Consumer Reports Picks Prius as Green Car of 2008

Consumer Reports announced their Top Picks for 2008. The Toyota Prius came out on top in the Green Car category. Nine of the ten category winners were imports.

• Small sedan: Hyundai Elantra SE
• Family sedan: Honda Accord
• Upscale sedan: Infiniti G35
• Luxury sedan: Lexus LS 460 L
• Green car: Toyota Prius
• Fun to drive: Mazda MX-5 Miata
• Small SUV: Toyota RAV4
• Mid-sized SUV: Hyundai Santa Fe
• Minivan: Toyota Sienna
• Pickup: Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab

GM and Hyundai broke Japan's dominance from last year by appearing on the list for the first time since 2005 and for the first time ever, respectively.

Detroit Improves, Asia Shines in Overall Scores
Honda cars and trucks scored an overage of 78 out of a possible 100 points in Consumer Reports' various tests. Toyota came in second with 75 points followed by BMW, Mazda, Nissan and Volkswagen. (After rounding, Nissan and Volkswagen tied with 71 points.)

Meanwhile GM, Suzuki and Chrysler fell to the bottom. David Champion, Consumers Union's senior director of automotive testing, said Chrysler's lineup " is in the dumps."

Ford came in halfway, with steady improvement in reliability, but was unexciting. GM had some attractive vehicles, but reliability still lags.

"The big question in General Motors is, is the reliability going to be there" to go along with the new models, Champion said.

The overall score for each carmaker is based on the average score of all its vehicles tested by the magazine, and average predicted reliability scores based on the magazine's annual surveys. Honda's score included Accura, and Toyota's score reflected the Lexus line-up. Ford and Mazda were not linked together since Ford does not own Mazda outright.

Consumer Reports also calculated vehicles cost of ownership over five years. Cheaper cars were shown to be more expensive than previously thought, since their resale value was so much lower, and represents 48 percent of the cost of ownership.

Toyota Prius Wins Top Pick Green Car
According to CR, the Prius "hybrid retains its lock on this category for the fifth straight year. Despite a wave of new hybrid models, the Prius’ 44 mpg overall is still the best we’ve measured in any five-passenger car. The interior is roomy and versatile, and the Prius has been very reliable. Price: $24,000."

To be chosen as a Top Pick, each car must be well-rounded in their categories and meet the following requirements:

• Road tests: Each Top Pick scores at or near the top of its category among more than 260 vehicles we’ve recently tested at our Auto Test Center.
• Reliability: Each has an average or better predicted-reliability Rating, based on the problems subscribers reported on almost 1.3 million vehicles in our Annual Car Reliability Survey.
• Safety: Top Picks have performed adequately in overall safety if tested by the government or the insurance industry. Starting this year, they also must provide a critical safety feature, electronic stability control (ESC), either as standard equipment or as a readily available option.

It May Not Be Green, But it is Admirable

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has decided to be driven to and from his official duties as Mayor in a brand new 2008 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid SUV. At a cost of $55,000, it's understandable when taxpayers start to wonder about the choice.

But lucky for them, they will not be paying the bill for Nutter's choice of wheels. Instead, he'll be paying it out of his campaign money. The Mayor has turned down a city car for 15 years as a City Council member and I say good for him!

The mayor feels his choice sends a message about "going green." Since the Tahoe Hybrid only gets about 21/22 mpg, I'm not sure the message is going to get through. Unless his other choice was a more traditional gas powered Tahoe, in which case he will be saving about 50% fuel efficiency in city driving.

The 2008 Tahoe Hybrid did win the 2008 Green Car of the Year award and was nominated for Truck of the Year. And it's quickly becoming the SUV hybrid of choice for some politicians and celebrities.

Police Reject Hybrid For Being Too Small

Athens, Ohio police, although they were asked to consider buying a hybrid Ford Escape, rejected the hopes and wishes of the council. The Police Capt, after doing his own research, decided the unmarked police vehicle would not be capable of fulfilling the duties required. Specifically, the Escape Hybrid does not have an open bed, limiting its ability to carry large items of evidence.

Police Captain Gosney also believes the SUV hybrid would only travel around 8,000 miles a year, not enough to make up the difference in cost for his choice in vehicles. Gosney believes a better choice would be the Ford Explorer Sport Trac, which costs $5,000 less than the Escape Hybrid.

The Councilor who is pushing for the hybrid SUV feels they could break even in just two years if they drive 14,000 miles a year.

Which makes me wonder about the A-BAT concept from Toyota. It may be too small for what the police dept want it for, but it might be a better choice. GM is also coming out with a couple of hybrid trucks that may be the right size.

More options will create more opportunities for hybrids to succeed.

Source: Police find hybrid vehicle plan unacceptable

Coca-Cola Buys Fleet of Hybrid Trucks

Coca-Cola will be purchasing a fleet of 120 new hybrid trucks powered by Eaton hybrid electric drivetrain. In testing the 20 trucks they purchased in 2007, Coca-Cola found that emissions were decreased by 32 percent and fuel consumption dropped 37 percent.

120 vehicles is more than just a green PR move by any company. Which makes me think Coca-Cola could be looking to save money by buying these trucks, both through government incentives and by fuel efficiency.

Eaton has developed and sold hybrid trucks to companies like UPS (see image) and Pepsi. Delivery trucks are said to be almost obvious choices for hybrid technology, with plenty of start-stop and frequent braking (recharging the battery pack).

Eaton employs parallel-type, diesel-electric hybrid architecture with Eaton's Fuller(R) UltraShift(R) automated transmission. It incorporates an electric motor/generator between the output of an automated clutch and input of the transmission. The system recovers energy normally lost during braking and stores the energy in batteries. When electric torque is blended with engine torque, the stored energy is used to improve fuel economy and vehicle performance for a given speed or used to operate the vehicle with electric power only. The system can also be designed to provide energy for use during engine-off worksite operations, further reducing noise, emissions and fuel costs.

KALAMAZOO, Mich., Feb 27, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- ETN | news | PowerRating | PR Charts -- Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation (NYSE:ETN) today announced that Coca-Cola Enterprises will purchase 120 new trucks in 2008 powered by Eaton's hybrid electric drivetrain systems.

The Coca-Cola order represents the largest North American commercial order to date for Eaton's hybrid systems and follows the beverage company's purchase of 20 trucks with Eaton hybrid power systems in 2007.

Extensive testing and evaluations conducted by Coca-Cola Enterprises found that Eaton's hybrid-electric drivetrain equipped trucks decreased emissions by roughly 32 percent and fuel consumption by up to 37 percent as compared to conventionally-powered trucks in Coca-Cola's current fleet. Coca-Cola also reported lower maintenance costs on the hybrid-powered trucks.

"We have been working with Coca-Cola Enterprises since 2003 to assess our systems," said Dimitri Kazarinoff, general manager for emerging technologies at Eaton's Truck Group. "Coca-Cola is demonstrating its commitment to reducing pollution and greenhouse gases, and Eaton is pleased to be a part of this effort. We are looking forward to working with them to deploy the systems into their transportation network."

Dave Leasure, corporate director of fleet procurement for Coca-Cola Enterprises, added, "In addition to the environmentally friendly advantages that hybrid vehicles deliver, we are also happy to report that driver acceptance has been highly favorable, especially in high start-and-stop applications. The hybrid drive units have been performing very well in communicating with the electronic engines, always giving us the necessary torque and horsepower when it is needed."

Eaton employs parallel-type, diesel-electric hybrid architecture with Eaton's Fuller(R) UltraShift(R) automated transmission. It incorporates an electric motor/generator between the output of an automated clutch and input of the transmission. The system recovers energy normally lost during braking and stores the energy in batteries. When electric torque is blended with engine torque, the stored energy is used to improve fuel economy and vehicle performance for a given speed or used to operate the vehicle with electric power only. The system can also be designed to provide energy for use during engine-off worksite operations, further reducing noise, emissions and fuel costs.

Eaton is a leading provider of diesel-electric hybrid and hydraulic hybrid power systems for truck, bus and other commercial applications on three continents. Eaton's hybrid systems are supported by a team of Roadranger service specialists, including hybrid power experts. The Roadranger call center (800-826-HELP) is also staffed with hybrid experts to provide additional support throughout the world.

Eaton Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturer with 2007 sales of $13.0 billion. Eaton is a global leader in electrical systems and components for power quality, distribution and control; fluid power systems and services for industrial, mobile and aircraft equipment; intelligent truck drivetrain systems for safety and fuel economy; and automotive engine air management systems, powertrain solutions and specialty controls for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has 64,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 140 countries.

The First Plug-in Hybrid Bucket Truck

The following conversation occurs all the time for me. "Why do hybrids have to look so ugly? You would think they could make them look better?" In other words, if I was in charge of hybrid powertrains, I'd be doing things differently.

It seems that otherwise knowledgeable people think that every hybrid is a Prius and I have to explain that there are over a dozen hybrid cars and SUVs on the road today. In fact, they probably pass by them all the time and don't even realize it.

But then again, some hybrids are ugly because they're designed for utility first. You probably see them all the time on the road, as well, but just don't recognize them for being a hybrid. There are hybrid buses, trucks, and other commercial vehicles on the road today that run on both electric and gas power. And now, there will be plug-in hybrid utility trucks on the road.

The first utility to own and operate a plug in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) bucket truck has announced their acquisition. Adams Electric Cooperative in Gettysburg, PA will be getting the plug-in from DUECO and ODYNE.

The new plug-in hybrid electric diesel vehicle was introduced and displayed at the International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE) on October 16-18 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Toyota and GM are racing to get plug-in hybrids into production within a couple of years. These types of trucks are just the forefront of what may be the next major advancement in cars. But there are some major questions to be resolved, not the least of which is who's going to buy them and are the batteries going to last?

Press Release Follows:

GETTYSBURG, Pa. - (Business Wire) Adams Electric Cooperative, headquartered in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, will be the first utility in the United States to own and operate a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) bucket truck.

“To our knowledge,” says Steve Rasmussen, Adams Electric’s CEO/general manager, “no other utility has such a material-handling vehicle. That makes Adams Electric a national leader in efficiency and environmental investment. Because final assembly was done in York, Pennsylvania, it also lays the groundwork for a Pennsylvania-based service center for this technology.”

DUECO, Incorporated, in conjunction with ODYNE Corporation (OTCBB:ODYC), the leading developer of advanced Plug-In hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) technology has developed the PHEV propulsion system for the vehicle that minimizes fuel use and emissions found in a typical aerial lift truck. When at a job site, batteries can power all boom hydraulic functions and the climate control system for a full work day, without the use of the diesel engine. This means reduced noise from engine idle and elimination of any emissions while in battery mode. The hybrid bucket truck has a stock diesel engine and stock transmission.

The batteries require an eight-hour charge time. When the truck returns to the garage at the end of a work day, it is plugged into a three-phase, 240-volt outlet. The batteries recharge during off-peak hours using lower-cost electricity. The system can also be recharged at any point with the conventional diesel engine. The system provides the fuel efficiency and emission enhancements typical of a hybrid vehicle, while the truck is traveling to and from the work site.

Fuel cost estimates for the new hybrid bucket truck are half those of a non-hybrid truck. The ability to recharge the batteries at off-peak times offers significant savings.

In addition to the hybrid features of the PHEV bucket truck, the bucket can be lifted two extra feet after the boom is in place; it has a 55-foot vertical bucket reach, a 36-foot horizontal bucket reach and a 12-foot telescopic extension on the upper boom; the bucket can rotate around the boom 90 degrees; and the jib can lift 1,000 pounds. The total payload of the vehicle is 7,500 pounds.

Since its early days, the cooperative’s rural roots meant promotion of energy conservation and environmental stewardship. Now the co-op has a visible method of spreading the word, with a unique hybrid color scheme and signage. The new bucket truck, a rolling billboard with an essential job function, will be a daily reminder of efficiency and conservation in the communities it serves.

Adams Electric Cooperative is a non-profit, member-owned electric utility serving over 30,000 homes, farms and businesses in the counties of Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and York in Pennsylvania.

Volkswagen Golf May Get 69 mpg

Word is out that Volkswagen will be presenting a hybrid version of the Golf at the Geneva Auto Show. ABG is reporting the Diesel Hybrid TDI Golf will get 69 mpg, while autoexpress is reporting an astonishing 83 mpg (89 g/km of CO2).

The compact diesel hybrid is expected to have a 2.0-litre diesel engine combined with an electric motor. The electric motor may be able to power the vehicle at low speeds (earlier reports on the Hybrid Golf said it would be a mild hybrid).

The VW Golf Hybrid will likely get the 7-speed DSG double-clutch transmission, a start-stop system, regenerative braking, and aero-dynamic molding. But at this point, the details are not in.

And although the new compact diesel hybrid may be very exciting, don't expect it to be in the US anytime soon. Earlier reports said it may be five years before it makes its way across the Atlantic.

Hybrid Limos in New York

Mayor Bloomberg, as part of an overall effort to curb emissions in New York City, has proposed new fuel efficiency rules for limos in New York. The end result? Limos will need to go hybrid within the next five years to qualify. They will also need to be replaced every six years.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg's is attempting to decrease the city's carbon emissions by 30 percent by 2030.

Black town cars in New York currently get 12 to 15 mpg. Bloomberg is mandating they raise that to 25 mpg by 2009 and 30 mpg by 2010. There's an obvious savings in fuel by doubling the fuel efficiency, but there are critics. Buying hybrid limos will be more expensive than buying a more traditional gas powered vehicle.

To help with the cost, the Mayor has recruited Deutsche Bank and Lehman Brothers to work with the limo supply companies to provide low interest loans for the more expensive hybrid vehicles.

The new rules will need to be voted on by the Taxi and Limousine Commission in April. The rules for taxis have already been changed. 825 taxis in New York are already hybrids. By October, there should be 1,000. And by 2012, all 13,000 are supposed to be hybrid vehicles.

"Between yellow taxis and black cars, more than 23,000 Taxi and Limousine Commission regulated cars will be required to be more efficient," Bloomberg said in a statement Wednesday.

"This will allow us to achieve substantial emissions reductions for our city and keep us moving towards our long term goal of creating a truly sustainable city," he added.

Bloomberg noted that the black town cars are responsible for two percent of the city's emissions. By doubling the fuel efficiency, they can cut in half the emissions.

Are Plug In Hybrids Good For the Environment?

USA Today put together an interesting article on whether plug-in hybrids would be good for the environment. By putting the power supply onto the electric grid, you are taking the emissions problem away from the tailpipe and putting it into the coal plants that produce the electricity.

Plug-in cars could actually increase air pollution - USATODAY.com

By James R. Healey, USA TODAY
The expected introduction of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles could cut U.S. gasoline use but could increase deadly air pollution in some areas, two reports say.

That's because a plug-in's lower tailpipe emissions may be offset by smokestack emissions from the utility generating plants supplying electricity to recharge the big batteries that allow plug-ins to run up to 40 miles without kicking on their gasoline engines. Plug-ins, called PHEVs, are partly powered, in effect, by the fuel used to generate the electricity.

About 49% of U.S. electricity is generated using coal, so in some regions a plug-in running on its batteries is nearly the equivalent of a coal-burning vehicle. The trade-off is one that even plug-in backers acknowledge. It could undercut the appeal of vehicles that appear capable of using no gasoline in town and hitting 50 to 100 mpg overall fuel economy.

If large numbers of plug-in hybrids were being recharged with power from the least-sophisticated coal plants, "There is a possibility for significant increases of soot and mercury," says a report by environmental advocacy group Natural Resources Defense Council. Soot particles can make it hard to breathe, especially for asthmatics. Mercury is toxic.

Some proponents of plug-in hybrids feel that electric power plants can be regulated more easily.

Top Green Car of the Year

The non-profit organization, World Car of the Year, under the guidance of a Steering Committee of pre-eminent automotive journalists from Asia, Europe, and North America have selected the Top Green Car of the Year Finalists for 2008. The winner will be announced at the 2008 World Car awards winners’ press conference at the New York International Auto Show on Thursday, March 20, 2008.

The Top 3 Green Cars are, in alphabetical order:

• BMW 118d with Efficient Dynamics
• SmartForTwo cdi
• Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI

To be eligible for the 2008 World Green Car award, a vehicle had to available in at least one major market during 2007. The vehicle or the green technology could be in production or an experimental prototype with potential near-future application, provided that it was released for individual or press fleet evaluations in quantities of ten or more during 2007. Tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and use of a major advanced power plant technology (beyond engine componentry), aimed specifically at increasing the vehicle's environmental responsibility, were all taken into consideration.

