Why to Buy an Electric Car 101

The electric car is coming.


Unlike most things in these days of economic turmoil, you can take that to the bank. But while many automakers have made some sort of commitment to offer some form of electric car, the major question is: Will we buy it?

Well, the promotion has begun. And here are 10 reasons why many pundits say that, Yes, we will be buying electric cars.

1. There is no engine. Think about the savings in gas and maintenance. And there are four electric motors that run the electric car so if one motor goes out, you still have the other three churning along. The now available space can be used by batteries that provide the vehicle with the longer range we all want. There is a new mini vehicle hybrid electric vehicle that has been said to have a range of 900 miles. Wow!

2. Electric cars will be reliable. There is no doubt about that. And there is evidence of that already. There is an electric car that runs on solar power that has driven around the world. Double Wow!

3. The electric car can actually save you money in the long run. They may be more expensive to buy initially, but you will no doubt save on the maintenance and fuel costs.

4. Solar roofs that can be used to provide energy to run the vehicles will provide free power from the sun. Solar panels have already been developed to achieve this and a Prius has been modified to include a solar roof which has been proven to extend its range and make driving even cheaper.

5. They are quiet. Walking on the streets of a large city could be almost a pleasure because it will be so quiet once the old gas engine cars make their way to the junkyard.

6. Samples like the Tesla Roadster already exist which show the benefits: 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds; doesn’t burn oil; travels 244 miles per charge; costs pennies per mile.

7. No infrastructure. The cars can be filled up so to speak by just plugging them into an electrical socket.

8. Besides being able to put solar panels on the roof of the vehicle, transparent solar panels have already been invented that can be put on the windshield providing more capability to turn sun light into energy and thus more range.

9. Believe it or not, there are companies that are developing “Solar Paint” -- paint that can generate electricity. So with solar panels on the roof and windshield and solar energy also coming from the paint on the surface of the vehicle, there is no chance that the car will be without power. Wow! Wow! Wow!

10. Finally, it will end once and for all our dependence on foreign oil -- wait, it will eliminate our need for any oil.

via AboutMyPlanet

Who needs a hybrid?

Green is for sale. But who’s buying? Seriously, who needs a hybrid? Without question, fuel-saving technology is essential both for automakers who hope to compete in the next decade and for a nation stricken by energy problems. But if you dig through the sales numbers over the past few months, it’s easy to see that more consumers are asking whether the extra cost of a hybrid-electric car is really worth it.

In December, sales of Toyota’s Prius—the standard bearer of all hybrids—fell by a whopping 45%. In November, sales were off 48%. During those two months, gasoline prices plummeted below $2 a gallon. This proves that America hasn’t turned truly green. More likely, they turned red at the pump back in July when gasoline prices topped $4 a gallon. People fled their suvs and bought smaller cars and hybrids like there was a fuel shortage.

But once gasoline prices fell back to levels that Americans have normally paid, they pulled back on hybrid purchases. Toyota has indefinitely delayed its plans for a Prius plant in Mississippi. Toyota isn’t the only company feeling a pinch. Ford’s Escape hybrid and the competing Saturn Vue hybrid both saw sales sink by more than 40% last month. And the hybrid Civic? Off almost 70%. Ouch.

Jim Lentz, President of Toyota Motor Sales USA, notes that for the year, hybrid sales fell only 12%. That shows better staying power than a car market that fell 18%. His point shouldn’t be ignored. He is also right when he says that in the long run, gasoline prices will rise and hybrids will be a better sell. Plus, he says, 80% of Prius owners trade in for a new one. That means the existing buyers keep coming back.

But annual numbers are padded by the huge fuel-price spike of the first half of the year. Recent months show that when gas prices fall, consumers aren’t buying. This creates a huge dilemma for car companies and policy makers. New fuel economy rules will mandate fuel-saving technology. Carmakers the world over are pushing hybrids and other fuel savers to market. But without a hit to the wallet, Americans still aren’t sold on them. Without a price spike—or a tax on gasoline—carmakers will once again be caught between a policy that demands fuel economy and an American consumer who remains indifferent.

Toyota Camry Hybrid: The Green Car

With gas pricing soaring up, the popularity for the hybrid vehicles are showing an increase. Many car makers have come out with attractive hybrid models. The Toyota Camry Hybrid is one among the most popular of these choices. Let us have a look at the gorgeous features of the Toyota Camry hybrid that makes it stay apart from the other hybrids.

Even though the Toyota Camry hybrid is exactly the same as the previous

Camry sedan models in many aspects, the new Hybrid models possess some features that differ in some ways. As Hybrid cars run partly by electricity and the rest by gasoline, there is no denial that there would be positive outcome. But of course there do have a serious of negative impacts also. Camry hybrid’s later models, such as the 2007 was classified as a “full hybrid” because it could run on gas or on electric energy, depending on the driver’s preference.  Nowadays, the combination of both is considered to be more popular and more and more people are considering investing in these models.


The sales of Toyota Camry hybrid are currently remarkably high. Toyota, the Japanese automaker is doing their best to annex a big part of the market. For this, a massive and research is being conducted to develop the existing specification of the Camry Hybrid. Hybrid is either superior or just within the average level. The Toyota Camry hybrid has a 40 MPG gas mileage while if the highway it has 38 MPG gas mileage. It moves utilizing a four-cylinder engine with gasoline fuel. The maximum capacity of its NiMH 245V battery is about 30 kilowatt or 40 horsepower, peaking at about 192 horsepower or 140 kilowatts. Toyota Camry Hybrid is capable of matching the acceleration speed of the Toyota V6 Camry. The car won the award for the Green car of the Year as well as the Eco-Friendly Car in 2007. Thanks to the ability of low consumption of fuel.

Volvo plans to release 'micro-hybrid' in 2011

Volvo's product development unit is still hard at work, even as Ford has slapped a price tag on the brand. In an effort to develop more environmentally-friendly vehicles capable of meeting stringent emissions regulations on the horizon, the Swedish automaker has been working on some new highly-efficient vehicles. In addition to the DRIVe trio of ultra-efficient diesel-powered models, Volvo is working on an all-new micro-hybrid model. Set to join the lineup in 2011, the vehicle will be available with a choice between gasoline or diesel power, and a manual or automatic transmission. Fuel-saving technology will include a start-stop system plus brake-energy regeneration to cut consumption by nearly 5 percent. We'll see a full hybrid (with the ability to run on electric power only) in 2012 with the D5 diesel engine (Volvo's similar battery and flexfuel ReCharge Concept is above). A plug-in electric is also expected to follow down the road.

[Source: Channel4]

Ford Announces Pricing for 2010 Fusion Models

Just a few days after Ford debuted the all-new 2010 Fusion, official pricing has been released. The Fusion can be had in five different model trims: S, SE, SEL, Sport, and Hybrid, with a choice of four- or six-cylinder engines and manual or automatic transmissions, depending on the model.

The base Fusion S rings in at an MSRP of $19,270 while the top-dollar Fusion Hybrid can be priced from $27,200. Rounding out the middle of the range we have the SE at $20,545, SEL at $23,975, and Sport at $25,825.

Click through the post to see a more detailed list of some of the features found on each model.

FUSION S -- $19,270
- 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with six-speed manual transmission
- Sixteen-inch aluminum wheels
- Four-wheel ABS
- Electronic stability control
- Cloth seats with manual adjustment
- Power windows, locks, and mirrors

FUSION SE -- $20,545
- 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with six-speed manual transmission
- Seventeen-inch alloy wheels with silver paint
- Six-way power driver's seat with manual lumbar
- Side curtain airbags
- Optional 3.0-lier V-6 and Ford Sync

FUSION SEL -- $23,975
- 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with six-speed automatic transmission
- Sirius satellite radio
- Ford Sync
- Seven-color ambient lighting system
- Seventeen-inch machined aluminum wheels
- Leather-trimmed, heated seats
- Automatic on/off headlamps
- Eight-way power driver's seat
- Six-way power passenger seat
- Optional: 3.0-liter V-6, AWD, reverse sensing system, navigation, Moon and Tune package

FUSION SPORT -- $25,825
- 3.5-liter V-6 engine with six-speed SelectShift transmission
- Sync and Sirius satellite radio
- Red, blue, or black accented leather seats
- Eighteen-inch premium aluminum wheels
- Chrome trim
- Decklid spoiler
- Optional: AWD, electronics package, reverse sensing system, navigation, Moon and Tune package, Driver Vision package

FUSION HYBRID -- $27,270
- 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine
- E-CVT automatic transmission
- Regenerative braking
- Dual-LCD instrument cluster
- Eco-friendly cloth seats
- Seventeen-inch aluminum wheels
- Reverse sensing system
- Optional: leather/heated seats, navigation, Driver Vision package, Moon and Tune package

Nascar's Hybrid Pace Car

Donning racecar-like artwork, the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid will take to the national stage this Sunday in Miami, becoming the first hybrid vehicle to serve as official pace car at a Nascar race. The car’s appearance at the Ford 400 will precede its scheduled world debut at the Los Angeles International Auto Show later this month.

The event will build upon a recent publicity blitz for the Fusion Hybrid which began with an online unveiling of the car, followed by the introduction of its new SmartGauge technology. The hybrid has also been named a finalist by the Green Car Journal for the magazine’s Green Car of the Year Award. The winner will be announced at the LA Auto Show.

The Fusion Hybrid powertrain couples a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with a next-generation, high-voltage electric motor. In electric-only mode, the car is capable of reaching up to 47 miles per hour. (Most hybrids have an electric-only top speed around 30 miles per hour.) "Because our hybrid can run at a much higher speed in electric mode, you can do so much more in city driving situations,” said Gil Poralatin, Ford’s Hybrid Applications Manager, in a company press release. “Under the right conditions, you can drive in your neighborhood or in mall parking lots without using a drop of gas.”

The city fuel economy for the Ford Fusion Hybrid will be approximately 38 miles per gallon—beating the Camry Hybrid by 5 mpg. