Yukon Hybrid Gets Super Bowl Ad

Edmunds Inside Line notes the internal debate is over and the GMC Yukon Hybrid will get GM's only in game Superbowl ad this year. It will be a sixty second spot in the second quarter.

The debate centered around the three new hybrid vehicle types (Yukon, Chevy Malibu or Saturn Vue Hybrid). With the Yukon actually shipping out now, GM felt good about advertising it.

According to adweek, the ad will be a 'sober' look at the capabilities of the Yukon hybrid. It will trumpet innovation, not 'hijinks.'

The ad aims to show consumers that they don't have to compromise the advantages of a large vehicle, including towing capacity and space, to get improved gas mileage per the hybrid technology.

It's being called "Why Push?" and and the tagline is "Never say never."

GMC wants to push back against the hybrid image (i.e. the Prius image) and let people know there are big hybrids out there.

GMC is delivering the GMC Yukon and Chevy Tahoe Hybrids to dealers now. But don't expect to see a lot of big hybrids any time soon. According to at least one story I've seen, Chevy is only planning on building 1,500 of them the first year.

Update: here's the superbowl ad from myspace.


Hybrids are no stranger to the Big Game. Ford tried to build a little good will by teaming up Kermit and the Escape Hybrid.


And Toyota advertised the Prius in 2005 and the Camry Hybrid in 2006.

Boston Legal Knows Nothing About Hybrids

I hate talking about this. I hate bad science being passed off as legitimate concerns. I know there are legitimate criticisms of hybrid cars out there, but I also know that this particular argument is just plain wrong. It has been proven wrong again and again and was even retracted by the company that made the claim in the first place. But it keeps popping back up.

What am I talking about? The CNW Marketing 'study' labeled "Dust-to-Dust: The Energy Costs of New Vehicles from Concept to Disposal." In case you missed it, the study claims that Hummers use up less energy than Prius do over the lifetime of a car.

Of course, such a comparison made people stop and look. And the story popped up on plenty of blogs, some newspaper articles (usually amateur ones) and I spent some time refuting the claims when and where I could. It was very depressing at the time to see these people being fooled by such foolishness.

And now the claims have been made on a prime time show, 'Boston Legal.' And, of course, many people are concerned such an outlet for bad science can lead people down the wrong path. Once again, I will say there are legitimate concerns about hybrid cars and they should be addressed. This dust to dust assumption piece was just wrong.

To see what Boston Legal said, here's an excerpt from youtube (I found this excerpt via ABG).

I'm not going to go into why these claims are foolish. It's already been refuted again and again:
(hybridcars.com, Pacific Institute, ABG, Toyota has even posted about it).

I know it's only a TV show, but more often than not, people are influenced by these shows because they have other things on their mind. They don't have the time or they don't care enough about these sorts of side issues to take the time to check on these types of stories (just as the writers of Boston Legal didn't bother to check the facts before using these sorts of bogus facts in the first place).

Hopefully, I won't be bringing this up again, but that's one of the downsides of the web. Everything is archived. There's no right or wrong placed on what's stored and what's left behind. So, we'll be seeing this story again.

Bush and the State of the Union

Last year, in his State of the Union Address, Bush outlined his Twenty in Ten plan, in which the US would cut gasoline consumption by 20 percent over the next ten years. He wanted to increase the supply of renewable fuels and he wanted to reform CAFE. There was a lot of tough talk on how America is addicted to oil and it was time to do something about it.

Then, when Congress tried to pass both measures in the Energy Bill late last year, he threatened to veto it. Eventually, the Bill passed with stronger standards than Bush wanted. But then he (in the form of EPA boss Johnson) used the new CAFE standard to reject the waiver needed by California to enact their own stricter standards.

This year, President Bush focused in on more money for advanced batteries and renewable fuels. Bush also endorsed a new international agreement to reverse the growth of greenhouse gases, as long as China and India are included. But it's easy to see why some would be skeptical about these proposals coming from Bush in his last year as President.

There were a few other proposals tucked in that are of interest to the auto industry. These measures will indirectly affect the hybrid car market, if they are followed up on.

President Bush called for Congress to make permanent the tax cuts enacted in his first term, including a phase out of the estate tax by 2010. He also wants to approve free trade agreements, including one with S. Korea, which would be an important shift for car makers.

Chevy Tahoe Hybrid Arriving in Dealerships: May Not Be Near You

The Chevy Tahoe Hybrid is beginning to show up in dealerships. This story accentuates the scarcity by noting that only one dealership in northwest Arkansas has received the Tahoe Hybrid so far. GM is hoping to sell 10,000 units of the Yukon Hybrid and Tahoe Hybrid in combined sales.

The Tahoe Hybrid is built using the dual mode hybrid system co-developed by BMW and DaimlerChrysler. The EPA rated the fuel economy as 21 mpg city, 22 mpg highway for the 2WD; 20 mpg city/20 mpg highway for the 4WD model. The Tahoe Hybrid and Yukon Hybrid are being built in Arlington, Texas, while the two-mode engine is built in Baltimore. It's MSRP has been set at over $50,000.

The Tahoe Hybrid won 2008 Green Car of the Year and was nominated for Truck of the Year.

Wired, Lutz and the Chevy Volt

Bob Lutz, vice chairmen of GM global product development, has been interviewed a lot by various news outlets, bloggers and online services about the Chevy Volt. Wired took their series of interviews and compiled them into one comprehensive interview.

And despite how I feel about the overhyping of the Volt, I know that people are interested in where the Chevy Volt is and whether GM can do what they say. So, here's what I got out of the Wired interviews.

The biggest news is an update on the possible price tag. Although Lutz wanted a price tag around $30,000, his internal team is saying they can't do it, at least on the first generation. Currently, the range for the price is hovering somewhere between $30 and $40,000.

GM is looking for a 'moon shot' with the Chevy Volt. While Lutz feels that if they are not first to the table with this technology "... it's not fatal. But if it does work, it will be sensational and it will have the same sort of symbolism."

Seems like they are very serious about building a Volt and are pushing very hard to meet an internal November, 2010 deadline. GM would "just like to be first for once."

According to Lutz, "There's nothing magic about the technology. Two or three years after the Volt is introduced, everybody will have something like it." But at the same time, they have had to "invent a lot of stuff" to make everything work. They had to work on the instrumentation, the heating and cooling, electric air-conditioning, control algorithms, etc...

The design has had to change a bit. So the production vehicle will not look like the concept Volt. (See some other videos and pictures of the Volt)

GM's top goals seems to be 1) hitting the November deadline and 2) making sure the range works out.

Some other things you should keep in mind about the Volt: The Chevy Volt will be produced in Detroit. GM has already floated the idea of renting the battery pack on the Volt.

Hybrid Car Tax Credit for 2007

As tax time rolls around once again, I thought it might be a good time to review the federal tax credit you may be eligible for if you bought your hybrid car in 2007. There's no doubt that when you bought your hybrid car, you were aware that a federal tax credit existed. But now that the time to file is here, you may want to know a bit more about it.

I will be summarizing most of the information you need to know about the Alternative Federal Tax Credit as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 in this post, but if you want to really get into some more details, there are some links you should follow at the end of this post.