Their are forty-seven (47) top-level automotive journalists from twenty-four (24) countries around the world on the panel that selects the Car of the Year. Each juror was appointed by the World Car Steering Committee on the basis of his or her expertise, experience, credibility, and influence. Each juror typically drives and evaluates new vehicles on a regular basis as part of their professional work.

The 2008 World Car of the Year list was also paired down to the top 3, in alphabetical order:

• Ford Mondeo
• Mazda2 / Mazda Demio
• Mercedes-Benz C-Class

And the 2008 World Performance Car award, presented by Mobil 1, are, in alphabetical order:

• Audi R8
• Audi S5 Coupé
• BMW M3

Press Release Follows:

February 20, 2008 - The countdown continues in preparation for the 2008 World Car awards winners’ press conference at the New York International Auto Show on Thursday, March 20, 2008. Announcing the annual World Car of the Year awards at the New York show is a fitting finale to the international auto show season that begins each fall with either the Paris or Frankfurt motor shows.

From an initial entry list of thirty-nine (39) new vehicles from all over the world, then a short list of ten finalists, the top three contenders for the overall 2008 World Car of the Year title were announced today by the international accounting firm KPMG. They are, in alphabetical order:

Ford Mondeo
Mazda2 / Mazda Demio
Mercedes-Benz C-Class

To be eligible for a World Car award, the contender had to be in production, and sold, on at least two continents during 2008.

Vehicles are selected and voted on by an international jury panel comprised of forty-seven (47) top-level automotive journalists from twenty-four (24) countries around the world. Each juror was appointed by the World Car Steering Committee on the basis of his or her expertise, experience, credibility, and influence. Each juror typically drives and evaluates new vehicles on a regular basis as part of their professional work.

Three additional winners for the World Performance Car, World Green Car award, and the World Car Design of the Year will also be announced at the New York International Auto Show on Thursday, March 20, 2008.

In preparation, KPMG announced today that the Top Three finalists for the 2008 World Performance Car award, presented by Mobil 1, are, in alphabetical order:

Audi R8
Audi S5 Coupé
BMW M3

While the winner of the overall World Car of the Year Award must excel in a broad range of attributes, the World Performance Car award must demonstrate a specific and overt sports/performance orientation while satisfying the same availability criteria as for the overall World Car of the Year award.

Entrants may be chosen from that list of eligible vehicles, or they may be newly introduced variants that satisfy the same criteria, but are derived from existing rather than brand-new models. In all cases, they must have a minimum annual production rate of five-hundred (500) vehicles.

" It is a great honor to stand with the top three contenders vying for the prestigious World Performance Car Award ," said Nancy Carlson, strategic global alliances - sales director, ExxonMobil Lubricants & Specialties. " For more than 30 years, Mobil 1's leading technology has influenced the world's top engineers and performance car enthusiasts with its outstanding engine protection and superior performance capabilities. We wish the three finalists the best of luck in their quest to become the 2008 World Performance Car ."

To be eligible for the 2008 World Green Car award, a vehicle had to available in at least one major market during 2007. The vehicle or the green technology could be in production or an experimental prototype with potential near-future application, provided that it was released for individual or press fleet evaluations in quantities of ten or more during 2007. Tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and use of a major advanced power plant technology (beyond engine componentry), aimed specifically at increasing the vehicle's environmental responsibility, were all taken into consideration.

The forty-seven (47) member jury chose the following top three finalists for the 2008 World Green Car award:

BMW 118d with Efficient Dynamics
SmartForTwo cdi
Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI

Cars eligible for the 2008 World Car Design of the Year award are taken from the list of World Car candidates.

A design panel consisting of four highly respected world design experts was asked to first review each candidate, and then establish a short-list of recommendations for the jurors. The design experts were:

Silvia Baruffaldi: Managing Editor, Auto & Design magazine
Robert Cumberford: design critic, Automobile and Auto & Design magazines
Akira Fujimot Editor-in-Chief, Car Styling magazine.
Tom Matan Executive Director, School of Industrial Design, Academy of Art University, San Francisco, USA

Jurors then voted on the expert’s recommendations. The top three design finalists are, in alphabetical order:

Audi R8
Mazda2 / Mazda Demio
Volvo C30

Now in their fifth year, the annual World Car awards have become one of the most prestigious and credible programs of their type in the world.

The awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as well as to recognize and reward automotive excellence on a global scale. The awards are intended to complement, not compete, with existing national and regional Car of the Year programs.

The awards are administered by a non-profit association, under the guidance of a Steering Committee of pre-eminent automotive journalists from Asia, Europe, and North America. There is no affiliation with, nor are the awards in any way influenced by any publication, auto show, automaker, or other commercial enterprise.

The First Hybrid Beverage Truck

Hybrids are coming out of the wood work lately. Freightliner has built the first Business Class M2e drop-frame beverage trucks with diesel electric hybrid powertrains. M2e hybrid utility bucket trucks are also available.

The diesel hybrid gets 30%-50% better fuel economy, but still gets 300 hp and 620 lb ft of torque from the diesel engine. The electric motor helps out with another 60 hp and 300 lb ft torque.

"The vehicle you see here is the first drop-frame hybrid beverage truck every built," Melissa Kellogg, director of product marketing for Freightliner announced during a press conference this afternoon. "The beverage industry benefits a great deal from hybrids, as does any industry that has their trucks make frequent stops, such as any pickup and delivery operation."

The electric motor is powered by lithium-ion batteries (all 200 pounds of them) and are expected to last up to seven years. The batteries are located up front just under the roof.

Oh, and they are for sale. At $40,000 more than a traditional vehicle, the premium may be hard to swallow. But government incentives in the US can offset up to 80% of the charge. In Canada, fuel savings may realistically make up the difference according to Freightliner officials.

Sources: Today's Trucking: The Online Business Resource for Canada's Trucking Industry and trucknews.com - Truck News - 2/27/2008

Lotus Starts Their Own Hybrid and Electric Research and Development

Lotus has started their own hybrid and electric vehicle R&D Group. With the importance of hybrid and electric vehicles becoming more apparent and with the increasing amount of consultancy project work in this area, a separate R&D group has become necessary.

Hybrid and electric cars are nothing new to Lotus. Last year, they brought their prototype hybrid Proton Gen. 2 they called EVE (short for Efficient, Viable and Envrionmental) to the Geneva Auto Show. They also provide the platform for the electric Tesla Roadster.

"We have an intensely proactive growth plan over the next five years," said Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive Officer for Group Lotus. “Indeed, Lotus will reinforce its position as a world leader in green transport engineering."

Phil Barker was appointed as Chief Engineer of Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Technologies. He will report to Castleton-White in Powertrain. The former design and engineering consultant will have full responsibility over research and development at the newly formed center.

"We already have an incredibly strong team of engineers working in this area," said Barker. "The formalization of this group further enhances our ability to provide both low CO2 and zero emissions vehicle solutions to our clients."

"We are committed to driving forward with green technology for both Lotus Cars and our Engineering clients," said Castleton-White in a statement. "We have made significant developments over 20 years in hybrid and electric vehicle technologies with recent examples being the Lotus EVE (Efficient, Viable, Environmental) hybrid technology demonstrator and the Low CO2 project undertaken in collaboration with Continental Division Powertrain."

BMW Hybrid X5 They Call Vision

BMW is introducing the concept of a mild active hybrid in the X5 Hybrid they call Vision at the Geneva Auto Show. This diesel hybrid electric comes with a 2.0-liter diesel engine with twin variable-geometry turbochargers and direct injection for plenty of power (204 hp) and torque (295 lb-ft). But coupled with a electric motor-generator powered by a lithium-ion battery pack which gives you and extra 20 hp and 155 lb-ft, the engine can deliver 36 mpg combined city/highway with emissions of only 172 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer.

The concept vehicle also comes with 10.8 square feet of solar cells on the top roof, capable of powering audio devices or mobile phones. It is also used to power pre-heaters for the transmission fluid and diesel fuel, which helps out when the car is started, boosting efficiency the way a block heater would.

The lithium ion (Li-Ion) battery pack can be recharged by the diesel engine or through regenerative breaks. The X5 Vision Hybrid comes with all wheel drive and is an eight-speed automatic transmission. The mild hybrid comes in using start/stop technology. And it seats seven comfortably.

The 120 volt system has been set to support moving electricity from the two lithium-ion battery packs into the various components including the electronic damper control (EDC) system. The electric system also powers the air conditioning and other systems when the engine is turned off.

The hybrid powertrain is a result of the work with GM and Daimler, which GM and Daimler are using to produce their two-mode hybrid SUVs and trucks.

One other fine feature is the 19 inch wheels that have been designed to lower wind resistance. According to BMW, the wheels are capable of reducing the load on the engine by 1 hp when the car is traveling at 100 mph. The wheels themselves are low-rolling resistance tires from Firestone.

"This is no pie-in-the-sky project," says Klaus Draeger, head of development at BMW. "All of the features are production-feasible. We could easily and without too much delay apply the various technology featured on our latest concept to existing showroom models."

The Toyota Hybrid A-BAT May Become a Reality

The concept vehicle A-BAT (Advanced-Breakthrough Aerodynamic Truck) shown last month at the Detroit Auto Show may become a reality now that automakers are starting to feel pinched by the new CAFE regulations.

"As we look to 2020, when we have to get 35 miles per gallon (fleetwide), that's a big challenge," Lentz said in an interview.

The A-BAT could fit on the shortened Camry/Highlander platform, making it easier for production to begin. It could end up in either the Scion or Toyota lineup.

And Toyota wants you to let them know if it's a good idea. The Toyota Open Road Blog is looking for input on what you liked or didn't like about the concept. So head on over and have your say in what could be the first compact hybrid truck on the road in the US.

Some of the features won't be likely to make it out of the concept design, but others will.

The cargo bed is just 4 feet long, but can be extended by dropping the midgate, while a roof panel can be slid open for more upwards room. More features for the bed include: tailgate lighting, sliding tie-downs, and an AC power outlet. There are lockable drawers in the bed walls and a sliding drawer is located underneath the bed.

There is a solar panel which can be used to charge the NAV unit, while a portable power pack can provide AC and DC power for just about anything else you need.

And, if Toyota does go ahead with production of the A-BAT, it may force GM to compete with their concept hybrid compact truck, the Denali XT Hybrid.

Fuel Efficiency is Top Unmet Need for New Car Buyers

New buyers are most concerned with improved fuel efficiency according to a study by the RDA Group.

The RDA Group surveyed almost 8,200 new vehicle owners and asked them to rank 500 features they felt were unmet needs in different areas including safety, performance, visibility, comfort, convenience, security, storage, telecommunications and service/maintenance.

"To have optimal market impact and meet more of the most important needs vehicle consumers have, automotive manufacturers must carefully prioritize their research and development resources," said Jim Thomas, senior vice president for the RDA Group. "The Auto-Ideation III study not only identifies the top needs among owners in each of 12 car and truck vehicle categories, but also by such key demographic groups as younger versus older vehicle drivers and male versus female drivers."

Other needs of top concern to new drivers include safety and performance issues:

• Violent-collision protection
• Vehicle entrapment
• Increased range on a tank of gasoline
• Vehicle seats that provide optimal comfort
• Working brakes in deep-water situations
• Easy window defrost
• Hydroplane control
• Preventing unauthorized entry
• Traction in icy conditions

I have to admit, after reading the press release, that aside from fuel economy issues (no surprise there), I would really like to see service alerts in plain english.

Press Release Follows:

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Results of RDA Group's recent Auto-Ideation(TM) III study - that asked new vehicle owners to rank the importance of over 500 unmet needs - puts "significant improvement" in fuel economy at the top of the list. Other issues relating to violent collision protection, vehicle entrapment, child back-over avoidance, lane changing assistance, glare elimination and 360 degree visibility follow as the next most important needs today's vehicle owners want manufacturers to address when developing future vehicles.

"To have optimal market impact and meet more of the most important needs vehicle consumers have, automotive manufacturers must carefully prioritize their research and development resources," said Jim Thomas, senior vice president for the RDA Group. "The Auto-Ideation III study not only identifies the top needs among owners in each of 12 car and truck vehicle categories, but also by such key demographic groups as younger versus older vehicle drivers and male versus female drivers."

The study also found that:

-- Compared to car owners, truck owners have more needs relative to their vehicle's larger size and its impact on visibility - particularly "child back-over prevention" and "360 degree visibility from the driver's seat."

-- Compared to their younger counterparts, older drivers are particularly concerned about their weakening vision as they age. They want "blind spot alerts when changing lanes," "glare elimination" and "vision assistance when driving in heavy rain or low light conditions."

-- Compared to their male counterparts, women drivers also place more importance on visibility needs, as well as needs related to vehicle service/maintenance including "having in-vehicle service alerts in plain English."

The Auto-Ideation III study provides automotive manufacturers and their suppliers the insight needed to prioritize their own new product development resources for greater product success. Almost 8,200 new vehicle owners ranked the importance of unmet needs in areas such as safety, performance, visibility, comfort, convenience, security, storage, telecommunications and service/maintenance.

This Syndicated Auto-Ideation III study targeted 2006/2007 model new car and truck owners who were interviewed in an online survey conducted during November and December 2007.

All three of the Auto-Ideation studies conducted from 2003 to 2007 have identified thousands of unmet needs in vehicles. For the first time, Auto-Ideation III is able to provide study subscribers with importance validation of hundreds of these thought-provoking needs that new vehicles owners have identified. To purchase a copy of the study, interested parties can call (248) 332-5000.

Hybrid Battery Production Increase For Toyota

If battery production is any measure of what kind of plans Toyota has for next year, it's going to be a good year for hybrids. Panasonic EV Energy Co. is planning on building 800,000 hybrid batteries, about 95% of which will end up in Toyota cars in 2009.

That would be a huge increase in numbers, given Toyota sold 429,000 hybrids in 2007.

There may be a limit to the number of Prius being bought and sold in the US at this point, but I guess that sort of limit doesn't apply worldwide or to other hybrid cars.

Source: Toyota hybrid battery partner boosts output - Automotive News

San Francisco Mayor Wants You to Plug-in Your Car

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is pushing for plug-in hybrid cars in a big way. Standing in front of a garage that converts hybrids into plug-in hybrids, Newsom said "This is an open purchase order where we will commit to purchasing these low-emission cars and we will use them to replace the vehicles in our existing fleet. We want to create our own market for these cars."

Newsom is planning on encouraging other mayors in the Bay Area to join him in the effort. He is also going to encourage others at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in June.

Pat's Garage converted three hybrids for the city into plug-ins. The Garage says it costs about $20,000 to convert a Prius into a Plug-in.

Although the article doesn't mention them (Source: Newsom urges push for hybrid plug-in cars), it sounds like Newsom has signed on as part of Plug-in Partners (previous post). Plug-in Partners is hoping to encourage plug-in vehicles by creating a market for them before they are in mass production.

Oprah Gives Away Six Hybrid Escalades

GM continues to push their new hybrid SUVs by presenting six new Hybrid Escalades to six different women on Oprah. After seeing the 2008 Escalade Hybrid being advertised at the Superbowl, Oprah producers wanted to see if GM would be willing to help them give six women a complete makeover.

I can imagine how excited they were to receive these brand new SUVs.

But it makes me wonder who GM is advertising to on the Oprah Show? Most people will not be able to afford this vehicle. At $60K to $70K, these are not budget vehicles. I suppose putting it on Oprah will certainly help develop a buzz about GM and hybrid vehicles.

And perhaps that's all it is? An attempt to change GM's image to being more green?

PEGOS From US Hybrid and SwRI

US Hybrid has licensed a parallel hybrid drive system for use in commercial delivery vehicles, ports, off-road and GSE vehicles. In house testing on a mid-size sedan showed a 40-50% improvement in fuel economy (city).

The system was developed at the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI).

What this means to you: hybrid systems are going to really start taking off in more places, not just buses and passenger vehicles.

Press Release Follows:

NEW YORK - (Business Wire) US Hybrid Corporation announced today that it has received a license to use and commercialize the Southwest Research Institute’s (SwRI) patented PECOS (Parallel Hybrid Electric Combination of Speeds) parallel hybrid drive system. The PECOS system offers a unique parallel/series hybrid solution utilizing a planetary system and is capable to operate in a parallel, series or pure EV mode.

US Hybrid is commercializing the patented hybrid system technology for use in commercial delivery vehicles, ports, off-road and GSE vehicles. “The PECOS system offers cost-effective hybrid solutions with substantial fuel economy improvement and emission reduction. The initial product development focus is for port operation support vehicles and off-road commercial vehicles,” said Dr. Abas Goodarzi, President and CEO of US Hybrid.

