 2007-07-23 12:14:04 tags: ReviewMercury(suggest tag) With smoke from nearby forest and brush fires clouding the International Speedway here, I retreated to my hotel room to breathe filtered air and write this confession. It is a simple matter: Ford is right, and I am wrong. It apparently makes perfect sense for Ford to hold on to its Mercury Division, the elimination of which I have advocated for several years. It makes even more sense for Mercury to target women in its product development and marketing strategies. ... Read the article(report dead link) :: Permalink :: View blog reactions
Japan's Toyota Motor says quake impacts output of 55,000 vehicles Posted 2007-07-23 12:12:44 tags: ToyotaBusiness(suggest tag) Japan's Toyota Motor Corp said Monday production of around 55,000 vehicles has been affected as a result of a temporary shutdown in its operations in the wake of last week's powerful earthquake. Damage from the quake caused some parts suppliers, including Riken Corp to halt output of key engine components. ... Read the article(report dead link) :: Permalink :: View blog reactions
Best Hypermilers From Across America Compete in MPG Challenge - Top Drivers Achieve 60 to 168 MPG Posted 2007-07-22 21:22:55 tags: EfficiencyAwardPress Release(suggest tag) Today at Hybridfest 2007, the nation’s largest hybrid car festival, 35 drivers competed in the second annual Hybridfest MPG Challenge, with the top drivers achieving 60 to 168 miles per gallon (MPG), over a 26-mile open course. Novice to expert hypermilers competed to achieve maximum fuel efficiency. Each driver’s goal was to achieve the best percentage over the EPA’s estimates for their vehicle, within their division. ... Read the article(report dead link) :: Permalink :: View blog reactions
Another reason to buy a hybrid car Posted 2007-07-22 21:19:09 tags: StudyEmissions(suggest tag) Two environmental research groups estimate in a new study that widespread use of hybrid cars that plug into household outlets for recharging would equate to removing more than 80 million passenger cars from the nation's roads, reducing air pollution and saving oil. But while several automakers are experimenting with "plug-in" hybrids, technical hurdles remain to make them commercially-viable, especially producing an affordable battery. ... Read the article(report dead link) :: Permalink :: View blog reactions
Hybrid Highway Posted 2007-07-22 21:18:24 tags: AdoptionBusinessStudy(suggest tag) Rental car customers are willing to pay more green to drive "green." An
overwhelming majority of respondents from a priceline.com survey say they
want rental car companies to offer hybrid vehicles and almost half say they
would be willing to pay a premium for their "green" rental. Rental car companies have taken note of this information and are rapidly expanding their fleets to include hybrid vehicles. ... Read the article(report dead link) :: Permalink :: View blog reactions
Hybrid electric vehicles help reduce greenhouse emissions: study Posted 2007-07-22 21:16:22 tags: Plug-InStudyEmissions(suggest tag) Greenhouse emissions will be greatly reduced if car owners switch to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, according to a new study released Thursday. The study looked at what would happen when plug-in hybrid electric vehicles -- which recharge from conventional electrical outlets and use gas tanks as a backup power source -- shift emissions from cars' tailpipes to utility grids. ... Read the article(report dead link) :: Permalink :: View blog reactions
Hall engineer is plugged in to go green Posted 2007-07-22 21:13:25 tags: EditorialPlug-In(suggest tag) For many motorists, 75 cents and 100 miles per gallon of gasoline would be a dream. For Oakwood resident Alan Shedd, it's a reality. For nearly six months, Shedd, an engineer with Jackson Electric Membership Corp., has been testing his company's plug-in hybrid electric Toyota Prius, one of the first of its kind. As part of a two-year research project, sponsored by Cooperative Research Network, Shedd and a team of engineers converted a hybrid Toyota Prius into a plug-in, gasoline-electric hybrid.
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Toyota: ‘08 Camry Hybrid $1,000 Cheaper Than ‘07 Posted 2007-07-22 21:11:08 tags: ToyotaPricing(suggest tag) Toyota announced pricing on its 2008 Camry and Camry Hybrid 07Camrytoday. Both go on sale next month, with no significant changes from the 2007 versions of the bestseller. (New option packages are available.) ... The big news, Toyota says, is that the 2008 Camry Hybrid will be $1,000 less, with a starting price of $25,200. That’s down 3.7 percent, Toyota says, from the 2007 version. ... Read the article(report dead link) :: Permalink :: View blog reactions
Silicon Valley makes Prius No. 1 Posted 2007-07-22 21:10:19 tags: ToyotaSales(suggest tag) Toyota's Prius hybrid has become the bestselling car in Silicon Valley. Through May, 1,627 Prius registrations have been recorded in Santa Clara County, according to R.L. Polk. That puts the Prius ahead of Toyota's Camry and Corolla and Honda's Accord and Civic, all cars that outsell the high-mileage, gas-electric sedan nationwide. Locally, the Prius was No. 5 behind those models last year. ... Read the article(report dead link) :: Permalink :: View blog reactions
Plug-in hybrids seen as vehicles for change Posted 2007-07-20 09:39:50 tags: EditorialPlug-In(suggest tag) The widespread use of plug-in hybrid vehicles — which could be driven up to 40 miles on electric power alone — would significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the United States without overloading the nation's power grid, according to a new study. The upbeat news for plug-ins, seen by many as the next big step in environmentally friendly automotive technology, came with two caveats. Achieving the maximum air quality improvements would require a significant cut in the pollution produced by electric utilities. ... Read the article(report dead link) :: Permalink :: View blog reactions