Warning! Warning! Warning!
I would like to warn you now. I am not a tax expert and any advice and information you get from this site should be followed up with your own research and talking with your own tax adviser.

I Recommend
BTW, if you are already overwhelmed by the length of this post or you just want to make your life easier, I would recommend using TaxCut from H&R Block or some other tax credit software. It certainly makes your life easier and should have all the forms you need right there. I'll be repeating this recommendation because I do believe in it. You may notice the link is an affiliate one, which means I would get a bonus if you follow the link and buy the product. I would not be doing that unless I thought it was a good product to buy.

Still here? Alright then, let's get into it.

Are You Eligible?
Even if the hybrid car qualifies for the tax credit (i.e. you bought a Toyota in time or your hybrid car appears in the table of models below), you, the taxpayer, have to qualify. Some basic requirements:

1. The vehicle must be placed in service after 12-31-05 and purchased on or before 12-31-10.
2. The original use of the vehicle must begin with the taxpayer claiming the credit.
   a. The credit may only be claimed by the original owner of a new, qualifying, hybrid vehicle and does not apply to a used hybrid vehicle.
3. The vehicle must be acquired for use or lease by the taxpayer claiming the credit.
   a. The credit is only available to the original purchaser of a qualifying hybrid vehicle. If a qualifying vehicle is leased to a consumer, the leasing company may claim the credit.
   b. For qualifying vehicles used by a tax-exempt entity, the person who sold the qualifying vehicle to the person or entity using the vehicle is eligible to claim the credit, but only if the seller clearly discloses in a document to the tax-exempt entity the amount of credit.
4. The vehicle must be used predominantly within the United States.

Congratulations, You May Be Eligible For a Tax Credit
If all of the above applies to you, then you may be eligible (more on that may later) for a tax credit. Tax credits are nice because you can take the money right off of what you owe in taxes. To be clear, according to the IRS: a tax credit is subtracted directly from the total amount of federal tax owed, thus reducing or even eliminating the taxpayer’s tax obligation.

Sounds nice, right?

Which Hybrid Car Did You Buy and When?
So, step 1 is to figure out what kind of car you bought and whether or not it is on the list of qualifying credits. Well, you need three pieces of information for that. First, what is the model year of the hybrid car you bought? Second, what make and model is it? And third, when did you buy it (This last one is for those who bought a Toyota hybrid in 2007)? The next few tables are organized by model year, then by make and model and will tell you how much you might qualify for.

60,000 Limit
One last thing before we get to the tables on why you need to know when you bought (received) your hybrid car. Congress wanted to build in an incentive for domestic car companies since it was clear that Toyota and Honda had a huge head start in the hybrid car marketplace, so Congress put a 60,000 unit limit on the number of hybrid cars sold since the beginning of 2005. Once they passed that limit in a quarter, a phase-out period on the tax credit would begin.

On a side note, Toyota has pushed for a tax credit extension, but their effort never got any traction. The other car makers certainly weren't about to help out the biggest hybrid car maker.

Toyota blew past the 60,000 unit limit on hybrid cars very quickly, so you will see below the tax credit in 2007 is affected by when you received your hybrid car. This affects Toyota and Lexus hybrids. Honda just passed the federal tax credit limit this year, and so the tax credit for those who buy from Honda will be affected starting in 2008. Ford (Mazda and Mercury), GM (GMC, Chevy, Saturn) and Nissan have little chance of passing the limit anytime soon.

2005 Model Year Hybrid Vehicles

Make Model Credit Amount Ford Escape HEV 2WD $2,600 Ford Escape HEV 4WD $1,950 Honda** Accord Hybrid AT Purchase Date Prior to 1/1/08 $650 1/1/08 -- 6/30/08 $325 7/1/08 -- 12/31/08 $162.50 1/1/09 and later $0 Honda** Hybrid Navi AT Purchase Date Prior to 1/1/08 $650 1/1/08 -- 6/30/08 $325 7/1/08 -- 12/31/08 $162.50 1/1/09 and later $0 Honda** Civic Hybrid CVT Purchase Date Prior to 1/1/08 $1,700 1/1/08 -- 6/30/08 $850 7/1/08 -- 12/31/08 $425 1/1/09 and later $ 0 Honda** Civic Hyrid MT Purchase Date Prior to 1/1/08 $1,700 1/1/08 -- 6/30/08 $850 7/1/08 -- 12/31/08 $425 1/1/09 and later $ 0 Honda** Insight CVT Purchase Date Prior to 1/1/08 $1,450 1/1/08 -- 6/30/08 $ 775 7/1/08 -- 12/31/08 $ 387.50 1/1/09 and later $ 0 Toyota* Prius Purchase Date 1/1/06 -- 9/30/06 $3,150 10/1/06 --3/31/07 $1,575 4/1/07 -- 9/30/07 $787.50 10/1/2007 and later $0

2006 Model Year Hybrid Vehicles

Make Model Credit Amount Chevrolet Silverado 2WD Hybrid Pickup Truck $ 250 Chevrolet Silverado 4WD Hybrid Pickup Truck $ 650 Ford Escape Hybrid 2WD Front Wheel Drive $2,600 Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD $1,950 GMC Sierra 2WD Hybrid Pickup Truck $ 250 GMC Sierra 4WD Hybrid Pickup Truck $ 650 Honda** Accord Hybrid AT w/updated calibration* Purchase Date Prior to 1/1/08 $1,300 1/1/08 -- 6/30/08 $650 7/1/08 -- 12/31/08 $325 1/1/09 and later $ 0 Honda** Accord Hybrid AT without updated calibration* Purchase Date Prior to 1/1/08 $650 1/1/08 -- 6/30/08 $325 7/1/08 -- 12/31/08 $162.50 1/1/09 and later $ 0 Honda** Navi AT w/updated calibration* Purchase Date Prior to 1/1/08 $1,300 1/1/08 -- 6/30/08 $650 7/1/08 -- 12/31/08 $325 1/1/09 and later $ 0 Honda** Navi AT without updated calibration* Purchase Date Prior to 1/1/08 $650 1/1/08 -- 6/30/08 $325 7/1/08 -- 12/31/08 $162.50 1/1/09 and later $ 0 Honda** Civic Hybrid CVT Purchase Date Prior to 1/1/08 $2,100 1/1/08 -- 6/30/08 $1,050 7/1/08 -- 12/31/08 $525 1/1/09 and later $0 Honda** Insight CVT Purchase Date Prior to 1/1/08 $1,450 1/1/08 -- 6/30/08 $ 725 7/1/08 -- 12/31/08 $362.50 1/1/09 and later $0 Lexus* RX400h 2WD Purchase Date 1/1/06 -- 9/30/06 $2,200 10/1/06 --3/31/07 $1,100 4/1/07 -- 9/30/07 $ 550 10/1/2007 and later $ 0 Lexus* RX400h 4WD Purchase Date 1/1/06 -- 9/30/06 $2,200 10/1/06 --3/31/07 $1,100 4/1/07 -- 9/30/07 $ 550 10/1/2007 and later $ 0 Mercury Mariner 4WD Hybrid $1,950 Toyota* Highlander 2 WD Hybrid Purchase Date 1/1/06 -- 9/30/06 $2,600 10/1/06 --3/31/07 $1,300 4/1/07 -- 9/30/07 $ 650 10/1/2007 and later $ 0 Toyota* Highlander 4WD Hybrid Purchase Date 1/1/06 -- 9/30/06 $2,600 10/1/06 --3/31/07 $1,300 4/1/07 -- 9/30/07 $ 650 10/1/2007 and later $ 0 Toyota* Prius Purchase Date 1/1/06 -- 9/30/06 $3,150 10/1/06 --3/31/07 $1,575 4/1/07 -- 9/30/07 $787.50 10/1/2007 and later $ 0 * Credit for Toyota/Lexus vehicles are reduced for purchase after 10-1-06. See Notice 2006-78 for additional information. ** Credits for Honda vehicles are reduced for purchase after 1-1-08. See Notice 2007-98 for additional information.