The PECOS system was developed and tested at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in an internally funded project. Chassis testing of the powertrain on a mid-sized vehicle produced fuel economy benefits in the range of 40 percent to 50 percent for city driving.

US Hybrid will provide an integrated hybrid solution for commercial and off-road vehicles to enhance fuel economy and reduce emissions. The PECOS system does not need a clutch or torque converter to launch the vehicle and has only one electric machine for both parallel and series hybrid operation. The use of off-road vehicles is regulated near some populated areas such as ports and construction sites. The PECOS hybrid system provides a commercially viable hybrid solution to meet the 2010 emission requirements.

Hybrid Systems Are Just Another Luxury Item

Toyota is looking to make hybrids into a luxury option. By setting up hybrids, like the new Crown Hybrid in Japan, as top of the line, Toyota is hoping to create hybrids as luxury models.

This may be in response to who the typical hybrid car buyers are: older, upper middle class, etc... Of course, that may be because that's who can afford the hybrid technology in the first place, so it may be a matter of who came first, the chicken or the egg.

But despite the premise of this story from autonews, selling hybrids as luxury vehicles is nothing new. Most hybrids come with some of the latest options, like fobs that allow you to open and start the car without using a key, nav systems, etc...

Also, note all the hybrid models from Lexus, and how Ford came out with a Mercury Mariner Hybrid. And Nissan has said their first homegrown hybrid will most likely be an Infiniti model. GM's new hybrid models with the dual mode hybrid system will all be oversized, luxury SUV hybrids.

Just the other day, PSA announced they will be developing their own hybrid diesel cars into the more expensive vehicles. This was in response to a block of a project in public funding to develop a hybrid vehicle system along with Continental, Bosch, Valeo and Thyssen-Krupp. PSA had hoped the hybrid diesel platform would be in use for the Peugeot 308 in 2010. Now they've been delayed until 2011.

It's because of the high cost of developing hybrid technology that production has been limited, despite the ever rising popularity of hybrid cars. Ford claims it will only be this year they will make a profit on their hybrid lineup. Nissan CEO Ghosn has claimed he hates building hybrid cars because he hates selling any car for a loss.

By passing hybrids off as a luxury model, automakers are looking to pass off the extra cost of a hybrid system to the buyer, rather than having to eat the costs themselves.

One other side note from autonews about Toyota. Toyota is still hoping to integrate hybrid technology into more of their line-up. To do so, they need the platforms themselves to capable of handling the hybrid system:

Another element of Toyota's hybrid push will be phasing in versatile platforms that can accommodate both a conventional drivetrain and a hybrid one.

All newly introduced platforms will be dual-use, said Shinichi Matsumoto, Toyota's general manager for hybrid vehicle engineering. Only four of Toyota's 11 passenger-car platforms can now swap conventional and hybrid powertrains.

Having dual-use platforms will allow Toyota to add hybrid versions in the midlife of a model series without waiting for a complete redesign, Matsumoto said.

" We are going to be introducing new hybrid models and expanding sales of current hybrids into new countries," he said. " Our production of hybrids is increasing very sharply, and this tendency will continue next year."

Hybrid Knight Rider Scores Big in the Nielsens

The Nielsen Media Research estimated 12.7 million viewers watched the newly renovated hybrid Ford Mustang that plays the starring role in the Knight Rider movie on Sunday (via edmunds). It was very popular in the 18-49 year old and did very well in men 18-49 and 25-54.

Which all adds up to a Knight Rider Series coming.

In the movie, it was revealed KITT, which (who?) is based on Ford's Mustang Shelby Cobra, was capable of getting 167 mpg. According to KITT: "My system is largely solar-powered. It recycles ninety-one percent of its expended energy, allowing a ratio of 167 miles traveled for every gallon of fuel burned."

In case you were wondering (for some reason, it wasn't on the NBC web site), the voice of KITT was done by Val Kilmer, who replaced Will Arnett. Arnett was removed after the lawyers got involved since he is used in several GM ads.

Prius Wins Green Car of the Year in Finland

Motiva has designated the Toyota Prius as Green Car of the Year. Motiva is a Finnish state-owned outfit that promotes efficient energy use and renewables.

This is the first time a hybrid has won the award from Motiva. Seven gas-only and five diesel vehicles have won the award in the past.

Source: NewsRoom Finland

Greenest Car of the Year

Of the top 10 greenest cars, 4 of them are hybrids according to the the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Greenercars.org calculates their top 10 greenest vehicles based on their 'green score,' a measure of their emissions, fuel consumption and the emission of gases that cause global warming.

The ACEEE also lists out the top green cars for vehicle type. The Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid and Chevy Tahoe Hybrid received top scorese in their respective classes, while the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Nissan Altima Hybrid round out the top 10 greenest cars.

To see the list for 2007 greenest and meanest cars, follow the link.

Greener Choices 2008

A Selection of Gasoline Vehicles that Score Well

Make and Model	Specifications	Emission Standarda	MPG: City	MPG: Hwy	Green Score
TOYOTA PRIUS	1.5L 4, auto CVT	Tier 2 bin 3 / PZEV	48	45	53
HONDA CIVIC HYBRID	1.3L 4, auto CVT	Tier 2 bin 2 / PZEV	40	45	51
SMART FORTWO CONVERTIBLE/COUPE	1.0L 3, auto stk [P]	Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II	33	41	49
HONDA FIT	1.5L 4, auto	Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II	27	34	43
FORD ESCAPE HYBRID	2.3L 4, auto CVT	Tier 2 bin 3 / PZEV	34	30	42
HYUNDAI SONATA	2.4L 4, auto	Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II	21	30	39
SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON	2.5L 4, auto stk 4wd	Tier 2 bin 5 / PZEV	20	26	37
NISSAN ROGUE	2.5L 4, auto	Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II	22	27	37
TOYOTA TACOMA	2.7L 4, auto	Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II	19	25	34
TOYOTA SIENNA	3.5L 6, auto	Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II	17	23	33
CHEVROLET TAHOE HYBRID C1500	6.0L 8, auto	Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II	21	22	28
NISSAN FRONTIER	4.0L 6, auto 4wd	Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II	14	19	27
[P] denotes premium gasoline. "auto CVT" denotes continuously variable automatic transmission. "auto stk" denotes manually adjustable automatic transmission. a A listing with two emission standards (e.g., Tier 2 bin 3 / PZEV) denotes a single vehicle carrying both a federal and California emission certification. Green Scores for such listings reflect the cleaner of the two certifications.

Greenest Vehicles of 2008

Make and Model	Specifications a	Emission Standardb	MPG: City	MPG: Hwy	Green Score
HONDA CIVIC GX	1.8L 4, auto [CNG] c	Tier 2 bin 2 / PZEV	24	36	57
TOYOTA PRIUS	1.5L 4, auto CVT	Tier 2 bin 3 / PZEV	48	45	53
HONDA CIVIC HYBRID	1.3L 4, auto CVT	Tier 2 bin 2 / PZEV	40	45	51
SMART FORTWO CONVERTIBLE / COUPE	1.0L 3, auto stk [P]	Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II	33	41	49
TOYOTA YARIS	1.5L 4, manual	Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II	29	36	46
NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID	2.5L 4, auto CVT	PZEV	35	33	46
TOYOTA COROLLA	1.8L 4, manual	Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II	28	37	45
MINI COOPER / CLUBMAN	1.6L 4, manual [P]	Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II	28	37	44
FORD FOCUS	2.0L 4, manual	Tier 2 bin 3 / PZEV	24	35	44
TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID	2.4L 4, auto CVT	Tier 2 bin 3 / PZEV	33	34	44
HONDA CIVIC	1.8L 4, manual	Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II	26	34	44
HONDA FIT	1.5L 4, manual	Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II	28	34	44
[CNG] denotes compressed natural gas fuel. [P] denotes premium gasoline "auto stk" denotes manually adjustable automatic transmission "auto CVT" denotes continuously variable automatic transmission. a Certain other configurations of these models (with different transmissions or meeting different emission standards) score nearly as well. b A listing with two emission standards (e.g., Tier 2 bin 2/ PZEV) denotes a single vehicle carrying both a Federal and a California emission certification. Green Scores for such listings reflect the cleaner of the two certifications. c Compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle fuel economy given in gasoline-equivalent miles per gallon.

Meanest Vehicles for the Environment in 2008

Make and Model	Specifications	Emission Standard a	MPG: City	MPG: Hwy	Green Score
VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG	5.0L 10, auto stk 4wd [D]	Tier 2 bin 10	15	20	14
BUGATTI VEYRON	8.0L 16, auto stk 4wd [P]	Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II	8	13	17
MERCEDES-BENZ GL320 CDI	3.0L 6, auto 4wd [D]	Tier 2 bin 10	18	24	17
JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE	3.0L 6, auto 4wd [D] b	Tier 2 bin 10	17	22	17
MERCEDES-BENZ R320 CDI	3.0L 6, auto 4wd [D]	Tier 2 bin 10	18	24	17
LAMBORGHINI MURCIELAGO / MURCIELAGO ROADSTER	6.5L 12, manual 4wd [P]	Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II	8	13	18
MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 CDI	3.0L 6, auto 4wd [D]	Tier 2 bin 10	18	24	18
MERCEDES-BENZ G55 AMG	5.4L 8, auto 4wd [P]	Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II	11	13	18
HUMMER H2 c	6.0L 8, auto 4wd	Tier 2 bin 8	12	16	18
GMC YUKON 2500 c	6.0L 8, auto 4wd	Tier 2 bin 8	12	16	18
BENTLEY AZURE	6.7L 8, auto stk [P]	Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II	9	15	18
BENTLEY ARNAGE d	6.7L 8, auto stk [P]	Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II	9	15	18
[D] denotes diesel fuel. [P] denotes premium gasoline. "auto stk" denotes manually adjustable automatic transmission. a A listing with two emission standards (e.g., Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II) denotes a single vehicle carrying both a federal and a California emission certification. Green Scores for such listings reflect the cleaner of the two certifications. b The 2wd configuration of this model receives a Green Score of 18. c These vehicles, classified as heavy duty trucks, are exempt from fuel economy regulations. d The Bentley Arnage (non-RL) also receives a Green Score of 18.

Press Release Follows:

Washington, D.C. (February 6, 2007): Amid numerous industry claims of eco-friendly vehicles and rising public concern about U.S. oil dependence, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) today named the year's "greenest" and "meanest" vehicles, along with environmental scorings of all model year 2007 cars and passenger trucks. This announcement marks the tenth year ACEEE has published its widely respected rankings. The vehicle scores are part of ACEEE's Green Book® Online, ACEEE's environmental guide to cars and trucks, available at GreenerCars.com.

Claiming the prize as the greenest model year 2007 vehicle is Honda's natural gas-powered Civic GX. The Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid, stalwarts on the annual "Greenest Vehicles" list, claim spots two and three, while the Nissan Altima Hybrid and Toyota Yaris, market newcomers for model year 2007, round out the top five. Others in the list include conventional and hybrid-electric vehicles from Honda, Hyundai, Kia, and Toyota. Domestic automakers were shut out of the top-twelve list.

"We've seen a lot of advertising this past year about efficient and eco-friendly vehicles being offered by domestic manufacturers. But when you look at the specs that matter, it's fair to say the imports have Detroit's number," said author and principal vehicle analyst James Kliesch, a Research Associate at ACEEE. Kliesch blames the domestics' absence from the list on their wavering approach to fuel-efficient technologies. "Certain companies committed years ago to fuel-efficient technologies—and held firm to those commitments. Today, those automakers have a clear competitive advantage in the world of green vehicles."

Widely regarded as the pre-eminent buyer's guide to environment-friendly passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs, GreenerCars.com provides the facts necessary to examine the eco-performance of any 2007 model. Vehicles are analyzed on the basis of a "Green Score," a singular measure that incorporates unhealthy tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and the emissions of gases that cause global warming.

This year's "Meanest Vehicles for the Environment," a list traditionally dominated by large domestic pickups and SUVs, contains only four models from Detroit. European imports make up the remainder of the list. Much of the reason for that shift is the arrival of a number of new diesel models that meet some of the dirtiest tailpipe emissions standards allowable in the United States. Five diesels populate the year's twelve-worst list, including the year's most environmentally unfriendly model, the diesel-powered Volkswagen Touareg. Rounding out the "bottom five" are the Mercedes-Benz GL320 CDI, Lamborghini Murcielago, diesel-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Bentley Arnage RL. Prominent gasoline models on the list include the Dodge Ram 2500 Mega Cab pickup, Ford F-250 pickup, and Lincoln Navigator SUV.

"Given the arrival this year of ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel, having five diesels show up on the Meanest Vehicles list is a letdown," noted Therese Langer, ACEEE's Transportation Program Director. "Fortunately, these same manufacturers have already announced plans to bring much cleaner diesels to the United States in 2008, using an entirely different emissions control strategy." While diesels are more efficient than gasoline-powered vehicles with similar performance, they produce higher levels of environmentally damaging nitrogen oxides and particulate matter and consequently require more sophisticated emissions control.

The GreenerCars.com Web site also identifies a selection of top widely available models in each vehicle class. This "Greener Choices" list includes larger vehicles, such as the Ford Escape Hybrid SUV, GMC Sierra Classic C1500 pickup, and Toyota Sienna minivan. Passenger cars such as the Hyundai Sonata and Ford Focus Wagon also top their respective classes. As the list demonstrates, consumers can make "greener choices," whether they need a sedan, minivan, pickup truck, or SUV.

"To answer the President's energy security call to cut oil consumption, we need an American fuel that emits nothing from the tailpipe. That fuel is energy efficiency—the first fuel in the race for energy security," commented Bill Prindle, ACEEE's Acting Executive Director. "We must boost fuel economy if we hope to replace oil with biofuels or any other energy source. The good news is that we can boost fuel economy with the technologies on our Greenest Vehicles list, easing our pain at the pump while revitalizing our auto industry and slowing global warming."

In addition to highlighting the year's "Greenest," "Meanest," "Greener Choices," and best-in-class lists, the GreenerCars.com Web site contains informational write-ups on model year 2007 highlights, a consumer primer on vehicles and the environment, and advice on how to buy green when shopping for a new car or truck.

Oil goes over 100 dollars again

Oil went over $100 again, but this time there was no overriding reason for it. Which means investors just feel that prices are going to continue to climb, despite lowered expectations on growth.

Which means we'll be paying more for gas sometime soon.

Source: Oil jumps above $100 on refinery outage - Yahoo! News

NEW YORK - Oil futures shot higher Tuesday, closing above $100 for the first time as investors bet that crude prices will keep climbing despite evidence of plentiful supplies and falling demand. At the pump, gas prices rose further above $3 a gallon.

There was no single driver behind oil's sharp price jump; investors seized on an explosion at a 67,000 barrel per day refinery in Texas, the falling dollar, the possibility that OPEC may cut production next month, the threat of new violence in Nigeria and continuing tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela.

Chery Wins Bid to Use Hybrid Cars in 2008 Olympic Games

As part of the 2008 Olympic celebration in China, 50 of the 80 vehicles to be used for Olympic traffic service will come from Chery. Of the 50, 40 Chery BSG Hybrids and 10 Chery ISG Hybrids will be used to ferry traffic around the 2008 Olympic Games.

Chery will be the first Chinese company to provide this type of service at an Olympic Games.


Press Release Follows:

Feb. 18, 2008 -- The other day, a piece of good news came from Chinese Olympic Committee that among the 80 vehicles for Olympic traffic service, Chery won a share of 50 through competing with the participating foreign brands, thus becoming the first Chinese brand to appear in the Olympic Games. By then, a green motorcade composed of Chery cars will serve the Olympic Games. This motorcade consists of 40 Chery BSG hybrids and 10 Chery ISG hybrids, which are both based on the Chery A5 model.

Relevant data shows that the first electric car was applied in the Munich 1972 Olympic Games. Since then, all the Olympic Games and those for the disabled apply the most advanced environment-protection vehicles at that time, so as to respond to the two Olympic themes of Science and Green. The world top automakers, including BMW and GM, etc have successively provided the relevant technology. However, Chery is the first Chinese brand to serve the Olympic Games. This indicates the leading position of Chery in the fields of environment protection. On city roads, compared to the vehicles of the same displacement, the fuel economy of the BSG A5 is improved by about 10%-15%, while its carbon dioxide emission is reduced by 12% or so; the fuel economy of the ISG A5 is improved by about 25%-30%, while its carbon dioxide emission is reduced by approximately 12%.

