| Hybrid CarsHybrid cars, hybrid trucks and hybrid SUVs, including plug-in hybrid vehicles, plus a hybrid vehicle buyers club. Check out the HybridCarBlog for information on the costs of hybrid cars, the fuel efficiency of hybrid cars and much more. If it is about hybrid cars or plug-in hybrid vehicles, then we cover it. | | |
| Obama - Just as much about big oil as Bush |
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| Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:47:00 +0000 |
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 Just code for petroleum?
Watched the overly dramatized, although very fascinating, Food Inc. last night, and I was left with two over-whelming thoughts: 1.) Is health care reform a joke when high fructose corn syrup is subsidized by the government, and 2.) Isn't ethanol simply code for big oil?
In the US, most foods and many products can in some way trace some of their roots back to corn and, consequently, petroleum. Ultimately, America's corny economy isn't just killing the US health care system, according to Food Inc., it also uses vast amounts of petroleum. And, as many scientists have suggested, if it takes as much, or more, petroleum to displace petroleum via ethanol, what's the gain, aside from massive subsidies for the politically powerful corn lobbies, cheap fast food, and low-cost labor?
Yet, President Obama has been as big a proponent of ethanol as President Bush was of big oil, but is there really any difference? Isn't over-dependence upon ethanol just as bad, if not worse, than over-dependence upon petroleum? |
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| Lutz - More GM hybrids on the way |
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| Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:18:00 +0000 |
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 The Sierra hybrid
Due to consumer demand, GM has no intention of abandoning its production of large trucks and SUVs, however, a greater portion of them will be hybrid vehicles Bob Lutz told the AP.
However, the hybrid move isn't necessarily some new vision coming out of GM. Rather GM is making the move to meet new CAFE requirements. |
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| Trucks and the irrelevance of hybrid and electric cars |
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| Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:17:00 +0000 |
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 The most important vehicle in America?
In February, Ford sold almost 33,000 Ford F Series trucks, making it the top selling vehicle in America, by far. Of the top 3 selling vehicles, 2 were trucks. Inevitably, day after day, month after month, year after year, and decade after decade, large trucks dominate the top of US auto sales.
Nonetheless, while the bread and butter of the Big 3, the 17 mpg all-American truck is killing America.
Fortunately, a few years ago, GM made a pretty smart move and added hybrid technology to its trucks. Unfortunately, despite big increases in fuel economy, especially in city traffic (although how many really need a truck in city driving?), sales for hybrid trucks, such as the Chevy Silverado hybrid, have been almost non-existent because of the significant upfront costs.
Of course, sales for the Chevy Volt range extended electric car will be much better than GM's hybrid trucks. Still, it might take more than a decade for the Volt to achieve even a third of the sales the F Series is currently achieving and possibly far longer.
While the development of small hybrid and electric cars is critical, isn't it time to put more energy into the real problem? |
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| 2012: The Fordaizening of hybrid cars |
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| Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:13:00 +0000 |
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 Is it real this time?
Several years ago I had such hopes for Ford, particularly its couple hundred thousand hybrid cars per year by 2010 plans, including unique and new vehicles, such as the Reflex hybrid pictured here.
Instead, Ford sold 30,000 hybrids last year. Toyota sold 500,000.
Fortunately, that Ford is gone. Yesterday's Ford died when it went into bankruptcy, along with the rest of the Big 3.
Finish: 2012 - The Fordaizening of hybrid cars |
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| Great time to crash a Toyota! |
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| Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:48:00 +0000 |
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 The car did it
Contrary to popular opinion, now is the greatest time ever to own a Toyota. Today you can talk and text while driving. You might even be able to get away with drunk driving, just make sure you're only drinking vodka, or something that doesn't stink too much. Even better, get a little kinky while cruising down the road.
No worries these days, at least as long as you own a Toyota, of course. If you get in a crash, no one will question you once they see you drive a Toyota.
And, when you're tired of your car, or can no longer afford the payments....... |
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| Peak oil in 2014 according to Kuwaiti researchers |
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| Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:18:00 +0000 |
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 And the decline is set to begin?
Researchers from Kuwait University and from Kuwait Oil Company are predicting that world conventional crude oil production is set to peak in 2014. Using a new multicycle Hubbert Model, the scientists evaluated the oil production trends of 47 major oil-producing countries and came up with their 2014 forecast. |
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| America's only hope for energy independence? |
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| Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:18:00 +0000 |
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 Only fuel cell hybrids can save us?
Most these days claim fuel cells are a dream, but are America's plans for energy independence or serious reductions in global warming emissions any less of a dream?