2007 Model Year Hybrid Vehicles

Make Model Credit Amount Chevrolet Silverado 2WD Hybrid Pickup Truck $ 250 Chevrolet Silverado 4WD Hybrid Pickup Truck $ 650 Ford Escape Hybrid 2WD $2,600 Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD $1,950 GMC Sierra 2WD Hybrid Pickup Truck $ 250 GMC Sierra 4WD Hybrid Pickup Truck $ 650 Honda** Accord Hybrid AT Purchase Date Prior to 1/1/08 $1,300 1/1/08 -- 6/30/08 $ 650 7/1/08 -- 12/31/08 $ 325 1/1/09 and later $ 0 Honda Accord Hybrid Navi AT Purchase Date Prior to 1/1/08 $1,300 1/1/08 -- 6/30/08 $ 650 7/1/08 -- 12/31/08 $ 325 1/1/09 and later $ 0 Honda Civic Hybrid CVT Purchase Date Prior to 1/1/08 $2,100 1/1/08 -- 6/30/08 $1,050 7/1/08 -- 12/31/08 $525 1/1/09 and later $0 Lexus* GS450h Purchase Date 1/1/06 -- 9/30/06 $1,550 10/1/06 --3/31/07 $ 775 4/1/07 -- 9/30/07 $ 387.50 10/1/2007 and later $ 0 Lexus * RX 400h 4WD Purchase Date 1/1/06 -- 9/30/06 $2,200 10/1/06 --3/31/07 $1,100 4/1/07 -- 9/30/07 $ 550 10/1/2007 and later $ 0 Lexus* RX 400h 2WD Purchase Date 1/1/06 -- 9/30/06 $2,200 10/1/06 --3/31/07 $1,100 4/1/07 -- 9/30/07 $ 550 10/1/2007 and later $ 0 Mercury Mariner Hybrid 4WD $1,950 Nissan Altima Hybrid $2,350 Saturn Aura $1,300 Saturn Vue Green Line $ 650 Toyota* Camry Hybrid Purchase Date 1/1/06 -- 9/30/06 $2,600 10/1/06 --3/31/07 $1,300 4/1/07 -- 9/30/07 $ 650 10/1/2007 and later $ 0 Toyota* Prius Purchase Date 1/1/06 -- 9/30/06 $3,150 10/1/06 --3/31/07 $1,575 4/1/07 -- 9/30/07 $787.50 10/1/2007 and later $ 0 Toyota* Highlander Hybrid 2WD Purchase Date 1/1/06 -- 9/30/06 $2,600 10/1/06 --3/31/07 $1,300 4/1/07 -- 9/30/07 $ 650 10/1/2007 and later $ 0 Toyota* Highlander Hybrid 4WD Purchase Date 1/1/06 -- 9/30/06 $2,600 10/1/06 --3/31/07 $1,300 4/1/07 -- 9/30/07 $ 650 10/1/2007 and later $ 0 * Credit for Toyota/Lexus vehicles are reduced for purchase after 10-1-06. See Notice 2006-78 for additional information. ** Credits for Honda vehicles are reduced for purchase after 1-1-08. See Notice 2007-98 for additional information.

2008 Model Year Hybrid Vehicles

Make Model Credit Amount Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid $1,300 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid 2WD and 4WD $2,200 Ford Escape Hybrid 2WD $3,000 Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD $2,200 GMC Yukon Hybrid $2,200 Honda** Civic CVT Purchase Date Prior to 1/1/08 $2,100 1/1/08 -- 6/30/08 $1,050 7/1/08 -- 12/31/08 $525 1/1/09 and later $0 Mazda Tribute 2WD $3,000 Mazda Tribute 4WD $2,200 Mercury Mariner Hybrid 2WD $3,000 Mercury Mariner Hybrid 4WD $2,200 Nissan Altima Hybrid $2,350 Saturn Aura hybrid $1,300 Saturn Vue Green Line $1,550 Toyota* Camry Hybrid Purchase Date 1/1/06 -- 9/30/06 $2,600 10/1/06 --3/31/07 $1,300 4/1/07 -- 9/30/07 $ 650 10/1/2007 and later $ 0 Toyota* Prius Purchase Date 1/1/06 -- 9/30/06 $3,150 10/1/06 --3/31/07 $1,575 4/1/07 -- 9/30/07 $787.50 10/1/2007 and later $ 0 Toyota* Highlander Hybrid 4WD Purchase Date 1/1/06 -- 9/30/06 $2,600 10/1/06 --3/31/07 $1,300 4/1/07 -- 9/30/07 $ 650 10/1/2007 and later $ 0 Lexus* RX 400h 2WD and 4WD Purchase Date 1/1/06 -- 9/30/06 $2,200 10/1/06 --3/31/07 $1,100 4/1/07 -- 9/30/07 $ 550 10/1/2007 and later $ 0 Lexus* LS 600h L Hybrid Purchase Date 1/1/06 -- 9/30/06 $1,800 10/1/06 --3/31/07 $900 4/1/07 -- 9/30/07 $ 450 10/1/2007 and later $ 0

Now that you know how much you might qualify for, you need to figure out if you qualify for the credit. That will depend on several factors, not the least of which is how much you earned and what the Alternative Minimum Tax is. I am not a tax expert, but you should definitely read my post on will you qualify for the federal tax credit on hybrid cars. Many people will not get the full credit amount or will not get any tax break.

If you don't want to use the tax software (TaxCut) and insist on doing it yourself, follow the link to see the form you need to claim the hybrid car tax credit.

Some states and cities offer tax breaks, too. Search Hybrid Car Review for your state to get more information. You can also go to ucsusa for more on the state tax incentives.

Want more information? Follow the links to find out more about what you need to know.

Will You Qualify For the Federal Tax Credit on Hybrid Cars?
What You Should Know About the Tax Credit For Hybrids
Tax Breaks
Toyota Hybrid Car Tax Credit Phase Out
Federal Tax Credit Phase Out Period for Toyota
Honda Hybrid Cars Begin Tax Credit Phase Out Period
Forms Used to Claim the Hybrid Tax Credit

Want even more info? Go directly to the IRS and see their latest news on the alternative motor vehicles and the tax credit.

Fisker May Build the Karma in Detroit

Fisker announced the Karma plug-in hybrid four door sedan at the Auto Show in Detroit recently. And now Karma may be looking to produce their plug-in hybrid in Detroit.

According to Vic Doolan, Fisker's director of retail development, Michigan has unused production capacity and an experienced workforce.