The pollution caused by car exhaust keeps troubling the whole world. Inevitably, the solution toward this problem is to research and develop new energy vehicles. With the long-term development of fuel-saving and environment-protection vehicles as its orientation, Chery will contribute itself to the healthy and sustainable development of the Chinese auto industry.

Congestion Charge Becomes Emissions Charge in London

London mayor has modified the congestion rules once again, tripling the charge to those who drive cars and trucks that emit more than 225 grams of CO2/kilometer. They will charged £25 (around $49) just to drive downtown for the day.

Those driving low-emission vehicles like the Toyota Prius or Ford Focus can have the fee waived completely. But their exemption will be coming to an end. New registrations will close in October, and exemptions will cease in 2010. Toyota Prius sales have skyrocketed in London, partly in result to being exempt to the waiver.

Mayor Livingstone plans on implementing the changes on Oct 27. Livingstone estimates 81 percent of drivers will will continue to pay the current fee of £8, while 17 percent will face the higher charge. Around 2 percent will go free.

"Nobody needs to damage the environment by driving a gas-guzzling Chelsea tractor in central London," Mr Livingstone said.

Before congestion charging began on 17 February, 2003, 334,000 vehicles entered the zone each day. Transport for London says traffic entering the zone is down by 21 per cent, with 70,000 fewer vehicles a day entering central London.

In the western extension of the zone, which has covered the boroughs of Kensington and much of Westminster since last February, traffic decreased by up to 15 per cent in a year.

The new changes are being attacked by Federation of Master Builders (FMB), which criticizes Transport for London for failing to consider the needs of consumers and builders who need to enter London’s congestion zone to carry out essential repairs.

The FMB fears the new charge could be detrimental to the industry's ability to maintain the fabric of London’s built environment.

Peterbilt Medium Duty Hybrids are Eligible for Tax Credits

I sometimes forget about these larger hybrids, since I am so focused on the passenger vehicle market, but seeing a $12,000 tax credit is available certainly catches the eye.

The Class 7 hybrid for the Model 335 Hybrid Electric is available as both utility-boom and pickup and delivery applications. It comes with a PACCAR PX-6 engine and an Eaton hybrid system. Buyers are eligible for a $12,000 tax credit.

The Model 330 Class 6 Hybrid Electric in utility-boom and pickup-and-delivery applications is equipped with a PACCAR PX-6 engine and an Eaton hybrid system. Buyers are eligible for $6,000 in tax credits.

"Peterbilt’s product breadth in hybrid vehicles is pacing the industry with research and development in four applications for Class 6 through Class 8 trucking segments," says Larry Reding, assistant general manager of sales and marketing, Peterbilt Motors Company. "The federal tax credit combined with the over 30 percent fuel efficiency gains makes these products very attractive for our environmentally conscious customers."

The Model 335 Hybrid Electric utilizes components that provide up to a 30 to 40 percent improvement in fuel efficiency, when configured for a utility application. These fuel savings are realized through both an on-road fuel economy gain, and an 80 percent reduction in engine idling, through electric operation of the Power Take-Off (PTO) using the on-board lithium-ion batteries.

The Model 330 is powered by the PACCAR PX-6 engine rated at 240 horsepower and 560 ft-lbs of torque. With the hybrid system engaged, horsepower increases to 300 and torque to 860 ft-lbs. This configuration is ideal for stop-and-go use, such as urban pick-up and delivery, with the hybrid system resulting in 30 to 40 percent greater fuel savings by using electric power to accelerate the vehicle from a stop.

According to Peterbilt Chief Engineer Landon Sproull, the truck uses a parallel hybrid system that was developed with Eaton Corporation. A parallel hybrid system has an electric motor that assists the mechanical diesel engine with supplemental torque for improved fuel economy. The system stores energy during stopping through a process called regenerative braking, and then reuses it for acceleration. The system also stores energy during idling and uses it to power the vehicle’s PTO.

Orange Waives Tax on Fuel Efficient Cars in Connecticutt

The Connecticutt town of Orange will become the first to waive the tax on those who own cars getting 40 mpg or better in city driving.

"It's a good first step," Orange First Selectman James Zeoli said.

"We want to promote and encourage energy conservation," Orange Selectman Mitchell Goldblatt said. "This will help keep our air cleaner."

Like other CT towns, Orange selectman were worried that by abating the tax on those citizens means the other citizens are being forced to make up for the difference. Vernon, CT, for instance, has tried twice to pass a similar measure, but both efforts have failed to be passed by the selectman.

Selectman worry that these types of measures are passing the tax burden from the rich onto the poor because of the expense of hybrid cars. But, others feel that the benefits outweigh the cost.

Source: Orange becomes state's first town to forgive tax on 'green' cars -- Newsday.com

Crown Hybrid in Japan

Toyota unveiled a hybrid version of its Crown sedan, its flagship luxury series in Japan. The Lexus brand is Toyota's luxury "universal brand", but the Crown series is more popular in Japan.

The Crown Hybrid will be available in Japan in May. They will be priced between 5.95 million yen and 6.19 million yen. Toyota is looking to sell around 800 a month.

"The new Crown maintains the traditional quality of trust and safety while being equipped with state-of-the-art technologies," Toyota president Katsuaki Watanabe told reporters.

"We have customers who strongly support the Crown brand over the Lexus." The Crown line was first launched in 1955 as Toyota's flagship luxury sedan and is particularly popular in the Japanese market.

The Crown Hybrid adopts a TFT (thin film transistor) LCD Finegraphic Meter, which features excellent visibility and provides clear information to the driver. In addition to digital and analog speedometers, a hybrid system status indicator shows output and energy recovery. A color silhouette of the vehicle appears on the display when the driver enters the cabin followed by the Crown logo the moment the engine is started.

The Night View system, available in the Crown Hybrid, features the world's first1 pedestrian detection function based on a near-infrared camera, thereby improving a driver's visibility at night.

Other Features of the Crown Hybrid

The rear-wheel drive THS II (Toyota Hybrid System II) with a two-stage motor speed reduction device provides the driving performance of a 4.5-liter vehicle with the low fuel consumption of a 2.0-liter vehicle to deliver powerful and smooth acceleration and exceptional environmental performance.

The combination of a high output 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine and a high-performance electric motor achieves excellent driving performance, a quiet ride, high fuel efficiency and clean emissions.

The electric vehicle (EV) driving mode permits the driver, simply by pressing a button, to operate the vehicle using the electric motor only, for quiet operation early in the morning or late at night and lower emissions.

The Active Noise Control function uses the speakers to cancel out engine booming noise (low-frequency engine noise) and provide an even quieter ride.

The rear-wheel drive THS II (Toyota Hybrid System II) with a two-stage motor speed reduction device provides the driving performance of a 4.5-liter vehicle with the low fuel consumption of a 2.0-liter vehicle to deliver powerful and smooth acceleration and exceptional environmental performance.

The combination of a high output 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine and a high-performance electric motor achieves excellent driving performance, a quiet ride, high fuel efficiency and clean emissions.

The electric vehicle (EV) driving mode permits the driver, simply by pressing a button, to operate the vehicle using the electric motor only, for quiet operation early in the morning or late at night and lower emissions.

The Active Noise Control function uses the speakers to cancel out engine booming noise (low-frequency engine noise) and provide an even quieter ride.

The Crown Hybrid achieves a fuel efficiency of 14.0 km/l according to the newly introduced JC08 test cycle outlined by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) and it is one of the first vehicles to meet the new 2015 Japanese fuel efficiency standards1. The vehicle also achieves the equivalent of 166g/km of CO2 emissions. (Under the traditional 10-15 test cycle, the fuel efficiency is 15.8km/l, surpassing the existing 2010 fuel efficiency standards by 20%, with CO2 emissions just 147g/km.)

Press Release Follows:

Tokyo - TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced today it has completely redesigned the "Crown Royal Saloon" and "Crown Athlete" series and added a hybrid model to the product lineup. The Royal Saloon and Athlete series go on sale in Japan today and the "Crown Hybrid" will be launched in Japan on May 6.

The 13th-generation Crown unveiled today retains the sense of poise and reliability that characterizes the Crown series, which has earned a reputation as the leader among luxury vehicles in Japan over the more than half a century since its debut in 1955. At the same time, the new Crown adopts advanced technologies to create luxury sedans that provide performance at the world's highest levels.

While the hybrid version delivers outstanding cruising and environmental performance, all three series benefit from the excellent vehicle stability and preventive safety performance offered by VDIM (Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management).

Other advanced features include a Pre-crash Safety System that can determine - as a world's first* - whether the driver's eyes are properly open. Such features, together with an integrated navigation system, result in one of the world's highest levels of driver support.

* As of January 2008, as surveyed by TMC


Monthly Sales Targets in Japan: 5,500 units (including 800 units of the hybrid model)


Assembly Plant:
Motomachi Plant, Toyota Motor Corporation

Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices

(Prices in Hokkaido and Okinawa differ; unit: yen)

Crown Royal Saloon / Crown Athlete

Grade		Engine	Transmission	Powertrain	Price1(including consumption tax)
	Royal Saloon	4GR-FSE (2.5-liter V6)	6 Super ECT2	Front-engine, rear-wheel drive	3,680,000
	"Navigation Package"				4,260,000
	Royal Saloon i-Four			Four-wheel drive	4,100,000
	"Navigation Package"				4,620,000
	Royal Saloon	3GR-FSE (3.0-liter V6)		Front-engine, rear-wheel drive	4,580,000
	Royal Saloon G				5,280,000
	"Leg-rest Package"				5,350,000
	Royal Saloon i-Four			Four-wheel drive	4,948,000
	"U Package"				5,648,000
	Athlete	4GR-FSE (2.5-liter V6)		Front-engine, rear-wheel drive	3,740,000
	"Navigation Package"				4,320,000
	Athlete i-Four			Four-wheel drive	4,110,000
	"Navigation Package"				4,640,000
	Athlete	2GR-FSE (3.5-liter V6)		Front-engine, rear-wheel drive	4,870,000
	"G Package"				5,670,000

Crown Hybrid

Grade		Hybrid System	Powertrain	Price1(including consumption tax)
	Hybrid	THS II with two-stage motor speed reduction device (3.5-liter V6 engine + motor)	Front-engine, rear-wheel drive	6,190,000
	"Standard Package"			5,950,000

1. Prices listed do not include recycling fees.
2. Super Intelligent, Electronically-controlled, Six-speed Automatic Transmission


Vehicle Outline

Advanced Equipment and Stylish Designs

• The redesigned Crown features enhanced visibility, as well a sense of presence and expressiveness, based on the Toyota design philosophy of "Vibrant Clarity".

Exterior

• The expanded length, width and track combine with a body that integrates the bumper, hood and fender into an organic form. The dynamic front view and flowing door styling achieve an aura of elegance.
• The front pillars have been extended forward to give the cabin an expanded look, and the door mirrors have been placed on the door panels to increase forward visibility.

Interior

• The wide instrument panel and overall feeling of openness heightens driving pleasure and contrasts with the vertical nature of the center console. The lower portion of the instrument panel, which is finished with high-quality double stitching, gently curves away from the center console.
• The Crown Hybrid adopts a TFT (thin film transistor) LCD Finegraphic Meter - the first of its kind*, which features excellent visibility and provides clear information to the driver. In addition to digital and analog speedometers, a hybrid system status indicator shows output and energy recovery. A color silhouette of the vehicle appears on the display when the driver enters the cabin followed by the Crown logo the moment the engine is started.
• The seat covers have been treated with an agent that envelops mite allergens - known to be a cause of allergy-related disorders - helping to prevent them from becoming active in the cabin.
• Navigational functions are enhanced by Map on Demand, which provides latest-information automatic map updates, and a multi-media-function HDD navigation system (compatible with the G-BOOK mX Pro telematics service), as well as a new "one-touch" operator-call service.
• The Toyota Premium Sound System, with a 19-channel amplifier and 18 speakers, offers acoustics that rival a live concert.

*As of January 2008, as surveyed by TMC

Cutting-Edge Technologies Enhance Safety Performance and Vehicle Stability

• The Pre-crash Safety System (millimeter-wave radar type) employs an eye monitor - the first of its kind in the world - to detect whether a driver's eyes are properly open. This function, combined with the system's current ability to determine the direction of the driver's face, enhances the ability to reduce collision-related damage.
• All models are equipped with VDIM (Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management) to ensure excellent vehicle stability and preventive safety performance on slippery surfaces.
• The Night View system, available in the Crown Hybrid, features the world's first¹ pedestrian detection function based on a near-infrared camera, thereby improving a driver's visibility at night.
• The advanced car navigation system facilitates the entering and exiting of highways. Using its road map data, the system provides smooth acceleration when merging into highway traffic from an on-ramp or a service area by controlling the timing of up-shifting, as well as increasing engine braking for smooth deceleration when exiting the highway or coming to a tollbooth.
• The system also uses the map data to inform the driver of upcoming stop signs and issue a warning if the driver is late in decelerating. The world's first¹ navigation system-linked brake assist function assists the driver in the event of emergency braking, helping reduce vehicle speed.
• The Intelligent Parking Assist system helps the driver during parallel parking or backing into a parking space, using ultrasonic sensors installed on the front of the vehicle to detect the parking parameters. The system has a function that tells the driver when to turn the steering wheel and where to start backing up.
• The Emergency Braking Signal system, standard on all models, warns vehicles behind when the brakes are suddenly depressed by flashing all of the brake lights.
• Ten SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) airbags are standard on all models. Rear left and right side air bags also alleviate the impact in the event of a side-on collision.
• The front-seat structures are based on the WIL (Whiplash Injury Lessening) concept. Both the driver and front passenger seats incorporate an Active Headrest² that shifts to an appropriate position to lessen stress on the neck and reduce the risk of whiplash injuries sustained during a rear-end collision.
• The GOA (Global Outstanding Assessment) construction has been further evolved to create an advanced collision-safety body structure.
• Improvements in the body structure also reduce the likelihood of pedestrian head injuries to achieve one of the highest levels of injury prevention in the vehicle's class.

1. As of January 2008, as surveyed by TMC
2. Available on the driver's side only for the "Legrest Package" model; on both sides on other models

Superior Driving Performance and Comfort

• The electronic platform, which is the basis of the electronic control system that brings out the best in the vehicle's basic performance, has been completely revamped to enhance processing power and the ability to handle the vast amounts of data coming from the engine, transmission, brakes and elsewhere.
• Switches allow drivers to select a control mode that suits their own preferences and road conditions, such as the fun-to-drive Sport Mode that, among other things, increases acceleration and deceleration responsiveness, Eco-drive Mode that supports fuel efficiency and Snow Mode when a driver requires smoother acceleration on slippery roads.
• A NAVI/AI-AVS System* enhances maneuverability, cruising stability and driving comfort by optimally controlling the dampening force of the shock absorbers based on road information from the navigation system and accumulated road surface grade difference information.

*Navigation/Artificial Intelligence-Adaptive Variable Suspension System

Crown Hybrid

• The rear-wheel drive THS II (Toyota Hybrid System II) with a two-stage motor speed reduction device provides the driving performance of a 4.5-liter vehicle with the low fuel consumption of a 2.0-liter vehicle to deliver powerful and smooth acceleration and exceptional environmental performance.
• The combination of a high output 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine and a high-performance electric motor achieves excellent driving performance, a quiet ride, high fuel efficiency and clean emissions.
• The electric vehicle (EV) driving mode permits the driver, simply by pressing a button, to operate the vehicle using the electric motor only, for quiet operation early in the morning or late at night and lower emissions.
• The Active Noise Control function uses the speakers to cancel out engine booming noise (low-frequency engine noise) and provide an even quieter ride.

Crown Royal Saloon & Crown Athlete

• The Crown Royal Saloon series features a V6 3.0-liter and a V6 2.5-liter engine, while the Crown Athlete series offers a V6 3.5-liter and a V6 2.5-liter engine. All engines are combined with 6 Super ECT (Super Intelligent Electronically-controlled, Six-speed Automatic Transmission) and DRAMS (Driving Response and Acceleration Management System) for smooth and powerful driving.
• The 3.5-liter engine is a D-4S (direct injection four-stroke gasoline engine, superior version), while the 3.0-liter and 2.5-liter engines are stoichiometric D-4 engines. All engines employ Dual VVT-i (Dual Variable Valve Timing-intelligent) to optimize intake and exhaust valve timing according to driving conditions.