Study after study demonstrates the fickleness of consumers towards embracing hybrid cars, especially plug-in versions. Likewise, according to most studies, achieving energy independence and serious reductions in global warming emissions via battery-powered vehicles requires gas prices as high as $7.00 or $8.00. Ironically, at such prices, most consumers would buy cheaper cars, not more expensive plug-in versions, studies have suggested.
More important, however, what are the chances of selling such a gas tax to America, or a robust enough cap and trade plan? It seems neither has any chance, despite the overwhelming evidence indicating the need for either one or both. Ultimately, Americans want everything without giving up anything.
Certainly, the key might not be fuel cell hybrids; however, can anything other than a major technological breakthrough - a dream - save America? Equally important, is there any chance America can achieve any such breakthrough without a leap of faith forward?
When America decided to reach the moon, for instance, our leaders didn't ask if it was possible, we had to make the impossible, possible. Is clean energy independence any different? |
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| America loaded with hybrid-loving rare earth metals |
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| Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:42:00 +0000 |
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 Time to start mining
Within a decade, American companies could run out of rare earth metals - essential materials for hybrid cars, wind turbines, computers, etc. - if China follows through on plans to stop rare earth exports according to experts.
Yet, one of the biggest rare earth metal deposits probably exists right here in America, but no one is mining these metals seriously because of the upfront costs needed to develop a separation plant to process these metals. According to experts, such a plant would cost about $1 billion dollars and require about 8 years to implement.
Even worse, since China is keeping the price of rare earths artificially low, competition is difficult to justify without direct government help. |
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| Another speeding Prius |
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| Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:10:00 +0000 |
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 An unintended 94 mph
Yesterday, a Southern California man claimed to have experienced sudden acceleration in his 2008 Toyota Prius. For some 30 miles James Sikes could not slow his 94 mph Prius.
After passing another car on the freeway, Sikes said the gas pedal stuck and the car just kept accelerating. Putting full pressure on the brakes did nothing to slow the Prius which "just kept accelerating". While unintentionally accelerating, Sikes drove the car with one hand while trying to remove the floor mat and even trying to work the gas pedal lose, but that didn't work either.
After a fruitless 911 call, a CHP officer pulled alongside the man and instructed him to put on the emergency brake while depressing the brakes, bringing the car's speed down to 55 mph, at which point the officer told Sikes to shut off the car.
In a later report, Sikes said he would have shut off the car earlier, but he was worried about losing the power steering.
Related: InsideLine calls Sikes story "BS" |
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| ABC altered evidence against Toyota on recalls? Not even the half of it |
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| Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:19:00 +0000 |
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 Purely seeking drama for ratings?
After days of questions about whether ABC altered evidence in an important report the TV station ran on the Toyota 'unintended acceleration' recalls, and seized upon by Congress, were 'doctored', finally an answer. Turns out the automaker used fake footage to dramatize their story, as Gawker.com states was used to "make it look scarier."(tip via KickingTires)
But faked drama isn't even the real story today. Before Congress experts questioned the entire premise put forth by David W. Gilbert, an automotive technology professor at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and ABC's key expert.
Chris Gerdes, director of Stanford University's Center for Automotive Research, and a consulting firm, Exponent Inc., "said the professor had tampered with wiring to create electronic glitches that could never occur on the road."
Likewise, the same tampering could achieve the same effects in many other cars, and was achieved using both the Subaru Outback and the Ford Fusion. |
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| Accenture: Fuel economy not enough to mainstream hybrids and EVs |
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| Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:44:00 +0000 |
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 60 percent want hybrids to be superior in every way
According to a new Accenture Study taken in the US, Canada, Germany, France and Italy, 6 out 10 consumers will only buy a hybrid when it is "superior to gasoline-only models in every way." Likewise, just 36 percent of consumers cited higher gas prices as a reason to buy a hybrid or electric car.
Unfortunately, according to the survey, "those that have driven a hybrid or electric vehicle rate fuel efficiency as being very good to excellent, but most rate the ride, performance, style and maintenance as good at best."
Thus, Accenture concludes that automakers will need to "achieve competitive differentiation, " such as "distinctive capabilities, particularly around safety, environmental protection and entertainment” to achieve mainstream success with hybrid and electric vehicles.
On a side note, of the 42 percent that are willing to buy a hybrid or EV in the next few years, 80 percent are interested in hybrid cars rather than electric vehicles. |
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| VW Touareg hybrid a "home run"? |
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| Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:23:00 +0000 |
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 But what about the price?
The Volkswagen Touareg hybrid, VW's first hybrid vehicle, is a "home run" and "its technology a considerable advancement for hybrids in general" according to MotorTrend. But why?
Is it the diesel hybrid technology that most impresses MT? The 375 horsepower or the 425 feet of torque? Maybe it's the 7700 pounds of towing capability?