The supply network is also in place for automotive parts.

The Karma Hybrid is competing to be one of the first of it's kind in the U.S., a production plug-in hybrid capable of 50 miles on all electric power, followed by a mix of gas and electric power.

Some estimate a majority of Americans would never need to use the gas in their normal commute.

Fisker hopes to get a Karma plug-in hybrid on the road by the end of 2009, beginning of 2010. If they do it, they may beat the likes of Toyota and GM, who hope to have production plug-ins on the road by 2010. Meanwhile Chinese automaker BYD Auto is also promising a plug-in hybrid.

The Karma already has an estimated price tag of $80,000.

Fisker is located in Irvine, California.

Congress to Force EPA Hand in Calfornia Waiver

The Senate has enacted a bill to force the EPA to grant California's waiver to enable them to regulate greenhouse gases in their state. The EPA, in the person of EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson, denied that waiver shortly after Congress passed the new CAFE standards saying they did not meet the standards to meet compelling and extraordinary conditions.

But internal documents from the EPA show Johnson decided against internal advice. And now Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) wants to force the EPA to grant the waiver.

Read all about the Senator's new bill at Green Car Congress: Senators Introduce Bill to Direct EPA to Grant California Waiver

The EPA document also concluded that if EPA denied the waiver, it faced an “almost certain lawsuit by California” and that the agency was “likely to lose [the] suit.”

Administrator Johnson’s decision to deny the waiver was not supported by the facts, by the law, by the science, or by precedent. I will use every available tool to ensure that California and the nation are able to reduce the pollution that causes global warming. One of those tools is legislation that essentially overturns Mr. Johnson’s actions.
—Senator Boxer

California is currently suing the EPA to force them to grant the waiver.

GM New Vehicle Engineering Organization for Hybrids

GM is forming a new Vehicle Engineering Organization for Hybrids, Extended-Range Electric Vehicles and Batteries. It's job will be to accelerate the implementation of hybrid and extended range electric vehicles (what they like to call the Volt).

As of now, GM has several different hybrid implementations up in the air.

The first 'hybrid' was a belt alternator system (BAS) that was considered a mild hybrid system. While it had regenerative braking, it's basic fuel saving device would be to shut down the engine while the vehicle was stopped.

The second system they have put in place and are rolling out now is the two-mode (sometimes called the dual-mode) full hybrid engine they co-developed with DaimlerChrysler and BMW. The latest hybrid vehicles from GM should see great strides in fuel economy, but the system is only being implanted into the larger SUVs and trucks because of their cost and size.

The third system, what GM likes to call range extended electric vehicles is fully powered by the electric motor. When needed, the small gas engine will kick in and recharge the battery that powers the electric motor. As such, the gas engine has been pushed into being the secondary system (the reverse of the mild engine). This system is at least a couple of years away but is already being promoted through the Chevy Volt. These will most likely by the plug-in hybrids from GM.

Press Release Follows:

GM Forms New Vehicle Engineering Organization for Hybrids, Extended-Range Electric Vehicles and Batteries

WARREN, Mich. - In another step aimed at bringing the electrification of vehicles into the mainstream development process more quickly, General Motors has formed a new engineering organization especially dedicated to implementing hybrid and extended- range electric vehicles (E-REV) and advanced battery technology. The global team will be led by Robert Kruse, executive director of vehicle engineering for hybrids, electric vehicle and batteries. In North America, the team will be based in Warren and Milford, Mich. In Europe, the team will be based in Mainz-Kastel, Germany and in Asia-Pacific they will be located in Shanghai, China.

"The future of automotive transportation will be based on electrification of our vehicles," said Jim Queen, GM group vice president of Global Engineering. "By having a vehicle engineering team in place and focused on delivering the technical aspects of hybrids and E-REVs, we can accelerate these programs and get them into production quickly and efficiently."

GM's newest vehicle engineering team will develop vehicles using a variety of propulsion systems including gas-electric hybrids and GM's innovative E-Flex architecture. Vehicles that will be engineered by this team include the production E-REVs based on E-Flex architectures; Chevrolet Tahoe and Silverado 2 Mode; Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid; Saturn Vue 2 Mode Plug-in; Saturn Vue and Aura Hybrid; GMC Yukon and Sierra 2 Mode; and the Cadillac Escalade 2 Mode.

This team will also support GM's CO2 initiatives in Europe. In China, they will support the Buick LaCrosse Eco-Hybrid. Other, yet to be announced global hybrid and electric propulsion vehicles are expected to be developed under this organization.

Kruse, 48, was executive director of Vehicle Integration, Safety, Regional Chief Engineers and Performance Division for GM's North America engineering staff. Kruse began his GM career in 1978 as a co-op student at Buick Motor Division, and has served in a variety of leadership positions at Buick, Cadillac, Vehicle Development Technical Operations, the North American Car Group and GM Powertrain.

Lutz on the Big American

Lutz, GM's vice chairman of global product development, spoke at the Automotive News World Congress on Wednesday night.

Let me see if I can get all this right:

Lutz on Taxing Gas

Only gas prices at the level that Europeans pay will cause Americans to rethink their vehicles, Lutz said. "If for the last 15 years we'd had a slow but sure rise in federal fuel taxation of, say, 15 cents a gallon per year -- that would have gradually put the customer in the equation," he said.

The customer is not now in the equation of what cars to build or buy? I'm not sure that came out the way Lutz wanted.

Lutz on the Big American

"In America, instead of raising fuel prices, we'll end up having to raise new vehicle prices, because of the increased use of lightweight materials and fuel-saving technology."

"Europeans, at their fuel prices, are willing to pay premium prices for premium small cars that deliver terrific fuel economy. That is not the case here in America, land of the big truck and big horse" and, he added, " the big American."

Europeans are willing to pay more for smaller, more efficient cars, but Americans are not. How do you explain sales of the Prius? It may not be diesel, but it is small and efficient.

Lutz on Federal Regulations and E-85

The new federal regulations will also fail to lower the U.S. dependency on petroleum and imported oil, Lutz said. The best near-term solution to doing that is to adopt more E-85, ethanol-burning vehicles.

Using E-85 gives you a break in the CAFE standard, so I can understand why Lutz would want to go that way

Lutz on Changing the Fleet

"It's just common sense," Lutz said. "You don't roll over the whole fleet at once. It takes decades -- and the bigger the price disparity between the old ones and the new ones, the longer it takes."

On the other hand, he said with diesel fuel at the same price as gasoline in the United States, there won't be many Americans willing to pay a " $3,000 to $4,000 premium" for diesel vehicles unless GM is willing to eat that cost.

First of all, the fuel efficiency question has been coming for a long time. Just because GM ignored the warning signs...

Diesel has a bad rap in the U.S. It's going to take time to fight that perception. But they have a decade to do it. And besides which, maybe diesel isn't the way to go.

Lutz on the Comparison Between Beer and Li-Ion Batteries

"It's like beer. Some people say beer tastes bad. But there are many different types. U.S. beer, imported beer. You've got pilsner, ale, stout, wheat beer," Lutz said. " Some beers are better than others. Just because somebody said one particular lithium ion technology is a little bit aggressive and it's been known to cause thermal problems, does not mean they all do. The technology is advancing every day."

I get the feeling it was getting close to dinner time and Lutz (and the audience) was looking forward to getting out to dinner. His point is a valid one, though. Not all batteries are made the same. And with plug-in hybrids depending on those advancements (that may have already been made), it looks like auto makers feel the money is making a difference.

Source: Lutz: U.S. won’t embrace small cars at today’s gas prices - Automotive News

Space Race About to Begin for Automotive Industry

The new CAFE standards enacted by Congress is about to start a 'space race' in the automotive industry according to Dean Harlow, president of engineering firm Ricardo Inc.

Hybrids, clean diesels, advanced gasoline engines and fuel efficient transmissions such as the dual-clutch technology will all contribute. But it's all about " minimizing the loss functions throughout the vehicle," Harlow said. " Just consider that 75 percent of the energy in each gallon of gasoline never reaches the wheels."

Cost efficiency will be the " key driver" when it comes to deciding what technologies to choose, he said.

Source: Fuel economy rules spark technology race - Automotive News

My Questions
But that may be the big question. Car companies are already abandoning some research projects and some new engine designs in favor of more fuel efficient possibilities. The word recession is flying about and the domestic companies have already had to do some drastic things in the past few years to 'turn themselves around.'

Will they be able to continue to make these sorts of changes? When you look at the differences between where Toyota is and where GM is on fuel efficiency, you have to wonder if they can make it. And will they need the federal government's help, once again?

There's already a bill floating in Washington that could give Detroit automakers and suppliers $40 billion over 20 years (Source: U.S. emissions bill could yield $40B for industry - Automotive News) to retool assembly plants.

The bill (America's Climate Security Act of 2007) is still just that, having only passed through a Senate committee, but you have to wonder about why it has to be like that. I think it's been clear for a long time now that this is where the industry would have to go. So why didn't they do more to do so?

You also have to wonder if it's for the best? By bailing out the industry, and not forcing them to face reality, is it for the best?

That's an easy question to answer when you look only at a company name or logo. But not when you look at the people that work for the company. They suffer through job cuts a lot more than the company does.

"If this industry, Detroit, and its allies plays its cards right, I believe that Washington will provide you with the kind of assistance that would be very helpful for you to make this transition to a world where you have to build cars that reflect the reality of global warming," Roland Hwang, vehicles policy director of the Natural Resources Defense Council, said.

There is the other side to this bill. Yes, it amounts to a $40 billion bail out for the car makers and suppliers, but that's the carrot. The stick says they need to cut emissions by 70 percent by 2050. That may be too slow for some, but it's also pushing the companies in the right direction.

Toyota Looks at the Life Cycle Assessment

Bill Reinert, national manager of the Advanced Technology Group at Toyota Motor Sales noted the total life cycle of energy costs must be taken into account when developing 'green' transportation.

That's why a plug-in hybrid car would work in the U.S., France and Japan, but not necessarily in China. Energy that is created from low-carbon sources such as nuclear power, is more readily available in the former but not the latter.

Rienert said that Toyota takes a look at the "life cycle assessment" of a vehicle, not just the cost to drive it. That's why they don't use carbon fiber in their vehicles. The energy used to produce the material does not outweigh the reduced cost in fuel efficiency from using the lighter material.

"That's what we do at Toyota. It's kind of a shorthand for looking at a systematic approach," he said.

Source: It's not easy being a green car - Automotive News

GM Reveals Chinese Hybrid Car

GM unveiled it's first locally made hybrid car in China, the Buick LaCrosse Eco-Hybrid. The new hybrid increased it's fuel economy to 8.3 liters per 100 km.

The new hybrid car from GM is built by Shanghai GM, a partnership between GM and SAIC Motor Corp. Shanghai GM also has plans to build another hybrid car using the two mode hybrid system later.

The Buick Lacross Eco-Hybrid is built using mild hybrid technology from GM. The belt alternator system (BAS) is used to assist the gas engine in moving the car, but is not capable of moving the car on electric power alone.

Chang'an Auto recently released a hybrid car built in China, the HEV. Chang'an partners with Ford. The Prius is also built in China, but critical components are shipped in from Japan.

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid

Ford will be showing off the 2009 Escape Hybrid and it's sister, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid, at the Washington Auto Show. The newly redesigned hybrid may have better fuel economy (by 1 mpg) but will definitely have more power (11 percent improvement, 170 hp).

Ford is also displaying their prototype plug-in Hybrid Escape at the Washington Auto Show.

The 2009 Escape Hybrid will come with a 2.5-liter engine, which is larger than the 2.3 liter engine in the current model. While the Escape Hybrid still comes with a continuously variable transmission, Ford has added variable valve timing on the intake, increasing the hp to 170. You can also get the 2009 Escape (and Mariner) Hybrid as an optional 230 hp, 3.0 liter V6 engine. Sales of the new Escape and Mariner will begin in the summer (so look for sales on the older model).

With the possible improvements in fuel economy, the Escape and Mariner also achieve ULEV II emissions certification.

The new hybrid also comes with some aerodynamic changes and new 16-inch low-rolling resistance tires. You also get the stability and roll control systems, AdvanceTrac with RSC and a smoother braking system.

What this means to you: While better aerodynamics and better braking systems (smoother) are welcome, I think Ford is missing the point. Hybrid car (or SUV) buyers don't want an upgrade in power. I think a real upgrade in fuel economy would have turned heads. What do you think?


Press Release Follows:

FORD DELIVERS BETTER FUEL ECONOMY, MORE POWERFOR ESCAPE, MERCURY MARINER; EXPANDS E85 FLEET

Featured Stories
Press Releases


2009 Ford Escape

* 2009 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner crossovers improve fuel efficiency with new, more powerful I-4 and V-6 engines and 6-speed transmissions.
* Ford’s full-hybrid Escape and Mariner gain performance and refinement improvements for 2009.
* Ford adds three vehicles to its flexible fuel (FFV) line-up for the 2009 model year – Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator SUVs and Ford E-Series Econoline vans.
* Ford and Southern California Edison showcase 120-mpg Escape Plug-in Hybrid.

WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 22, 2008 – Today at the Washington Auto Show and Automotive News World Congress in Detroit, Ford Motor Company announced its hot-selling compact SUVs, the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner, will become more fuel efficient, more powerful and more connected for the 2009 model year.

Ford also announced that it is expanding its commitment to biofuels by adding three additional vehicles to its E85-capable flexible fuel line-up for 2009 – the E-Series van, as well as the standard and extended-length models of the Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. These additional product actions are part of Ford’s sustainability strategy, which also includes high-volume introductions of EcoBoost gas turbocharged direct injection engines.

Speaking today at Automotive News World Congress in Detroit, Ford Motor Company President and CEO Alan Mulally met with industry leaders and media to share today’s announcement and discuss how Ford is accelerating the development of new products and technologies customers want and value. Mulally also reaffirmed that Ford will reach benchmark levels of new or significantly freshened products, delivering a showroom with 70 percent new or freshened vehicles by the end of 2008 and 100 percent by 2010.

“This year, we make good on our commitment to freshen our showrooms,” Mulally said. “We just introduced the new 2009 Ford F-150 last week, and it was a hit. We also have Lincoln MKS and Ford Flex coming, as well as a new Mustang early next year.”