Outstanding Environmental Performance

• Efforts were made to improve fuel efficiency to reduce CO2 emissions. The Crown Hybrid achieves a fuel efficiency of 14.0 km/l according to the newly introduced JC08 test cycle outlined by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) and it is one of the first vehicles to meet the new 2015 Japanese fuel efficiency standards¹. The vehicle also achieves the equivalent of 166g/km of CO2 emissions. (Under the traditional 10-15 test cycle, the fuel efficiency is 15.8km/l, surpassing the existing 2010 fuel efficiency standards by 20%, with CO2 emissions just 147g/km.)
• The Crown Royal Saloon and the Crown Athlete both achieve fuel efficiency of 12.0km/l according to the 10-15 test cycle², with CO2 emissions of 193g/km, which surpasses the level called for by the 2010 standards by 10%.
• Both NOx (nitrogen oxides) and NMHC (non-methane hydrocarbons) have been reduced so that all vehicles now have emissions levels 75% below the 2005 standards under MLIT's Approval System for Low-emission Vehicles.
• Toyota employed Eco-VAS (Eco-Vehicle Assessment System), its original comprehensive environmental impact assessment system, to efficiently reduce overall environmental impact throughout the vehicle's lifecycle, from production and use to disposal. Environmental targets were set in the initial vehicle development stage and a life cycle assessment carried out to help the vehicles achieve a reduction of CO2 and air contaminants.
• The newly adopted Eco Zone Indicator displays the degree to which the accelerator is opened and the range for fuel-efficient driving. Together with the Eco Driving Indicator that lights up to indicate fuel-efficient operation, it helps raise the driver's awareness of environmentally considerate driving.

1. Specified by the Japanese Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy
2. Figure for rear-wheel drive models paired with a 2.5-liter engine

Welcabs: Specially equipped vehicles with factory-installed features for disabled people

• The Welcab Automatic Rotating and Sliding Passenger Seat models (Type A and Type B) have a front passenger seat that rotates electronically and slides outside the vehicle to facilitate boarding and exiting.
• Type B has a motorized wheelchair storage device that makes it easy to load and unload a wheelchair into and out of the trunk.

Welcab Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices

(Prices in Hokkaido and Okinawa differ; unit: yen)

Model Type	Grade	Engine	Transmission	Powertrain	Price1(including consumption tax)
Welcab Automatic Rotating and Sliding Passenger Seat model (Type A)	Royal Saloon "Navigation Package"	4GR-FSE (2.5-liter V6)	6 Super ECT	Front-engine, rear-wheel drive	4,501,000
	Royal Saloon	3GR-FSE (3.0-liter V6)			4,821,000
	Royal Saloon i-Four			Four-wheel drive	5,189,000
Welcab Automatic Rotating and Sliding Passenger Seat model (Type B)2	Royal Saloon "Navigation Package"	4GR-FSE (2.5-liter V6)		Front-engine, rear-wheel drive	4,357,000
	Royal Saloon	3GR-FSE (3.0-liter V6)			4,661,000
	Royal Saloon i-Four			Four-wheel drive	5,012,000

1. Prices listed do not include recycling fees.
2. Not subject to consumption tax.

Hybrid Cars May No Longer Run Silently in Maryland

Maryland may mandate vehicles to make some noise in order to protect the safety of blind pedestrians. This would be a rule targeted on hybrid and electric vehicles, which can run silently when the gas engine is turned off. Blind pedestrians rely on the sound of the engine to be sure there is no car approaching.

"When compared to vehicles using traditional combustion engines, hybrid vehicles are virtually silent when accelerating and decelerating, making it impossible for blind individuals to detect their presence," the National Federation of the Blind said in a statement this week.

A bill was presented by Sen. Norman Stone (Dem) to create a task force which will recommend a minimum sound requirement for new vehicles sold and licensed in Maryland.

Both Toyota and Ford told Automotive News that the issue should be addressed by the industry as a whole, in other words, there should be just one solution.

Source: Md. lawmakers consider minimum vehicle sound levels - Automotive News

The image comes from flickr. It's my attempt at bringing a little levity to a very serious issue.

Spinning Your Tax Structure

Automoblog saw the story about a possible tax hike coming out of Washington State on gas guzzles and had an interesting take on it.

Basically, punishing people for bad behavior may not be the best way to go. Instead, look for ways to reward good behavior. Set a new tax on all cars, then lower the taxes on those who buy more fuel efficient cars.

The end results are the same, but it certainly puts a great spin on it.

In case you forgot, here's the tax structure Washington is proposing (from the bill (pdf) itself):

15 (b) Passenger vehicles that have an established EPA fuel economy
16 rating must be taxed according to the EPA fuel economy rating as
17 follows:

EPA Fuel Economy Rating	Tax	Tons CO2
MPG		(12,000 Vehicle Miles Traveled)
10 or fewer	$ 240	12
11	$ 220	11
12	$ 200	10
13-14	$ 180	9
15-16	$ 160	8
17-18	$ 140	7
19-21	$ 120	6
22-26	$ 100	5
27-34	$ 80	4
35-48	$ 60	3
49 +	$ 40	2

31 (c) Passenger vehicles that do not have an established EPA fuel
32 economy rating must be taxed according to their engine displacement
33 size as follows:

Engine Displacement/Size	Tax
(Liters)
4.0 or More	$240
3.0 - 4.0	$180
1.5 - 3.0	$120
Less then 1.5	$80

By the way, this bill is unlikely to go forward "because it was proposed late in the session. The Legislature's cutoff date for new bills is Friday."

Two Thirds of Drivers Would Never Buy Gas Again

The GM FastLane Blog talks about the Chevy Volt and what kind of effect an Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV) would have on drivers in their every day commute.

We used real world data from the Regional Travel Survey conducted by the Southern California Association of Governments over the past few years. The survey measured the daily driving habits of over 600 commuters in the Los Angeles area, one of the world’s busiest, most congested driving regions.

What we learned was pretty telling. If everyone in this study drove a vehicle like the Volt:

* Sixty-four percent of the drivers in this study would never use a single drop of gas during their daily travels.
* On average, Volt drivers commuting less than 75 miles a day would use 1/5th the fuel compared to drivers using a conventionally-powered vehicle.
* Drivers of the Volt would have 70 percent fewer initial engine starts than conventionally-powered vehicles. Initial engine starts are a large factor in the total emissions produced.

It certainly sound appealing. But I still wonder about how many people can take advantage of plug in vehicles like the Volt. At the very basic level, you need to be able to plug it in. For those people living in apartments, for instance, how would they recharge their vehicles? Is the US really ready for plug-ins?

Unless Chevy and Toyota start worrying about these sorts of questions, plug in vehicles are going to become a real niche vehicle.

In the presentation GM goes on to show how EREVs are superior to Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV), since most commuters would never need to buy gas for their every day trips.

NCSU Sets Up Research Center For PHEVs

North Carolina State University, along with Progress Energy and Duke Energy, is setting up a new research center to look into plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) and the batteries they run on. The new research center was announced by Gov. Mike Easley.

Research will center on battery technology and building an infrastructure for 'plugging in' the vehicles (recharging stations).

Funding is being provided by the partnership between Progress Energy and Duke Energy.

Press Release Follows:

2/12/2008 -- Raleigh - North Carolina Governor Mike Easley today announced the creation of the Advanced Transportation Energy Center at North Carolina State University that will serve as a catalyst to attract innovative jobs to the state, contribute to reducing the nation’s dependence on imported oil and cut greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change.

The center is a public-private partnership to include the university, Progress Energy and Duke Energy to explore and develop practical technology for plug-in hybrid vehicles and other energy-efficient transportation. The announcement came during the annual Emerging Issues Institute’s conference: “North Carolina's Energy Futures; Realizing a State of Opportunity.”

“It is our patriotic duty to free ourselves from dependence on foreign oil and become leaders in developing the technology to make our nation energy independent,” said Easley. “Just as we have done in the biotech field, we can position our state to be a hub of activity, expertise and a magnet for the new jobs that will emerge as this sector of the economy grows.”

The center, to be located on the Centennial Campus, will focus on research to advance more widespread use of plug-in hybrid vehicles, particularly the development of a reliable and dependable source of portable power for electric vehicles. It will seek to:

# Develop batteries that are more powerful and less costly (it currently costs about $10,000 to convert a hybrid to a plug in. The goal is to cut that cost to a more consumer-friendly amount);

# Create the infrastructure to make use of electric vehicles, including convenient charging stations, etc.

The next generation of plug-in hybrid vehicles will run mainly on the battery power with gasoline backup, getting more than 100 miles per gallon. The batteries can be charged by plugging into a typical household outlet. Today’s Toyota Prius, for example, gets about 50 miles per gallon.

Widespread use of plug-in hybrid vehicles, according to recent estimates, will decrease domestic dependence on foreign oil through greater fuel efficiency. Simply improving fuel efficiency on cars in the U.S. by 2.7 miles per gallon would equal all of our nation’s imports from the Persian Gulf. It would also benefit the environment by cutting the greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 27 percent, according to the EPA.

“Growth in the use of plug-in hybrid technology and infrastructure opens the door for North Carolina and N.C. State to be leaders in creating a workforce for advanced transportation,” said N.C. State Chancellor James L. Oblinger. “N.C. State was selected to house the Advanced Transportation Energy Center because of our proven research capacity and expertise in battery and photovoltaic research as well as our ability to build the partnerships needed to make the center a success.”

Building on the work and research already underway, particularly at N.C. State, North Carolina can establish itself as a leader in this new technology to make affordable and convenient battery energy sources to power the next generation of cars. Easley said it is a framework to put the finest minds in the world to work on the project. The center will seek partners, funding and ideas from a variety of sources, including motorsports and transportation industries as well as the federal government. It is anticipated that a modest investment now will begin a cascade of additional support and new research.

“We must face the challenges of global climate change together and this partnership will lead the way in alternative energy innovation,” said Bill Johnson, Chairman, President and CEO of Progress Energy Inc. “We are proud to be a key partner in supporting this cutting-edge research center that will seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, secure our energy future and bring new jobs to our state.”

The impact of skyrocketing energy costs is a top topic, both around boardroom tables and the kitchen tables in North Carolina. Gasoline costs more than $3 per gallon and home heating costs are high as well. Today, for many North Carolinians, the monthly bill for gasoline and home heating or cooling is approaches their mortgage or rent. Easley said North Carolina must be a leader in helping control energy costs, using fuel more efficiently and caring for the environment.

“It is the North Carolina way to take bold steps,” Easley said. “With the dawn of the 21st century, North Carolinians have emerged as innovators and leaders in education, technology and the environment. It is time for us to take the lead in the new energy economy.”

Source: North Carolina Governor

Prius and Civic Hybrid Actual Winners in Clean Drive Marathon

The Toyota Prius beat out the Skoda Octavia RS TDI, a Honda Civic Hybrid, VW Touran EcoFuel, Ford Focus FFV and Subaru Outback ecomati in a clean drive marathon according to Germany's automobile association ADAC (Seems similar to AAA in the US??). The Prius won out by averaging only 5.8 liters per 100 kilometers.

Each of the cars was driven about 20,000 kilometers for a total of 120,000 kilometers in total.

The Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid were 'actual winners' since they were able to go anywhere without any careful planning the way the other cars had to. In other words, they could fuel up anywhere, but the other cars had to search around for fuel.

Press Release Follows:

Munich - The Toyota Prius beat five other cars with clean- drive technology in a marathon test conducted by Germany's automobile association ADAC. The Toyota Prius measured an average fuel consumption of 5.8 litres per 100 kilometres with a carbon dioxide emission figure of 119 g/km, well ahead of its rivals, the ADAC said.

Other cars in the test with over 300 criteria were a Skoda Octavia RS TDI, a Honda Civic Hybrid, VW Touran EcoFuel, Ford Focus FFV and Subaru Outback ecomatic. In total the testers drove the six cars over 120,000 kilometres with about 20,000 kilometres for each car.

Both the Prius and Honday Civic with hybrid technology were described as the "actual winners" because petrol was available everywhere with the hybrid technology working very well, especially in city driving conditions.

However, the ADAC testers said that there was no ideal concept for every situation, with individual driving habits playing a big part in the choice of the ideal drive technology.

A long trip using natural gas (CNG), liquid petroleum gas (LPG) or ethanol needed to be carefully planned on European roads. The Touran using CNG could only use its advantage when a filling station was nearby and it was used daily in the vicinity. LPG filling stations for the Subaru Outback were more widely available but LPG consumption was higher than using petrol which thus had no positive CO2 effects.

The Ford Focus had a 40 per cent higher consumption of ethanol than petrol which put it on the same level as petrol from a cost perspective. The environmental effect of ethanol was questionable when food products such as corn were used to manufacture the fuel, the ADAC said. Second generation ethanol production from plant residue was still years away, the testers pointed out.

The Skoda Octavia RS TDI was chosen in the test as the cleanest diesel car in its class with an average consumption of 6,8 litres per 100 kilometres. On actual CO2 emission it came second behind the Prius.

Source: earthtimes

GM at the Academy Awards

GM will be rolling down the red carpet at the Academy Awards with their GMC Yukon Hybrid and Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell and FlexFuel E85 vehicles.

This is just the latest PR move by GM to highlight their 'environmentally friendly' image. They have certainly made a move on the 'elite' lately, getting Manning to ask for an Escalade Hybrid (too bad that one isn't available for the Award show. My bet would be that's the one the celebrities will be talking about), Hilton ordered a Yukon Hybrid and so on.

Chevy will be handing out Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell vehicles to major entertainment celebrities for 'everyday use' as part of the Project Driveway program. Obviously, this is not for testing purposes, but to get the cars into some photos.

Press Release Follows:

LOS ANGELES – The red-carpet arrivals at the 80th Annual Academy Awards® on Feb. 24, will be transformed with advanced technology vehicles from GMC and Chevrolet. This fuel-friendly fleet – larger than any other assembled for a major awards show before – will enable Hollywood’s hottest talent to enjoy stylish and environmentally friendly rides in one of more than 75 vehicles, including the GMC Yukon Hybrid, the zero-gas and zero-emissions Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell and the FlexFuel E85 ethanol-compatible GMC Yukon.

As the only ABC Network automotive sponsor of the 2008 Oscar® telecast, GMC and Chevrolet will bring hybrid and fuel cell technology to the forefront at the red carpet, and other Oscar Week events. The fleet continues GM’s major strategic effort to provide “fuel-friendly” vehicles to the entertainment industry and spread the word about GM’s environmentally-conscious cars, trucks and SUVs.

“GM’s longstanding relationship with Hollywood and our strong commitment to bringing advanced technologies to market that will help diversify fuel sources and reduce vehicle emissions makes this the perfect time for GM to drive ‘green’ to the Oscars,” said Dino Bernacchi, GM Director of Marketing Alliances and Branded Entertainment. “Our outreach to showcase GM’s ‘fuel-friendly’ products will be increasingly evident in the entertainment industry in 2008 with presence at awards shows, film festivals and special events, as well as a heightened product placement effort in movies and television.”

GM’s ramped-up efforts to drive Hollywood “green” began with “fuel-friendly” vehicles at the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards and 39th NAACP Image Awards. Chevrolet is also reaching out to the next generation of tomorrow’s influencers with the first-ever “Chevy Rocks The Future” event on Feb. 19. GM already provides the largest “fuel-friendly” product placement fleet to Hollywood producers and directors with nearly 20 different vehicle types.

Later this quarter, Chevrolet will hand over the keys to Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell vehicles to major entertainment celebrities for everyday use as part of its Project Driveway program – an effort by Chevrolet to move fuel cell technology from the laboratory into consumers’ driveways.

The GMC Yukon Hybrid is the industry’s first full-size SUV hybrid. No other hybrid can offer the fuel efficiency and full-size SUV performance including seating for up to 8 passengers and 6,200 lbs. maximum towing.

The 2008 Yukon Hybrid boasts vastly improved fuel economy over its gasoline-only sibling. Two-wheel drive models, for example, deliver 21 mpg in the city, a 50-percent improvement over its 5.3L non-hybrid sibling and comparable to the much-smaller 2.4L-equipped Toyota Camry sedan, according to figures obtained from www.fueleconomy.gov.

This year’s Oscars will be the first major awards show where a fleet of fuel cell vehicles will provide transportation for celebrities. The Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell electric vehicle is a zero-gas, zero-emissions vehicle that makes no compromises, achieving 0 to 60 mph in 12 seconds, 236-lb.-ft. of instant torque and top speed of about 100 miles per hour. It seats four, sports 32 cubic feet of cargo volume for everybody’s gear, and has a range of approximately 150 miles per fill-up based on the new 2008 EPA adjusted measurement. The Equinox Fuel Cell also features full four-wheel ABS for controlled, confident stopping.

Aside from its dramatically different propulsion system, the Equinox Fuel Cell looks and drives much like a production Chevy Equinox (a small SUV).

In addition to the GMC Yukon Hybrid and Chevy Fuel Cell Equinox, a select number of FlexFuel E85 ethanol-compatible Yukon SUVs will drive to the red carpet. Biofuels such as E85 ethanol have tremendous potential to help offset the world’s growing energy demands, and General Motors offers more FlexFuel E85 ethanol-capable models than any other brand, with 2.5 million FlexFuel E85 ethanol vehicles currently on the road. FlexFuel E85 ethanol vehicles can run on either gasoline or E85 ethanol – a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline – or a combination of both.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) will present the 80th Annual Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2007, on Sunday, Feb. 24, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, televised live at 5 p.m. PST/8 p.m. EST by the ABC Television Network.

Senator Kerry Linked to Paris Hilton

It may be the first and only time these two have something in common, but Senator John Kerry (D-MA) and Paris Hilton are both looking to get their hands on a brand new GM Hybrid SUV.

Kerry is replacing his 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid (leased) with a 2008 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid. Kerry based his choice on the Tahoe winning Green Car of the Year award.

Paris Hilton ordered a GMC Yukon Hybrid for her birthday.

Eli Manning recently asked for the Escalade Hybrid after winning the Superbowl MVP.

This seems to be GM's target audience. The rich and famous may line up in droves to acquire these new status symbols.

Source: GM'S GREEN VEHICLES IN DEMAND: Big names get big hybrids

Clinton Wants to Help the Auto Industry Retool

Hillary Clinton told GM workers she wants to "have a strong and vibrant manufacturing sector in America." She, as president, is promising to create 5 million "green-collar" jobs, which includes

• $2 billion in battery research money for automakers,
• $10,000 tax credits for purchasers of plug-in hybrids, and
• $20 billion in low-interest "Green Vehicle Bonds" to help retool old auto plants.

Hillary also wants to

• Raise fuel economy standards to 40 mpg by 2020 and 55 mpg by 2030.
• Opposes the Korean free trade deal worked out by the Bush administration and currently before Congress.
• Her universal health care plan would help GM and them by reducing overall health care costs.

Auto maker insiders are already warning that whoever the next president is, a more 'vigorous' regulatory environment is likely to occur.

All three of the leading candidates, McCain, Clinton and Obama, favor a mandatory emissions cap that would affect all sectors of the economy. All three have come out in favor a global agreement to combat climate change. They have also all come out in favor of states being allowed to enforce their own greenhouse gas rules.

It may that a move into the white house will curb some of their enthusiasm for these and other mandates, but it's very likely any of the three will be more enthusiastic than their predecessor.

Clinton was visiting the GM plant outside of Baltimore which produces the hybrid transmission used in the new Tahoe and Yukon Hybrids from GM.

Update: Barack Obama, while visiting a GM plant in Wisconsin, promised he would invest $150 billion over a ten year period, creating 5 million new jobs over the next 20 years. And just to be sure, he'll add funding to retrain workers.

Prosperity hasn't always come easily. The plant shut down for a period during the height of the Depression, and major shifts in production have been required to meet the changing times. Tractors became automobiles. Automobiles became artillery shells. SUVs are becoming hybrids as we speak, and the cost of transition has always been greatest for the workers and their families.

That's quite a sum of money. I wonder how he's going to pay for it? But then, he was referring to the Energy Sector, not just the automotive industry.

Fuel Efficient Cars Benefit From High Gas Prices

A few months ago, I put together a list of the 82 most fuel efficient cars in 2008 according to the EPA ratings. It's a very simple list, just an inventory of all vehicles getting a combined 25 mpg or more.

A recent story at autonews talks about a few small cars and how sales are skyrocketing in the small car segment. They concentrated on the subcompacts: Fit, Yaris, Aveo, Rio, and Cooper, all of which showed double digit (percentage) growth.

But that left me wondering about all the other fuel efficient cars out there, including hybrids of course. So, I gathered together the list of fuel efficient vehicles and then found their sales numbers and saw something amazing. Even as the overall car sales dropped 2.3%, the 'fuel efficient segment' grew over 15%.

Make	Model	Jan-08		Jan-07						% Change
Audi	TT	326		10						3160%
Chevrolet	Aveo	5,314		3,789						40%
Chevrolet	Cobalt	17,310		13,023						33%
Chevrolet	Malibu	14,541		9,209						58%
Dodge	Caliber	10,885		8,672						26%
Ford	Escape/Mariner Hybrid	1,474		1,238						19%
Ford	Focus	11,600		8,035						44%
Honda	Civic	19,248		16,595						16%
Honda	Civic Hybrid	1,745		1,783						-2%
Honda	Fit	4,480		2,036						120%
Hyundai	Accent	2,941		2,437						21%
Hyundai	Elantra	5,615		6,361						-12%
Kia	Rio	2,709		1,624						67%
Kia	Spectra	4,858		4,273						14%
Mazda	Mazda3	6,579		7,643						-14%
MINI	Cooper	2,460		2,050						20%
Nissan	Altima	21,162		24,394						-13%
Nissan	Altima Hybrid	473		0						-
Nissan	Sentra	7,170		7,878						-9%
Nissan	Versa	5,609		4,497						25%
Pontiac	G5/Pursuit	1,970		1,312						50%
Pontiac	Vibe	2,338		2,130						10%
Scion	xD	1,597		0						-
Suzuki	SX4/Aerio	1,966		1,007						95%
Toyota	Camry Hybrid	3,750		2,801						34%
Toyota	Corolla/Matrix	20,736		25,519						-19%
Toyota	Highlander Hybrid	2,143		1,810						18%
Toyota	Prius	11,379		8,299						37%
Toyota	Yaris	7,666		5,870						31%
Total		200,044		174,295						15%

Obviously, not all of the vehicles in my list were up. I've highlighted those that were down in red, including the Civic Hybrid, Elantra, Mazda 3, Altima, Sentra, and Corolla/Matrix.

But the rest were up, some by quite remarkable numbers. The Honda Fit, for instance, jumps out at you with 120% increase in sales. The Chevy Malibu saw a huge gain with a new release and a huge advertising push and the Ford Focus is also benefiting from the high cost of gas.

Want more? Check out the latest hybrid cars sales from January, 2008.

Let me know what you think about these numbers in the comments below.

Colorado Looks for Hybrid Cars in the HOV Lanes

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is considering allowing hybrid cars into the HOV lanes as solo drivers. Back in 2003, Colorado wrote up a law allowing hybrid cars in, but it was never implemented. CDOT asked the EPA to write up some conditions on allowances for hybrid cars, but the EPA never did it.

"The law currently states that a hybrid is fuel-efficient if it gets 50 percent more miles to the gallon than its counterpart," said Stacey Stegman, the Colorado Department of Transportation's director of public information. "You could have a Hummer that gets 10 miles to the gallon, and then they come out with a hybrid model that gets 15. But still there's the normal Honda Civic that gets 30 mpg. It just doesn't make sense to exclude the Civic over the Hummer."

But now CDOT is looking to set up a real world experiment on what kind of effect having hybrid cars in the HOV lanes would have. They want to set up a lottery so that 2,000 lucky winners can have access.

If implemented, the drivers would have access to CDOT HOT lanes and HOV lanes; lanes on Highway 82 between Glenwood Springs and Aspen, Santa Fe Drive south of downtown, U.S. 36 and Interstate 25 north of downtown. But that doesn't include E-470 and the Northwest Parkway, which are owned by private companies.

Hybrid car owners interested in the pass can email info@dot.state.co.us to get on a list for notification when they can sign up for the stickers that would allow hybrids to freely drive the HOT and HOV lanes.

There is one reservation, however. If clogging does occur, CDOT reserves the right to charge hybrid car owners a toll for the lanes.

Acura Hybrid Not Coming Soon

VP Dick Colliver noted that Acura "does not think a hybrid powertrain is appropriate for larger vehicles." He may be right, but GM is willing to find out for him. GM, along with Chrysler, have a whole slew of hybrid SUVs and trucks coming out in the next few years, none of which are going to be confused with a compact anytime soon.

It may be wise to have a wait and see attitude when it comes to large hybrid vehicles, but falling too far behind may be a really bad move.

Source: Acura is Not Going Hybrid Any Time Soon

At the same time, Colliver recognizes that consumers want more environmentally-friendly options and that's why Acura is working to provide a new 2.2L four-cylinder diesel in some of its new models. This is interesting, because polls are showing that Americans favor hybrids over diesels.

Texas Giving You Three Thousand Dollars For That Clunker

Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston low income residents are getting a nice price on their old cars, but only if they use it to buy a new or late model used car. The program is called Air Check Texas and $20 million has been set aside for the program this year, another $20 million next year.

The idea is to get some of the old cars off the road, because new cars emit 10 to 30 times less than these older vehicles.

If you earn less than $30,630 as an individual, you can get $3,000 for a car over 10 years old, $3,500 if you buy a hybrid. The new car has to cost less than $25,000. There are about 300 dealerships involved in the program.

The first doubt that comes to my mind is price. Let's say you have a car that's over 10 years old. Chances are, given that you are a low income person, the reason you have that vehicle is so you don't have to make car payments every month. If you buy a $25,000 car, $3,000 is a significant discount. But it still leaves you with a monthly payment you didn't have before.

I also wonder how much people are negotiating price, since they (and the dealer) know you are already getting $3,000.

But, they are getting some residents involved. 2,150 people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area have already participated in the program. I wonder how many went all out and bought a hybrid?

Source: Winding Road » Archive » Texas Program Aims to Get Low-Income Drivers into Cleaner Cars

More Proof The Volt is Being Overhyped

For a car that hasn't even been developed, yet, the Chevy Volt is being overhyped by the automotive community and by GM. Case in point, just a passing comment by GM that the technology that powers the Volt may be passed along to other brands causes one sales owner to say, "It was just a passing comment, but my eyes popped out. I would hope they would share the wealth a little bit."

If GM thought the killing of the electric car was bad press, imagine if the Volt fails to 1) appear on time or 2) fails to get 40 miles on electric power alone. Although GM is pushing hard to meet it's own deadline, producing vehicles is hard to do (See interview with Lutz on the Volt). Other projects within GM are being pushed back in order to fit the Volt's timeline.

The Volt may be worth all the hype, but right now, GM is definitely taking a big gamble on it.

"Their desire is for GM to take the lead in being green," he said. "They want GM to be the worldwide leader in that area."

Hybrid Car Research, Are Hybrid Cars Sustainable

A new paper from Inderscience publication International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, suggests that adoption of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) (hybrid cars to you) may slow down development of more sustainable fuel-cell powered electric vehicles. But the paper also acknowledges that fuel cell vehicles are most likely not going to be available in high volumes before 2025.

So... In the meantime, "There is a general convergence of strategies towards promoting hybrid vehicles as the mid-term solution to very low-emission and high-mileage vehicles," the researchers assert, "this is largely due to Toyota’s strategy of learning the technology, while building up its own ‘quasi-standard’, thanks to its high-quality and reliability reputation and its high market share on the North American market." They add that, "Such a convergence is based more on customer perception triggered by very clever marketing and communication campaigns than on pure rationale scientific arguments and may result in the need for any manufacturer operating in the USA to have a hybrid electric vehicle in its model range in order to survive."

I don't think anyone thinks hybrid vehicles are a long term solution to emissions problems. Removing gasoline from the picture may be the only way to do so. But in the here and now, hybrid vehicles that are designed for fuel efficiency are a great solution for extending our fuel economy and reducing emissions.

One interesting assertion: A misstep in delivering hybrid technology for an automaker may put them into a take-over candidate.

Read the write-up at physorg: The trouble with hybrids: Hybrid electric vehicles not as green as they are painted

Washington May Get Greenhouse Gas Excise Tax

Green Car Congress notes a bill that is being presented in Washington (the state) that, if passed, would set a passenger vehicle greenhouse gas excise tax.

Proposed Passenger Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Excise Taxes
Fuel economy rating	Tax
≤ 10 mpg	$240
11 mpg	$220
12 mpg	$200
13-14 mpg	$180
15-16 mpg	$160
17-18 mpg	$140
19-21 mpg	$120
22-26 mpg	$100
27-34 mpg	$80
35-48 mpg	$60
49+ mpg	$40

Taxes Based on Engine Displacement
Displacement (L)	Tax
4.0L or more	$240
3.0L to <>	$180
1.5L to <>	$200
13-14 mpg	$120
<>	$80

It's one of the first proposals of its kind, but it won't be the last. Like a gas tax, the idea is to pass payment off to those who are producing the most greenhouse gases. But then, why not just have a gas tax?

Proceeds of this tax would be used for the design, construction, and operations of transportation facilities and services that provide alternatives to the use of single-occupant vehicles and for programs that encourage the use of these facilities and services. Allowable uses of these revenues would include—but would not be limited to—transit, high-capacity transportation, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and transportation demand management programs.

Senate Bill 6923

Do People Really Care About Fuel Economy?

Forbes interviewed Mike J. Jackson, chief executive of AutoNation, the country's largest public dealer network, with 322 stores in 16 states and he had some interesting things to say about hybrid cars and fuel economy in general.

Do people really care about fuel economy?

They do care. They just don't want to pay for it, and they don't want to give up anything they have--horsepower, speed and size. When they come in for the moment of truth to write the check, fuel efficiency is not winning. Look: Gas is $3, everyone's talking about hybrids, there's a huge social responsibility discussion going on. And yet overall fuel economy improved by just half a mile per gallon on vehicles sold in the last 12 months.

Do you know hard it is to move an average when you're talking about millions of cars being sold? Moving 1/2 mile per gallon in one year is actually very impressive.

So what would it take to get consumers to consume less fuel?

The only way to do it is to increase the price of gasoline--give them an economic incentive to buy a more fuel-efficient vehicle. Sixty percent of consumers [consider] hybrids. Two percent buy one. What happened? They literally take the back of an envelope and say, "A hybrid costs X, gas costs X, it'll take ten years to get my money back. Show me something else."

Unfortunately, that's the consideration you get for a lot of hybrid cars. But that's not because of the fuel economy question, that's a matter of how much improvement you get for the extra money.

When you pay for a Prius, for instance, you see a huge improvement in your fuel economy. When you look at a lot of the other hybrid cars, you don't get a huge improvement, and it becomes a lot harder to justify the cost. Which is why I was so disappointed to see the "improvements" made for the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid. If they had emphasized the fuel economy, not the power improvements, they could move a lot more hybrid Escapes.

You're talking about a gas tax?

We would need $6 gas today for the consumer to have the psyche that existed in 1980. We're going to add $5,000 to $7,000 per vehicle to meet these new regulatory fuel economy standards. Will the consumer pay for it? If gasoline is cheap, they'll just buy a used car for less money.

I'm not really in favor of a gas tax to move people off of gas. I've seen studies saying that $3.00 (or $3.50) a gallon is a tipping point for gas prices start to really affect hybrid car sales. It's no surprise that gas prices and hybrid car sales are highly correlated. Since we're already seeing those prices regularly, I'm guessing it's not going to take $6 or $7 a gallon to get people moving.

Hybrid Car Sales, January 2008

A new year brings a new record for hybrid car sales. With an increase of 27% over last years, car makers sold 22,392 units in the month of January, 2008. Note that GM does not break out their hybrid car sales, and so their numbers are not included. (Note to GM, please start doing so. There is obviously a lot of interest in hybrid cars and how they are doing in the marketplace.)

As usual, Toyota sold the most hybrids, 18,652 units sold, or 83.3% of the market. It was also a 30.2% increase from last January for the automaker. Prius made up a bulk of their hybrid car sales (over half the market total) with 11,379 units sold, an increase of 37% from last year. Prius has been setting record numbers over the past year, once a limitation was removed on their production. It's possible that the numbers may start matching up with last year's numbers over the next few months, as very little else has changed.

The Toyota Camry Hybrid remains the second most popular hybrid car in America. Toyota sold 3,750 units in January, a 34% increase from last year. The Highlander Hybrid also increased sales by 18% to 2,143 units sold.

Lexus hybrid car sales were down from last year, 62% for the GS 450h and 3% for the RX 400h.

Honda Hybrid sales were down from last year, 2% for the Honda Civic Hybrid and 81% for the retired Honda Accord Hybrid.

Ford Escape/Mariner Hybrid sales were up in January by 19% from last year to 1,474 units. Nissan sold 473 Altima Hybrids in limited sales. Nissan only sells the Altima Hybrid in eight states.