MT never defines exactly what makes this hybrid such an "advancement". And, unfortunately, we've heard such sentiment from MT before regarding GM and Chrysler's dual mode hybrids, for instance. However, the price of dual mode hybrids has simply been too expensive, too cos-ineffective for most consumers.
The VW Touareg might be a technological home run, but if it isn't cost-effective, then it'll only be a single or double, at best, in the real world. |
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| Luxury hybrids gone crazy |
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| Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:49:00 +0000 |
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 Well, I guess it's green
Dang, has the selection of hybrid cars increased significantly in just the last few days. Porsche, Maserati, Ferrari have all confirmed plans to produce new hybrid vehicles.
Of course, those were just some of the top end hybrids, Audi, Mercedes, BMW and Infinity, for instance, also announced new hybrids during the course of the Geneva Motor Show.
But do any of these hybrids really mean anything in terms of advancing hybrid technology to the masses?
Sure, rich people can keep their rich toys and sleep soundly at night knowing that they have reduced their carbon footprint a bit. Unfortunately, however, even if you combine all these hybrids and their sale's potential, they still don't offer any scale for bringing hybrid vehicle costs down for the rest of us. |
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| Toyota Prius World Car of the Year Finalist |
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| Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:23:00 +0000 |
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 One of three Finalists
The Toyota Prius, Mercedes Benz E Class, and the Volkswagen Polo have been chosen as the 3 Finalists for the World Car of the Year to be announced April 1st at the New York Auto Show.
The Prius, along with the Honda Insight, is also up for the World Green Car of the Year. |
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| Toyota Prius deals already over? |
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| Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:19:00 +0000 |
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 Back to MSRP
A few weeks ago, as a blood thirsty Congress began to really tear into Toyota, many Toyota dealers were willing to cut up to $1500 off MSRP on a new Toyota Prius, but those days appear to be ending.
In February, despite the recalls and mountains of bad press, Prius sales were still up 10 percent year on year in the US, and the Prius was still the top selling vehicle in Japan.
Certainly, you might still be able to find deals in some markets a bit longer, but in hot markets like the LA area, most good deals have probably already been made. |
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| Lutz out, new Prius-fighting hybrids in? |
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| Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:46:00 +0000 |
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 Time to take on the Prius
I've met GM's Bob Lutz a number of times, and I've largely been in awe of the guy every time, even though I've never really agreed with him on hardly any issue. Consequently, I'm glad that Mr. Lutz is retiring.
It's not that Lutz didn't do a lot of great things for GM, he did. Still, his hatred of the Toyota Prius - envy deep down inside I bet - was a constant topic around Lutz for many years, and Lutz's views cast a huge shadow upon GM.
Some time back, before Michael Jordan retired the second time, but before the third retirement, Coach Pat Riley stated that no one would dethrone the Chicago Bulls until Jordan left the game.
In my over-exagerated opinion, Lutz was GM's Michael Jordan, and he would have never allowed GM to produce a hybrid to directly take on the Prius. Such a vehicle, unfortunately, would confirm that GM was wrong regarding the Prius and hybrid cars oh so many years ago.
Instead, Lutz was always focused on beating the Prius, proving the whole "science experiment", as Lutz often called the Prius, wrong. That Lutzian desire led to the 'cheaper' BAS hybrid, the 'more technologically advanced' dual mode hybrid, and finally to the Chevy Volt.
Yet, as GM has sold thousands of hybrids over that time, Toyota has sold millions.
Just as disappointing, the truth is, the Volt is not going to challenge the Prius either. OK. Maybe the Volt will challenge the plug-in Prius version of the Prius, but that's it, as both plug-in hybrids are destined to remain low volume vehicles for years, maybe even a decade. Ironically, however, according to the experts, GM might have again missed the mark by putting too big of a battery pack in the Volt to ever be cost-effective without a major breakthrough in lithium battery technologies.
By no means does that mean the Volt was a mistake. It simply means it's not enough, especially in the short term. For the next 10 - 20 years, conventional hybrid vehicles like Prius are going to far outsell plug-ins like the Chevy Volt, and GM needs a more well-rounded hybrid portfolio until the Volt achieves its potential.
Of course, in no way does Lutz's retirement mean new Prius-fighting hybrids are coming from GM, but at least it seems like a legitimate possibility now, especially considering the never-ending shakeup taking place at GM. |
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| $7.00 gas only way to curb global warming emissions? |
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| Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:14:00 +0000 |
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 Harvard's eye-popping study
To reach President Obama's global warming emission's cuts, according to a new Harvard study, gas prices will have to reach $7.00 per gallon.