At the Washington Auto Show, Sue Cischke, Ford senior vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering, outlined the company’s high-volume customer-focused strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve fuel economy.

“Ford Motor Company is increasing fuel economy and cutting greenhouse gas emissions with affordable technologies for millions of customers,” said Cischke. “In the near term, we will leverage existing technologies to achieve those goals, including advanced engines and multi-speed transmissions. The 2009 Escape and Mariner are great examples of how we’re delivering today.”

2009 Mercury Mariner

Fuel-efficient new 2.5-liter Engine

The new 2009 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner make strides in fuel economy and emissions with a new, 2.5-liter engine and a smooth new fuel-saving 6-speed automatic transmission.

Not only is the new powertrain expected to improve the Escape and Mariner’s EPA estimated fuel economy by 1 mile per gallon, it will also give the customer an 11 percent increase in horsepower to 170 horsepower.

The new 2.5-liter engine with intake variable cam timing (IVCT) boasts a 17-horsepower increase in output over the outgoing 2.3-liter engine.

Responsive with its peak 166 ft. lb. of torque, the engine also is refined, with dual-mode crankshaft damping, electronic throttle control and PowerPC engine electronic control.

The anticipated 1 mpg improvement in fuel economy will make Escape and Mariner more than competitive in the segment. With the improvements, Escape and Mariner also achieve ULEV II emissions certification.

The new engine also is the new basis for Ford’s hybrid models, ushering in a host of improvements that will make the Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid even more appealing. Adapted to the Atkinson cycle, the engine is the first for Ford to incorporate variable valve timing on a hybrid engine.

“More than ever, the Escape Hybrid and Mariner Hybrid are the ultimate vehicles for commuters in the daily battle with urban traffic congestion,” said Cischke. “For every eight Escape and Mariner vehicles we sell, one of them is a hybrid, and the appeal is growing.”

An optional, 230-hp, 3.0-liter V-6 engine – a 30-hp increase over last year – also is offered. It, too, will offer an estimated 1 mpg fuel economy improvement and better acceleration, thanks to the new 6-speed transmission and engine enhancements, including new pistons, cylinder heads and fuel injection system.

Spotlight on Fuel Efficiency, Even in the Performance Version

The new, more fuel-efficient automatic 6-speed transmission featured in the Escape and Mariner offers a significant improvement in powertrain smoothness and drivability, replacing the four-speed automatic previously offered.

Its flexibility allows Escape and Mariner to feature a longer final-drive ratio for optimal fuel economy, while its smooth-shifting quality provides an enhanced experience for the driver, especially in combination with the more powerful engines in the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner family.

Fuel savings also come from additional design and engineering features, including:

* Aerodynamic improvements, including a new front fascia chin spoiler and rear tire spoilers also play a role in the fuel economy story.
* A new 16-inch Michelin tire design offers improved rolling resistance that contributes to fuel efficiency, while also bringing improvements in quiet operation, steering and handling, and stopping distance.

All Escape and Mariner models now feature Easy Fuel™, a capless refueling system. This feature is not only a convenience for customers but also helps to prevent evaporative fuel emissions.

Escape and Mariner also incorporate new features to improve dynamic handling and ride characteristics, including a new 18.5 mm rear stabilizer bar and revised suspension tuning. Powertrain sound quality is enhanced by a new air induction system for V-6 engine models and a new exhaust system on all models.

Ford Hybrids: More Refinement, Safety and Performance

The new 2.5-liter engine also is the new foundation for the Escape Hybrid and Mariner Hybrid models. Adapted for hybrid use, the engine is Ford’s first to use variable valve timing on an Atkinson cycle hybrid engine. Advancements in engine processor technology enable a nearly imperceptible transition from gas to electric mode.

A new brake system also provides a more seamless transition from regenerative braking to traditional braking. It incorporates a new pedal sensor that gives the driver better feedback and pedal feel similar to that of a traditional vacuum-assisted hydraulic system.

Also new this year is a new standard safety feature – AdvanceTrac® with RSC®. Already standard on gas-powered models, this patented Ford Motor Company stability control system includes roll stability control. Escape Hybrid and Mariner Hybrid are the only small hybrids to offer such an advanced safety technology.

At the Washington Auto Show, Ford will display a Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) alongside the production Escape Hybrid. The plug-in research vehicle uses high voltage, lithium-ion batteries and can travel up to 30 miles on battery power alone before switching to full hybrid mode, delivering the equivalent of up to 120 miles per gallon for far fewer trips to the gas station.

Ford is collaborating with Southern California Edison in a unique partnership to advance the commercialization of PHEVs, demonstrating the potential for two industries to change the transportation and energy future.

This is part of Ford’s sustainability strategy, which also includes a new engine technology called EcoBoost that will deliver up to 20 percent better fuel economy and 15 percent fewer CO2 emissions on half a million Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles annually in North America starting within the next five years.

The EcoBoost family of 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder engines features turbocharging and direct injection technology and will be used in a range of global vehicles – from small cars to large trucks. Compared with more expensive hybrids and diesel engines, EcoBoost builds upon today’s affordable gasoline engine and improves it, providing more customers with a way to improve fuel economy and emissions without compromising driving performance.

More Technology, Connectivity

The popularity of the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner reflects a trend of continuous improvement and product enhancement, including the most “connected” driving experience available today.

New optional equipment includes:

* SYNC, the award-winning Ford in-car connectivity system developed with Microsoft, will be offered in Escape and Mariner. New for the 2009 model-year, SYNC features “911 Assist” which will help drivers connect with emergency assistance in the event of air bag deployment. Also available for 2009, SYNC will offer Vehicle Health Reports, which are designed to keep owners up to speed with vehicle maintenance needs through the syncmyride.com web site.

* SIRIUS® Travel Link™ , which offers real-time traffic, weather, fuel price, sports schedules and movie information when combined with Ford’s next-generation navigation system with voice recognition.

Growing Popularity

With the continuous improvements to the 2009 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner, the vehicles are primed to build on their sales success in the 2007 calendar year, which included record hybrid volume. Highlights include:

* Ford Escape Hybrid recorded a 10.4 percent increase in sales versus 2006, with 21,386 units sold, while Mercury Mariner Hybrid sales were up 17 percent over 2006 to 3,722 units.

* Total Ford Escape sales were up 5.2 percent to 165,596. Mercury Mariner was up 2.6 percent to 34,844 units.

The Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner are produced at Ford’s Kansas City Assembly Plant, and the 2009 models will go on sale this summer.

Toyota Will Enter the Le Mans with Supra Hybrid

Toyota will be entering the Le Mans in 2010 using their Supra Hybrid, the car that won the Tokachi 24-hour race held in Japan last year. The Supra hybrid is built using ultra-capacitors, allowing it to withstand the rapid changes in speeds necessary to compete in the race.

"Current hybrid racing cars are still too heavy and suffer from inadequate transmission efficiency," a Toyota official said.

Toyota is hoping to promote hybrid technology in Europe by competing and hopefully winning the Le Mans. Toyota has been focusing on the F-1, since they stopped competing in the Le Mans race in 1999.

"There are a number of uncertain factors such as our [future] results in F-1 that might affect our ability to meet the challenge," a Toyota executive said. "But our target is definitely Le Mans."

The Supra Hybrid won Engine of the Year for 2007. Toyota was selected by Race Engine Technology and voted on by race engine professionals from across the globe.

The DoE Offers $30 Million to Develop Plug-in Batteries

The U.S. Dept of Energy announced $30 million in matching grants to improve battery performance so that plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) can come to fruition. The US DoE wants to make plug-ins cost-competitive by 2014 and ready for commercialization by 2017.

The benchmark cited by the DoE and car makers is for a PHEV to be capable of 40 miles on electric power alone. After that the battery can be recharged through plugging it in or by the gas engine. The DoE believes 40 miles would cover most commutes and 70% of average driving.

"Selected projects will place PHEVs in small, geographically diverse fleets in order to collect operational data that will be used to evaluate and demonstrate the operational and economic viability of PHEVs in the marketplace," the Energy Department said in a news release.

The money will come out over the next three years. In 2008, the DoE is expecting to spend at least $7 million. The remaining $23 million will be doled out in 2009 and 2010. They are planning no funding at least four projects.

Car Makers and Plug-ins
AFS Trinity believes they could have a plug-in hybrid on the road by 2010. BYD Auto (Chinese auto maker) says they will have a plug-in hybrid in use next year, and may be importing plug-in hybrids into the U.S. by the end of 2009 or beginning of 2010. Fisker wants the $80,000 Karma Plug-in Hybrid on the road by the end of 2009. GM has recently announced they expect both a plug-in Saturn Vue and the Chevy Volt out by 2010. Toyota is already road testing a plug-in Prius in Japan. Ford is also road testing plug-in hybrids. Even Google has jumped in on the plug-in bandwagon, with google.org offering $10 million for to those who wish to promote or commercialize PHEVs.

Are Plug-ins in Demand?
But in the end, the question is will Americans buy a plug-in hybrid? Even Toyota, the leader in hybrid technology, is questioning the demand for plug-ins.

New Luxury Hybrid From Lexus Switching From Power to Efficiency

Lexus general manager Mark Templin leaked a little bit of information about the new Lexus hybrid coming next year. Instead of a small increase in fuel economy and a big increase in power, Lexus wants to emphasize the fuel efficiency.

"There is a whole section of the population that wants something different, and that's high-efficiency," Lexus general manager Mark Templin said in an interview at the Detroit auto show. "It's a supplemental strategy to what we've done before."

Toyota thinks they can tap into the Prius market. More than a third of the people who bought a Prius earn more than $100,000, meaning those customers have the extra cash to pay for a more luxurious car, but want the fuel efficiency of the Prius.

"We think there is part of the market that everybody is missing."

Lexus offers three hybrid vehicles right now, the Lexus GS 450h, 600h L, and 400h. You can clearly see how they emphasize power over efficiency in the following chart.

Make	Lexus	Lexus	Lexus	Toyota
Model	GS 450h	LS 600h L	RX 400h	Prius
MSRP	$ 54,900	$ 104,000	$ 42,180	$ 21,100
City	22	20	27	48
Highway	25	22	24	45
0-60 (secs)	5.5	5.5	7.2	.
Engine Type	V6	V8	V6	inline 4
Displacement	3.5 liters	5.0 liters	3.3 liters	1.5 liters
Horsepower	340 hp @ 6400 rpm	438 hp @ 6400 rpm	268 hp @ 5600 rpm	110 hp @ 5000 rpm

Source:Quotes come from Bloomberg.com: Japan. Data comes from Edmunds (see link below).

AFS Trinity Gives the Saturn Vue a 150 mpg Makeover

AFS Trinity took a 2007 Saturn Vue Green Line SUV and turned it into the XH-150, a 150 mpg gas sipper extreme plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV). Using a hybrid system that utilizes both lithium-ion batteries and ultra capacitors, they not only turned on the fuel economy, but they also improved the power. The SUV can now go 0-60 in 6.9 seconds when in full hybrid mode. That's better than the Lexus RX400h.

The 'extreme' hybrid can go 40 miles up to 87 miles per hour on all electric power assuming a full overnight charge. It can extend it's range to 400 miles when performing as a hybrid.

The cost is about $8,700 more for the technology, but "... if the price of gasoline is, say, $2.85 per gallon, XH™ gasoline cost savings could repay the purchase price premium in 3.5 years," AFS Trinity CEO Edward W. Furia said. "The higher fuel prices go, of course, the faster the premium is repaid. At a price of $5 a gallon, which is the price already being paid in parts of the world, the premium could be repaid in less than three years and the savings would continue to grow. Tax and other incentives could accelerate this process."

Furia also thinks if they put the technology into a sedan, they would get 250 mpg. AFS wants to license the technology to car makers, but if that fails, they would like to raise funding to do it on their own. Furia goes on to say he believes these vehicles could be available in three years and that the price tag will come down as more are sold.

YouTube Video From AFS Trinity describing how the XH works.

Ultra-capacitors were recently seen in use by Toyota, in its Supra Hybrid Engine. Toyota used that engine to win the 24 hour Motor Race.

Update: I noticed some people visiting from technocrat and thought you should know that AFS Trinity is not an Australian company. AFS Trinity is a privately-owned Delaware corporation headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. Their partner on this project was Ricardo, who, I believe, is located in the UK.


Press Release Follows:

DETROIT, January 13, 2008 . . . In just completed road tests, a 2007 SUV straight off an American automaker’s showroom floor and subsequently equipped with the patent pending Extreme Hybrid™ (XH™) drive train, exceeded 150 mpg, AFS Trinity Power Corporation reported today at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.

AFS Trinity CEO Edward W. Furia provided details of the tests and the patent pending Fast Energy Storage™ system that makes the Extreme Hybrid™ possible. During Furia’s report, a second, identically-equipped and fully functional SUV demonstrator of the XH™ technology was unveiled and will remain on display throughout the Auto Show.

“Extreme Hybrids™ don’t need high priced technology and don’t require new or expensive fuels, such as hydrogen, which, according to Argonne National Labs, will cost twice as much as gasoline at the pump and require installation of an infrastructure costing half a trillion dollars. The Extreme Hybrid™ is not a concept,” Furia said, “but a practical alternative that relies on cheap electricity from America’s vast existing energy infrastructure—the electric power grid.” Furia also pointed to a recent U.S. DOE study that concluded sufficient excess electrical generating and transmission capacity exists today during off-peak hours in America’s power grid to recharge 84% of America’s light duty car, truck and SUV fleet—184 million vehicles—even if they were all converted to plug-in hybrid drive trains.

TEST RESULTS

According to Furia, the Extreme Hybrid™ tests just completed at Michelin’s Laurens Proving Grounds in South Carolina produced . . .

• more than 150 miles per gallon of gasoline based on the EPA Combined Urban/Highway Driving Cycle with 6 days per week of 40 miles per day in all electric mode and one day at 100 miles with assistance of the gas engine. Different driving patterns will produce different results
• 40 mile all-electric range on a single, overnight charge.
• Extended range of 400 miles with hybrid operation.
• Rapid acceleration in all modes of operation, including all electric mode in which no gasoline is burned at all.
• Highway speeds up to 87 miles per hour in either all electric or hybrid mode
• Even faster acceleration and higher speeds possible in future production models should the company decide to configure them for such performance.