Make	Model	Jan-07	Jan-08	% Change
Honda	Accord	248	48	-81%
Honda	Civic	1,783	1,745	-2%
Honda	Insight	0	0	-
Toyota	Prius	8,299	11,379	37%
Toyota	Highlander	1,810	2,143	18%
Toyota	Camry	2,801	3,750	34%
Toyota	GS 450h	167	64	-62%
Toyota	RX 400h	1,245	1,211	-3%
Toyota	LS600hL	0	105	-
Ford	Escape/Mariner	1,238	1,474	19%
Nissan	Altima	0	473	-
Total		17591	22392	27%
Make	Model	Cumulative, 2006	Cumulative, 2007	% Change
Honda	Accord	248	48	-81%
Honda	Civic	1783	1745	-2%
Honda	Insight	0	0	-
Toyota	Prius	8299	11379	37%
Toyota	Highlander	1810	2143	18%
Toyota	Camry	2801	3750	34%
Toyota	GS 450h	167	64	-62%
Toyota	RX 400h	1245	1211	-3%
Toyota	LS600hL	0	105	-
Ford	Escape/Mariner	1238	1474	19%
Nissan	Altima	0	473	-
Total		17591	22392	27%

Toyota 1/X Coming to the US

Toyota is bringing it's 1/X concept car (pronounced 1/Xth) to the Chicago Auto Show. The 1/X has the same interior space of a Prius, but weighs only "1/Xth" that of other vehicles in its class. The 1/X was introduced at the Tokyo Auto Show back in October, 2007.

The 1/X weighs about 1/3 the Prius. It's a plug-in hybrid, that doubles the fuel efficiency of the Prius. Even the wheels are smaller and thinner, while allowing for more visibility.

It was designed with Lithium-Ion batteries in mind, which would allow the 1/X to travel up to 600 miles.

Press Release Follows

Toyota 1/X Concept Makes North American Debut At 2008 Chicago Auto Show
02/06/2008

February 6, 2008 - Chicago, IL - The Toyota 1/X concept vehicle made its North American debut today at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show. Developed by Toyota Motor Corporation, the Toyota 1/X compact hybrid offers a glimpse into the next era of automotive technological design. The Toyota 1/X redefines from its very roots the idea of what it means to be environmentally considerate. Pronounced 1/Xth, the name is derived from its vehicle mass, fuel consumption and emissions output, each totaling a fraction of that of other vehicles in its class.

The 1/X features an aerodynamic ultra-lightweight design that maintains the interior space of the Toyota Prius hybrid and is approximately one-third the weight of the Prius. Its low 926-pound curb weight is partially achieved through the use of a light but very strong carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) throughout the body frame.

The aerodynamic shape of the 1/X and unique cabin design result in smaller pillars, allowing passengers more visibility and helping to create a greater sense of openness and freedom with its outer surroundings for driver and passengers. The CFRP material is lighter and stronger than traditional metals, creating a shock-absorbing like structure with cross-sections that help absorb energy during an impact.

The 1/X roof is produced from a bio-plastic made from environmentally-responsible material derived from kenaf and ramie plants. The result is a roof that improves heat insulation, emits less carbon dioxide, increases the amount of light entering the cabin, and reducing noise.

On the inside, the 1/X employs four ultra-lightweight seats made of polyester fiber that is knitted three-dimensionally for added comfort. The material functions like a spring or damper that helps create a cushion-like feel for all occupants.

The ultra-lightweight stature of the 1/X also helps contribute to a fuel efficiency target that would double that of the Prius and allow the 1/X to operate with an ultra-small hybrid powertrain located under the rear seat. The system combines a home rechargeable plug-in hybrid unit with a small 500cc 0.5-liter flexible-fuel engine that is 1/4th of the total weight of the Prius powertrain. The hybrid plug-in concept is designed to accommodate a lithium-ion battery that would be rechargeable at home. The result is a vehicle with the possibility of traveling over 600 miles on a small four-gallon tank of fuel and achieving the acceleration performance that is equivalent to the Prius.

In consideration of pedestrians and oncoming traffic, the 1/X is equipped with non-glare headlights. The front of the 1/X is dominated by an LED lighting system that sweeps under and across its large front windshield. The LED system helps eliminate glare emanating from the headlights. At sunset, the entire surface of the LED system softly illuminates the entire front surface. With the headlights on, the LED system surrounds the headlights with a soft light, helping to prevent glare from striking oncoming cars and nearby pedestrians.

The light weight of the Toyota 1/X allowed designers to equip the vehicle with smaller and thinner wheels that help reduce splashing while driving in wet conditions. The tires are designed with central grooves that further help prevent water from splashing in the direction of pedestrians.

The 1/X concept is one more example of Toyota's commitment to designing clean, safe and innovative vehicles. The Toyota 1/X concept made its world debut at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show.

TOYOTA 1/X CONCEPT AND PRIUS SPECIFICATION COMPARISON

     1/X Concept       Prius
Exterior Dimensions (inches)
Total Length                          153.5                175.0
Total Width            63.8     67.9
Total Height            55.5     58.1
Wheelbase           102.4   106.3
Weights and Capacities
Curb Weight (lbs)       926   2,890
Seating Capacity          4   5
Powertrain
Gas Engine   0.5 liter 500 cc  1.5 liter  1,497 cc
Hybrid Battery Type  Lithium ion   Nickel Metal Hydride

# # #

Senate Fails to Pass Tax Break for Money Losing Companies

As part of the economic stimulus plan, Senate Democrats attempted to attach tax credits for auto companies that don't have taxable income. The measure failed to get the 60 votes needed to end debate and move to final passage.

The plan would have allowed money losing companies to collect tax credits they can't use now when they don't have taxable income.

It's not clear if this was aimed specifically at the auto companies, but it would obviously benefit them.

Source: Tax break for automakers fails - Automotive News

Smart Fortwo Micro Hybrid Awarded for Top Score in Environmental Criteria

The Smart Fortwo micro-hybrid was awarded an environmental certificate by the German Öko-Trend environmental research institute. According to the analysts, the micro hybrid scored top marks for all environmental criteria, especially the start-stop feature (which is what makes it a micro, or mild, hybrid).

Read more about Chrysler hybrid car efforts, including their ENVI.

Press Release Follows:

The German “Öko-Trend” environmental research institute has awarded its environmental certificate for cars to the smart fortwo micro hybrid drive (mhd). In extensive analyses by experts from the Wuppertal-based independent institute the smart fortwo mhd scored top marks for all environment-related criteria.
According to the institute’s findings, the 52 kW (71 bhp) petrol variant which has been available in certain markets since October 2007 scores excellent ratings in terms of fuel consumption, exhaust and noise emissions. The manufacturer’s ecological credentials are also found to be exemplary with regard to production, procurement, logistics and recycling.

The start-stop function of the smart fortwo mhd came in for particular praise from the Öko-Trend institute. This feature uses each idling phase – at traffic lights, level crossings or in stop-and-go traffic, for example – to shut down the engine completely. As soon as the driver releases the brake pedal, the engine restarts automatically and the journey can continue immediately without a noticeable delay. “That works perfectly smoothly in practice, providing for a pleasant calm and quiet while the car is stationary and reducing fuel consumption.” All previously examined smart models have received an “excellent” rating for all test criteria.

The Öko-Trend environmental certificate for cars is a further development of the Öko-Trend annual car environmental ranking that has been compiled since 1997. The first generation smart fortwo was one of the first vehicles to be awarded this certificate.

Hybrid and Town Budget Questions

I was reading a story on the use of a Prius in a town's fire department (See story about evansville) and a few questions popped into my head.

But first the story. The article writer wants you to know how, by buying three Prius, the town was saving money on fuel costs. Although the lack of power was evident in the Prius, it wasn't really a big deal because the department inspectors were using them in-town, non-emergeny stop and start driving.

That sort of situation suits the Prius perfectly, resulting in fuel economy at three to four times what they were getting using Crown Victorias.

"It's a considerable savings," he said. "And not only were (the Crown Victorias) not doing well on gas, but they were probably putting out more pollutants than we'd care to talk about at this point. So it's a win for everyone, I think."

But, that made me wonder if the reporter was emphasizing the right thing. The initial cost of a Prius is well over the initial cost of a Crown Vic. So, even though the fuel savings were great, I would have emphasized the 'green,' less polluting, aspect instead.

I'm pretty sure the maintenance costs would be similar, but it would have been nice to point that out as well.

The question remains. Obviously the environmental considerations are very important, but a town budget can be tough to negotiate. I'm left wondering how they pushed through the purchasing price? Did they get a discount? Was their a rebate involved? What about tax issues? Did the state help out?

What do you think? Are hybrid cars like the Prius, obvious choices for local communities?

"It comes down to dollars and cents," he said. "Provided the lighting system and radios work, we're going to be extremely happy with this."

Super Tuesday and Voting for Hybrid Cars

As I've mentioned before, if you vote for a candidate based on what car he/she is driving, then you really need to get your priorities straightened out. But, in case you're wondering, here are what the candidates are driving in on their campaign.

In the meantime, during their campaign, each of the candidates has addressed some of the energy issues.

Democrats on Energy Policy and Hybrid Cars
Hillary Clinton called for a national fleetwide average of 55 mpg by 2030. She would float $20 billiion in low-interest loans to automakers to retool old plants and invest $2 billion in battery research. She also called for a $10,000 in tax credits for those who buy plug-in hybrids, and would make the federal government purchase 100,000 plug-in hybrids by 2015.

Obama, as part of a joint effort with Cantwell and Hatch has laid out a plan to push plug-in hybrid development: Source: Cantwell, Hatch, Obama Announce Plan to Promote Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles | U.S. Senator Barack Obama

"One of the most immediate actions we can take to fight climate change is to dramatically reduce our oil consumption by pushing electric vehicles into the marketplace," said Obama. "We have the technology, but we must provide incentives for consumers and manufacturers so that it is made available to the driving public. Producing electric vehicles and energy efficient technology could help the U.S. auto industry regain its competitive edge."

Their plan will lay out a three-pronged strategy to promote Plug-in Electric Drive Vehicles (PEDVs), which would include pure battery electric, extended range electric, plug-in hybrid electric, and plug-in fuel cell vehicles.

First, their proposal would provide significant tax credits to consumers who purchase PEDVs. The provision will be patterned after the CLEAR ACT, sponsored and passed by Hatch as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which is currently providing financial incentives for consumers to purchase alternative fuel and hybrid electric vehicles.

Second, their proposal would provide tax incentives for the U.S. production of PEDVs and PEDV dedicated parts.

Third, the proposal would give incentives for electric utilities to provide rebates to customers who purchase PEDVs. These incentives would be scaled in a manner that would provide the largest incentives to utilities producing the greenest energy.

Republicans on Energy Policy and Hybrid Cars
John McCain has called the new CAFE standards a big step forward for the auto industry: Source: Romney, McCain in dead heat in Mich. - Decision '08- msnbc.com

McCain said increased fuel efficiency standards signed into law in December could help manufacturers develop cars that rely less on foreign oil.

"I have great faith in the auto industry that they'll be able to meet these ... standards, we'll move to hybrid cars, we'll move to hydrogen, we'll move to batteries, and I as president will do everything I can to help them do that," McCain told reporters after a campaign event in Warren.

McCain and Romney have both said they support California's fight for independent regulation of fuel economy

"I applaud the governor's efforts and that of other states in this region and other states across America to try to eliminate the greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change," said McCain.

Romney agreed, saying: "I side with states being able to make their own decisions, even if I don't always agree with the decisions they make."

Although Romney almost immediately backed off.

After the debate, Romney's campaign issued a statement in which he said that the federal government, not individual states, should set limits on carbon emissions.

Tesla WhiteStar Hybrid and Electric Sedan Expected in 2009

Tesla, made famous by it's powerful all electric car, the Roadster, is looking to extend it's reach. By 2009, they hope to have a hybrid and an all electric WhiteStar, a four-door sedan, on the road.

The hybrid version will be a range extending vehicle (REV), with a small gas engine included to help recharge the electric motor. Range extending hybrids are different from the gas-electric hybrids on the road today, since they are moved totally by the electric motor alone. The gas engine is just there to help recharge the battery packs.

The current estimate puts the all electric range at 40 to 50 miles, but the gas engine allows you to extend your range to 400 miles. The electric model will probably have a range half of the REV model, giving Tesla a wider audience to market their vehicles.

Tesla is placing the pricetag somewhere between $50,000 and $70,000, depending on the options. The gas-electric model will cost a little less than the electric model, but the difference is minimal.

Tesla is competing with GM and the Chevy Volt, which is expected to be on the road in 2010 and the plug-in Prius from Toyota, also expected in 2010. The pricetag also means they will be competing in the luxury car market. The Volt is expected to cost between $30-$40,000 (closer to $40,000), and that may be without the batteries (GM has floated the idea they would lease the battery packs to their customers).

Source: Tesla's Next Car Is a Gas-Electric Hybrid | Autopia from Wired.com and Tesla to make gas-electric car | Green Tech blog - CNET News.com

Denali XT Hybrid Truck From GM

GM will unveil a new hybrid truck, the Denali XT Hybrid, at the Chicago Auto Show. The Denali XT Hybrid is a concept vehicle, not intended for production.

The hybrid truck is based on a unibody car-like frame for a smoother ride and better fuel economy. It has a 55 inch bed, is low slung and has a smooth look. Each corner has an independent, adjustable air suspension.

GMC claims the concept will get 50 percent better fuel economy than the standard pick-up, but still gets 326 hp. The 4.9-liter V-8 is capable of using E85.

The hybrid system comes from the two-mode system co-developed with BMW and DaimlerChrysler and is featured in GM's new hybrids, Tahoe, Yukon, Escalade, Sierra, etc...

The Denali XT seats four, with a mid-gate between the cab and the bed. The bed itself is 55 inches long and 47.5 inches wide. The mid-gate can fold down for extra length.

The AP report on the Denali XT notes the similarity between the Toyota A-Bat Hybrid Truck concept car shown off last month. They seem very similar, although the Denali XT can run on E85.

The Denali also shows off quite a few refinements, including broad front benders, high-set headlamps and flush-mounted tailpipes. Add in the 23-inch wheels and this is a flashy concept truck.

Superbowl MVP Manning Chooses Escalade Hybrid

Eli Manning, as part of his MVP award, was given his choice of Cadillacs. He asked for an Escalade Hybrid, giving an indication of 1) either good stage managing or 2) the awareness in celebrity circles about the new Escalade Hybrid. Given it's pricetag, the celebrity marketplace may be the target audience for GM

Bleary-eyed Eli still reliving upset -- Newsday.com

Manning's individual effort was rewarded with the MVP prize, and his choice of Cadillacs. He went with the Escalade hybrid, which isn't available yet.

"I know it comes out in the summer," he told Cadillac's CEO. "I want the first one."

With the hybrid Escalade not due (as Manning points out) for a few months, it makes me wonder if he was coached on what answer to give. Especially since GM gave baseball MVP Ichiro Suzuki a Chevy Tahoe Hybrid.

Read more about the 2009 Escalade Hybrid.

2009 GMC Sierra Hybrid Unveiled at Chicago Auto Show

GM will be presenting the 2009 GMC Sierra Hybrid at the Chicago Auto Show. Part of the new hybrid line-up from GM, the hybrid truck will be available in late 2008. GM will also have Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid available.

Based on the same hybrid system as the GMC Yukon Hybrid and Chevy Tahoe Hybrid, the two-mode hybrid system improves fuel economy by 40 percent city and 25 percent overall (in other words, it doesn't do much for highway). But, you can still tow up to 6,100 lbs with it (on the two-wheel drive. The four-wheel drive tows up to 5,900 lbs). The non-hybrid version can tow up to 10,500 lbs.

The GMC Sierra Hybrid is a full hybrid, meaning it can go up to 30 mph in all electric mode. The battery is recharged by the gas engine or through regenerative braking, which is why it is rated so much higher for city driving. GM has also installed it's advanced Electrically Variable Transmission (EVT).

The gas engine is a 6.0 liter V8 with cylinder deactivation (down to four cylinders) which accounts for some of the fuel savings.

The hybrid truck is slightly different from it's more conventional gas only version. There is a standard tonneau cover for the bed and a deeper front air dam. The Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) Battery Pack is located under the second row seat.

Standard features on the Crew Cab body style two-and four wheel drive Sierra Hybrid include stability control, 18-inch wheels and tires, locking rear axle and a trailer package.

GM expects 5% of the current Sierra market to opt for the hybrid. GM sold 208,243 Sierras in 2007.

Press Release Follows:

2009 SIERRA HYBRID DELIVERS 25-PERCENT IMPROVED FUEL ECONOMY WITH ALL OF GMC'S PROFESSIONAL GRADE CAPABILITY

CHICAGO – GMC announced the 2009 GMC Sierra Hybrid, a powerful full-size pickup that achieves 40-percent greater city fuel economy and a 25-percent improvement in overall fuel economy while delivering the capability expected of a full-size truck – including a 6,100-pound (2,767 kg) towing capacity.

Partnering General Motors' patented two-mode hybrid system and a powerful 6.0L gas V-8, the Sierra Hybrid delivers highly efficient performance, including all-electric driving up to 30 mph (48 km/h). That allows fuel savings to be realized even when the truck is fully loaded or towing a trailer.

"The Sierra Hybrid represents GMC's commitment to engineering excellence, delivering a fully functional truck that offers a significant improvement in fuel economy," said Jim Bunnell, GMC general manager. "Sierra Hybrid will deliver fuel economy that is expected to be the best in the full-size pickup segment, exceeding the current mileage leader – the non-hybrid Sierra."

The Sierra Hybrid goes on sale in the fourth quarter of 2008 and is based on the strong and capable Sierra platform that was introduced for the 2007 model year. It will be offered in the Crew Cab body style on both 2WD and 4WD models. Each model is equipped with several standard, popular features, including StabiliTrak electronic stability control system, a locking rear axle and a trailering package. Sierra Hybrid also offers dual-stage frontal air bags and head curtain side air bags, and it is the only full-size truck with five-star side-impact ratings in federal crash tests.

Hybrid details

The Sierra Hybrid's fuel-saving performance is derived from GM's advanced Electrically Variable Transmission (EVT) and 300-volt nickel-metal hydride Energy Storage System (ESS), which work in concert with the standard 6.0L V-8 gasoline engine with Active Fuel Management (AFM) and late intake valve closing (LIVC) technology. GM's hybrid technology system not only enables the Sierra to launch and drive up to 30 mph on electricity alone, it also allows the Vortec 6.0L V-8 engine to operate in its more economical V-4 mode for longer periods.

As part of the vehicle's emission control system, the ESS is warranted for eight years/100,000 miles.

With GM's two-mode hybrid system, the electric power used to propel the vehicle is generated by the hybrid system itself. When the brakes are applied or the vehicle is coasting, the electric motors within the hybrid system create electricity that is stored in the 300-volt battery. This stored energy is used to move the vehicle and the regenerative braking cycle is renewed.

The two-mode hybrid system provides seamless, dependable power on demand in an efficient package. In fact, its electric motor is less than half the size of those in single-mode hybrid systems. This technology was developed and is still used in fleets of hybrid transit buses in more than 70 North American and European cities. Scaled-down for use in passenger vehicles, the two-mode system delivers fuel savings where it is needed most – in large vehicles with high levels of capability. The two-mode system was first introduced on the 2008 Yukon Hybrid. It is a core part of GM's energy diversity efforts, which are centered on reducing dependence on petroleum, improving fuel economy, reducing emissions and minimizing the automobile's impact on the environment.

With the fuel savings of the hybrid system and Sierra's 26-gallon (98-liter) fuel tank, the Sierra Hybrid has a cruising range of more than 500 miles (800 km).

Quiet and smooth

Integration of the hybrid system on the Sierra is seamless – the battery pack is located beneath the rear seat – and perceptible only in what it lacks: noise.

"The Sierra Hybrid is exceptionally quiet," said Mark Cieslak, vehicle chief engineer. "From a passenger's perspective, the refinement of the hybrid system is quite evident throughout the driving experience, and showcases itself when the vehicle is moving under electric power."

Contributors to the quiet driving experience include:

• New exhaust system and resonator tuned for the 6.0L engine's Active Fuel Management operation
• Additional engine intake induction tuning for reduced interior noise and pleasing sound quality
• Low-rolling resistance, "quiet-tuned" P265/65R18 tires for reduced road noise
• Electrically driven 300-volt air conditioning compressor reduces vibration and allows the standard, tri-zone HVAC system to cool the passenger compartment even when the gasoline engine is shut off
• Electrically driven 42-volt variable-assist power steering reduces vibration and provides up to a 0.5-mpg fuel economy improvement by reducing parasitic losses common in belt-driven hydraulic systems
• Energy Storage System (ESS) cooling system internal fan is tuned to be quiet at low vehicle speeds when the fan could more easily be heard by the occupants

Along with quietness, the Sierra Hybrid also delivers exceptional driving smoothness, thanks to specifically tuned shocks for its Z85 suspension and a new hydraulic body mount. Located on the passenger side of the chassis, the hydraulic mount provides a dramatic improvement in highway driving smoothness, particularly on rough or choppy road surfaces.

"The hydraulic mount makes a dramatic improvement in ride quality," said Cieslak.

Additional details specific to the Sierra Hybrid include aerodynamic aids. A slightly deeper front air dam and a tonneau cover for the bed reduce air drag, fostering maximum efficiency.

Trailering performance

In addition to increased fuel economy, the Sierra Hybrid's electrically variable transmission also provides tremendous trailering capability, enhancing driving smoothness and quality when towing. Electric drive is enabled up to approximately 30 mph (48 km/h), even when towing, allowing fuel savings when the truck is towing a trailer.

"Along with being very smooth, the EVT always provides abundant torque at all rpm levels for easy towing," said Cieslak. "It is particularly helpful on grades, as the EVT's greater ratio spread allows the engine to hold optimal rpm for smooth, steady performance, with no hunting between higher and lower gears."

The EVT incorporates grade braking and tap up/tap down shift control. It also benefits towing on curves or lower-speed back roads, as exceptionally smooth gear transitions eliminate the "shift shock" torque disruption that can occur during abrupt shifts, such as when slowing or braking.

In addition to the eight-year/100,000-mile warranty on the Sierra Hybrid's Energy Storage System, GM's Five-Year/100,000 Mile Powertrain Limited Warranty continues to make GM a better choice for customers. GM's coverage focuses on the complete ownership experience and includes other provisions that competitors do not offer, including transferability to the next owner, more complete coverage of parts, and coverage for new and certified used vehicles. In addition, GM offers complementary programs such as courtesy transportation and roadside assistance.

2009 GMC SIERRA HYBRID SPECIFICATIONS

Overview

Model:	GMC Sierra Hybrid
Body style / driveline:	full-size, 4-door pickup; front-engine, 2WD & 4WD
Construction:	body-on-frame, all-welded, fully-boxed, ladder-type channel design, with hydroformed front and rear sections
EPA vehicle class:	full-size pickup
Manufacturing location:	Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

Engine

Type:	Vortec 6.0L V-8 (LFA)
Application:	Sierra Hybrid
Displacement (cu in / cc):	364 / 5967
Bore & stroke (in / mm):	4.00 x 3.62 / 101.6 x 92
Block material:	cast aluminum
Cylinder head material:	cast aluminum
Valvetrain:	overhead valve, 2 valves per cylinder, variable valve timing
Ignition system:	coil-near-plug ignition, iridium electrode tip/ iridium core spark plugs, low resistance spark plug wires
Fuel delivery:	Active Fuel Management™; sequential fuel injection
Compression ratio:	10.8:1
Horsepower (hp / kW @ rpm):	332 / 248 @ 5100*
Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ rpm):	367 / 497 @ 4100*
Recommended fuel:	regular unleaded
Maximum engine speed (rpm):	6000
Emissions controls:	close-coupled catalytic converter, Quick Sync 58X ignition, returnless fuel rail, fast-response O² sensor
EPA estimated fuel economy (city / hwy):	2WD: TBD 4WD: TBD

Transmission

Type:	two-mode continuous electric ratio hybrid transmission with four fixed gears
Gear ratios (:1):
First:	3.69
Second:	1.70
Third:	1.00
Fourth:	0.73
Reverse:	Infinite – 1.70
EVT1:	Infinite – 1.70
EVT2:	1.70 – .5
Final drive ratio:	3.08

Vehicle Power System

Power electronics system:	300-volt (transmission, air conditioning); 42-volt (power steering); 12-volt (vehicle accessories)
Batteries:	300-volt (hybrid system); 12-volt (vehicle accessories)

Chassis/Suspension

Front:	independent, coil-over-shock
Rear:	2-stage leaf spring
Steering type:	42-volt electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion
Steering ratio:	17.75:1
Steering wheel turns, lock-to-lock:	3

Brakes

Type:	power-assisted four-wheel discs with fully blended regenerative braking control, standard stability control, traction control and four-channel ABS; vented front discs, solid rear discs; twin-piston front calipers, single-piston rear calipers
Rotor diameter x thickness (in / mm):	front: 13 x 1.18 / 330.2 x 30 rear: 13.5 x 0.79 / 345 x 20

Wheels/Tires

Wheel size and type:	18 x 8-in. six-spoke polished aluminum
Tires:	P265/65R18 AL2

Dimensions
Exterior

Wheelbase (in / mm):	143.5 / 3645
Overall length (in / mm):	230.2 / 5844
Overall width (in / mm):	80 / 2032
Overall height (in / mm)
2WD:	73.8 / 1875
4WD:	73.7 / 1872
Track (in / mm)
Front:	68.1 / 1730
Rear:	67 / 1702
Min. running ground clearance (in / mm)	9 / 229
Ground to top of load floor (in / mm):	2WD: 32.9 / 835 4WD: 32.7 / 831
Step-in height
2WD:	32.4 / 824
4WD:	32.4 / 824
Approach angle (deg)
2WD:	15.3
4WD:	15.3
Breakover angle (deg)
2WD:	19.3
4WD:	19.3
Departure angle (deg)
2WD:	22.8
4WD:	22.4

Interior

	Crew Cab, Front	Crew Cab, Rear
Headroom (in / mm):	41.2 / 1048	40.5 / 1030
Legroom (in / mm):	41.3 / 1049	38.7 / 983
Shoulder room (in / mm):	65.2 / 1657	65.1 / 1655
Hip room (in / mm):	62.5 / 1588	65.4 / 1663

Curb Weight & Payload

	GVWR (lb / kg)	Curb Weight (lb / kg)	Max. Payload (lb / kg)	Weight Distribution (% front / rear)
2WD:
Crew Cab Short Box	7100 / 3220	5641 / 2559	1459 / 662	59 / 41
4WD:
Crew Cab Short Box	7300 / 3311	5881 / 2667	1418 / 643	59 / 41

Cargo Box

Cargo volume (cu ft / L):	53.2 / 1506
Length at floor (in / mm):	69.29 / 1760
Width at floor (in / mm):	62.4 / 1586
Width between wheelhousings (in / mm):	50.6 / 1286
Tailgate width (in / mm):	61.5 / 1564
Inside height (in / mm):	21 / 553

Capacities

Seating:	5 or 6
Fuel tank (gal / L):	26 / 98
Engine oil (qt / L):	6 / 5.7
Cooling system (qt / L):	14.4 / 13.6
GCWR (lb / kg):	2WD: 12000 / 5443 4WD: 12000 / 5443
Trailer towing maximum with ball hitch (lb / kg):	2WD: 6100 / 2767 4WD: 5900 / 2676

HOV Exemption Extension Up Again in Virginia

Virginia is considering extending the HOV exemption for hybrid, compressed natural gas or hydrogen cars. The HOV exemption extension bill was signed back in March, allowing solo access to owners of those alternative cars in the high occupancy vehicle lanes until July 1, 2008.

But it's that time of year again, which means you will be seeing editorials like this one: Fredericksburg.com - Hybrid exemption makes no sense here; showing up in Virginia papers.

Some people feel that hybrid cars don't deserve the special privilege, saying that one SUV with three people is worth more than one hybrid car. Others will say the HOV lane is clogged by these one person riders. More often than not, the debate degenerates into a hybrid drivers are smug festival.

Neither argument makes a lot of sense. Hybrid car owners do not clog up the HOV lanes. It's the people who are entering illegally who do more harm. Also, the HOV exemption is meant to encourage people to buy hybrid cars, cars that use less gas even after they leave the HOV lane. Yes, an SUV carrying three or more people probably gets better people per gallon during rush hour. But what about at other times of the day or on the weekend?

Hybrid Cars in Australia

Australia has seen a significant growth in hybrid cars over the past year. But sales are still on the low end, with hybrid cars making up less than one percent of the total passenger car market.

4,228 hybrid cars were sold in Australia last year, 2,725 of those were bought by the government or by businesses. Private sales were up 16.3 percent to 1,503 units sold. Only 1,292 private sales occurred in 2006. Government and corporate sales were up 60.8 percent.

Sales have been severely limited by availability. Currently, only Toyota (and Lexus) and Honda sell hybrid cars in Australia. The Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid make up a bulk of the hybrid car sales.

Unlike the US, Australia has a very limited incentives program for hybrid cars. In Queenland, Australia, a stamp duty concession of 2 percent has remained steady for hybrid cars, while the duty has doubled for others.

Meanwhile, diesel sales were up 62.9 percent from 10,566 to 17,215.

Source: Hybrid cars not popular | The Courier-Mail

Lithium-Ion Battery Plant

Johnson Controls and Saft Advanced Power Solutions have invested $22.2 million into a new manufacturing plant dedicated exclusively to building lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery packs for cars. Johnson Controls and Saft expect most of the new batteries will be sold to GM, Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz for use in hybrid and electric cars.

The new plant will produce 5,000 batteries a year at first, although word is they could increase production if their customers start demanding more.

"This manufacturing facility demonstrates our ongoing commitment to hybrid technology," said Mary Ann Wright who leads the joint venture and is vice president and general manager of Johnson Controls' hybrid battery business. "We are the first company to produce the batteries for the automotive industry and have recently announced a number of production and development contracts. We are confident that we will continue to be a global leader in the development and manufacture of advanced energy solutions for automotive batteries that make cars more energy efficient."

The Li-Ion battery plant is located in Nersac, France.

Johnson Controls won a contract to provide Li-Ion batteries to Mercedes-Benz. They will be used in the S-class series of luxury hybrids. The company also is making batteries for Dodge Sprinters that are being tested in Los Angeles and New York, has a production contract with Chinese automaker Chery, and SAIC, has also asked Johnson Controls to supply batteries for hybrids.

Competitors include Cobasys, which makes batteries for GM. Panasonic, Sanyo and A123 Technologies are also involved in the new battery race. A123 won a battery contract last year for the Chevy Volt.

Slow Down in Hybrid Car Sales Expected for 2008

J.D. Powers and Associates is predicting a modest increase in hybrid car sales next year, up 31,000 units from this year. (Source: MLive)

HYBRID SALES & MARKET SHARE

2000: 9,350 — 0.1%
2001: 19,177 — 0.1%
2002: 37,993 — 0.2%
2003: 47,524 — 0.3%
2004: 85,525 — 0.5%
2005: 206,858 — 1.2%
2006: 254,143 — 1.5%
2007: 351,000 — 2.2%
2008: 382,000 — 2.4%
2009: 614,000 — 3.8%
2010: 772,000 — 4.7%
2011: 938,000 — 5.6%
2012: 1,007,000 — 6%

2007 figures are preliminary; 2008 and beyond are projections.
Source: J.D. Power and Associates

Next years sales growth will come from the additional models from GM, Chrysler and Ford. While the large portion of sales will still come from Toyota, with nothing new from Toyota, Lexus or Honda until 2009, sales growth will be modest.

Sales skyrocketed between 2006 and 2007 due to the production increase on the Prius. The Camry Hybrid and Prius were competing for space, but after Camry production moved, Prius sales increased to their current levels. The Prius is now one of the top 10 cars being sold in the U.S.

Despite the attention paid to hybrid models at the 2008 North American International Auto Show, industry analysts say a combination of factors, including often-hefty price premiums and an acceptance by consumers of $3-per-gallon gasoline, will temper sales of hybrids this year. That's despite the introduction of new hybrids such as the Saturn Green Line Aura and Vue and the Chevrolet Tahoe Two-Mode Hybrid SUV.

That's also because supplies will be limited even if they do become popular. Ford is just now thinking they may make a profit on every hybrid car they sell. And even though Ford claims they are hard pressed to keep up with the hybrid car demand, they have not increased production. Nissan has limited sales of their Altima Hybrid to just eight states, because they hate selling cars for a loss. I imagine GM and Chrysler will be facing the same secenario for a few years with their new full hybrids (two-mode hybrid engine). Sure they could build more hybrids, but should they when they are losing money on each one sold?

Sales will pick up steam once again in 2009, when the next generation Prius and a new Lexus model is expected, plus Honda's new global hybrid. All three will be dedicated hybrids which will concentrate on fuel efficiency.