Sadly, tax credits for hybrid cars and EVs were not seen as an effective path towards reducing emissions, as such tax credits can actually make people drive more according to the soon-to-be-released study.
However, if actions are not taken, vehicle miles traveled, and therefore emissions, are expected to increase 30 percent between now and 2030. |
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| The Geneva hybrid vehicle show, kind of |
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| Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:17:00 +0000 |
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 But is it all just hype?
Auto shows and hybrid cars. It's the norm, right?
So far the Geneva Auto Show has seemed a bit like a hybrid festival, particularly with the debuts of Porsche and Ferrari hybrids sucking up a lot of press.
But what do these hybrids really mean? Not much.
Probably the most important debut thus far has been Toyota's Auris hybrid, since it's actually production ready, but if it isn't much cheaper than the Prius, can the Auris hybrid really conquest many more hybrid buyers?
Likewise, Hyundai's diesel hybrid i flow concept certainly makes Hyundai's hybrid plans look more compelling. Still, hybrids are already too expensive for most buyers, can diesel hybrids really change that, even in diesel-loving Europe?
None of that means the Geneva Auto Show is a hybrid disappointment, but one of these years a legitimate show-stopper would be nice. I'll keep my fingers crossed for now. |
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| Other automakers just as culpable as Toyota? |
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| Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:43:00 +0000 |
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 Congress = Clueless? Reactionary? Complicit?
"If you look at the entire market size and fleet size of Toyota, I think they were the largest fleet during that time period as well. If you look at it on a per capita basis, I think our investigators and the data shows that while they had more sudden acceleration incidents, their actual comparison to the rest of the fleet was actually unremarkable. They had the same percentage of sudden acceleration issues as other manufacturers. They just had more of them because they have more cars."
- NHTSA Administrator David Strickland, during questioning from Senator Tom Udall (D-NM).
To which Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) responded,
“I think we should be honest with ourselves, if it
is an industry problem, we should hear from the industry, not just from Toyota”.
So, who in Congress knew this and when did they know it? Which other automakers knew what and when? |
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| Daimler to help Build Your Dreams |
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| Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:57:00 +0000 |
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 Chinese manufactured hybrids coming soon?
Ready for Chinese made vehicles? Of course you're not, but would a $15,000 Prius-like hybrid, or a $25,000 Chevy Volt-like plug-in - branded by Mercedes Benz - change your mind?
Perhaps not, but I'd bet such vehicles could pique the attention of many Americans, and such hybrids and plug-in vehicles are now closer to reality thanks to a new partnership between Daimler and BYD.
BYD's battery experience, location to critical supplies and availability of cheap labor, coupled with Daimler's experience, might not ever mean much outside of China, but the potential of such a venture cannot be denied, or ignored.
Chinese-made battery packs for American cars are inevitable, and Chinese made hybrid cars won't be far behind. |
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| Prius sales UP 10 percent in February |
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| Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:32:00 +0000 |
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 A ray of hope?
Just about spit out my coffee when I saw February's sales numbers for the Toyota Prius. Up 10 percent.
Sure, Toyota dealers were willing to shave up to $1500 off MSRP, but in light of the recalls, up 10 percent is surprising. Down 10 percent would have been less surprising.
So, I guess the question becomes, where do Prius incentives go from here, if there are any more Prius incentives? |
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| Study - Chevy Volt wrong path to plug-in success? |
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| Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:43:00 +0000 |
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 40 miles of EV range the wrong approach?
Over that last few years a number of battery studies have suggested that, based on current lithium-ion technologies, small-battery plug-in hybrids offer the most compelling overall case to consumers in terms of performance and cost-effectiveness.
Obviously, this flies in the face of not just the Chevy Volt and it's 40 miles of EV range, but also the government's entire plug-in tax credit program, something Hybridcarblog has asserted since the program was conceived, most recently in Does the government have battery-powered cars all wrong?
A new study by UC-Davis also concludes that small battery plug-in hybrids seem to make the most sense not just technologically, but also for consumers, making the government's "4.0 kWh lower limit on battery size difficult to reconcile" according to the researchers. |
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| Ford 25 percent hybrid and EV by 2020 |
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| Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:05:00 +0000 |
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 Just the beginning
By 2020 Ford believes that 10 - 25 percent of its global fleet will be hybrid and plug-ins, with hybrid cars making up the majority of sales. To highlight this new potential, Ford will use the Geneva Motor show to roll out two new hybrids, a plug-in hybrid and two EVs, reports the DetroitNews.
Unfortunately, neither of these new hybrid vehicles will hit the market until 2012, which seems to hint that Ford will use lithium-ion batteries in these new hybrids - something Ford has alluded to in the past.
Regardless, pretty aggressive numbers based on Ford's hybrid history, and that's definitely good news. |
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