AFS Trinity XH-150™ Performance Comparison Table

	AFS Trinity XH-150™	2008 Lexus RX400h	2007 Saturn Vue Greenline	2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
Combined City/Hwy Mileage	150 MPG	25 MPG	26 MPG	20 MPG
0-60 time • Full Hybrid mode • All-electric mode • Mild Hybrid mode	6.9 secs 11.5 secs 12.5 secs	7.5 secs	12.5 secs	8.1 secs
Top Highway Speed	87 MPH	116 MPH	106 MPH	112 MPH
Weekly Gasoline Cost	$7.93	$47.60	$45.77	$59.50
Weekly Electricity Cost	$7.56	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total Weekly Fuel Cost	$15.49	$47.60	$45.77	$59.50

1. Fuel economy figures for Chevrolet Tahoe, Toyota RX400h, Saturn Vue Greenline reflect published data citing latest 2008 EPA calculation method.
2. Weekly fuel cost based on gasoline at $3.50/gallon and 40 miles/day of driving Monday through Saturday and 100 miles of driving on Sunday for a total of 340 miles.
3. Tahoe top speed estimated based on 2007 conventional Tahoe.
4. Fuel economy figures for XH-150™ based on projections of mixed urban/highway drive cycle.
5. Electricity cost based on PG&E off-peak EV charging rate of 6 center/kWh.
6. Top speed based on transmission limit. Higher speeds possible with other components.
7. Although the XH™ system can be optimized for fuel economy, top speed or acceleration, fuel economy is the company’s priority.

“Keep in mind that these results were not in a small two-seater, but in a medium-size family SUV designed to support a serious supermarket run or a family’s weekend recreational activities,” Furia said.

LICENSE OR MANUFACTURE

According to Furia, the next step for AFS Trinity is to license its breakthrough technology to carmakers who want to incorporate the XH™ drive train into their vehicles. “That would be our preference,” said Furia.

“However,” he continued, “If carmakers decide not to take advantage of this offer, AFS Trinity intends to raise the funds to begin modifying existing hybrids or manufacture its own 150 mpg SUV’s and, eventually, 250 mpg sedans. We believe such production models could be available for sale in three years.”

Furia explained, “The SUVs that we just completed that were outfitted with the XH™ drive train could have been any SUV made by anyone. The XH™ is a new generation of plug-in hybrid drive train ready to multiply the gas mileage of any SUV or any standard sedan.”

XH™ WILL PAY FOR ITSELF

“In spite of growing popularity of hybrid vehicles,” Furia said, “none of them have delivered gasoline savings sufficient to repay the purchase price premium of the hybrid system during the useful life of the vehicle. With the Extreme Hybrid™ that is about to change.”

Extreme Hybrid technology in commercial production is expected to cost around $8,700 more than current, gas-only SUV’s. “However, if the price of gasoline is, say, $2.85 per gallon, XH™ gasoline cost savings could repay the purchase price premium in 3.5 years,” Furia said. “The higher fuel prices go, of course, the faster the premium is repaid. At a price of $5 a gallon, which is the price already being paid in parts of the world, the premium could be repaid in less than three years and the savings would continue to grow. Tax and other incentives could accelerate this process.”

ROCKET SCIENTISTS AND CAR GUYS

The technology that made these results possible came from the former space and atomic energy scientists at AFS Trinity's Livermore, California, laboratory with integration of the technology into the American SUVs made possible by respected global automotive engineering leader, Ricardo.

“This has been a collaboration of rocket scientists and car guys,” Furia said. “They have taken the best from aerospace and computer science as well as automotive engineering to produce in a very short time frame and largely with off-the-shelf components a working vehicle prototype in which the XH™ plug-in hybrid drive train has been demonstrated in a family-size SUV.”

A SOLUTION READY NOW

Furia said, "The Extreme Hybrid drive train is an economical solution to the high cost of gasoline, the dangers of oil dependence and the environmental damage caused by too much gasoline being used to travel too few miles.”

“This is a time in automotive development where many promises have been made and a wait-and-see attitude has developed,” Furia said. “The XH-150 is not a promise but a fact with ‘tires to kick.’ The XH-150 does not require exotic or controversial fuels, it works within the present energy infrastructure, and components are available off-the-shelf at reasonable prices – prices that will only drop lower as volume demand increases. Just as important, XH™ production vehicles are capable of being built now at prices many people can afford.”

AFS Trinity issued a 14-page summary of key factors surrounding the XH-150, including how the Extreme Hybrid technology works. (Editors’ note: If the summary is not attached it is available as .pdf file by emailing hq@afstrinity.com).

Furia also invited review of the XH-150 data gathered during road tests at Michelin’s Laurens Proving Grounds by visiting www.afstrinity.com.

TECHNICAL BREAKTHROUGH

“Addressing the central limitations of chemical batteries was critical to creating the Extreme Hybrid,” Furia explained. “Batteries work best when they provide a slow, steady flow of electricity. Offering enough power for fast acceleration is difficult and damaging to batteries, and this is especially true as batteries become deeply discharged.”

“The most common solution is to employ many more batteries and simply shallow-discharge them, which is impractical for all but expensive, exotic vehicles. Instead, the Extreme Hybrid accesses AFS Trinity’s long history of developing Fast Energy™ solutions for NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense and others. At the heart of this new Fast Energy™ technology are patent pending control electronics to cache power for short periods in ultra-capacitors and provide this power in bursts for all-electric acceleration that is better, in many cases, than the internal combustion engine of the host vehicle,” Furia said. “Until the Extreme Hybrid, hybrids have resorted to gasoline to satisfy acceleration demands.”

SAFETY BREAKTHROUGH

According to Furia, one reason carmakers have resisted plug-in hybrids has been reports of some isolated, but troubling fires involving lithium batteries in laptops that were pushed beyond thermal limits. “All devices through which currents are drawn experience some resistive heating, including all types of batteries. Batteries can be safe if they avoid excessive resistive heating. By using ultra-capacitors as pools of rapid energy," Furia explained, "the proprietary control electronics of the Extreme Hybrid™ not only keep the batteries within safe resistive heating limits, but also extend battery life. We regard XH™ technology as an important safety breakthrough, which is a critical factor in making Extreme Hybrids™ practical now."

CALCULATING MILEAGE

“Gasoline mileage is calculated by using average American driving patterns estimated by the U.S. Department of Transportation and simulating the EPA combined urban/highway driving cycle of the host vehicle operating only with its conventional hybrid drive train. In 2003, the U.S. Department of Transportation reported that 78% of Americans drive less than 40 miles a day. On those days, drivers of Extreme Hybrids will need no gasoline at all -- even driving an SUV,” Furia said.

“Say someone drives 40 miles a day 6 days a week and 100 miles the seventh. That’s 340 miles a week. The first 280 are electric. The next 60 miles use gas. That’s 340 miles on a little more than two gallons of gasoline for the week, assuming 32/29 urban/highway mileage in the host unmodified hybrid SUV. Although this translates into 170 MPG, we use a more conservative 150 MPG to take into account that mileage will vary depending on where and how a car is driven, but we are comfortable that 150 miles per gallon of gasoline is a good number.”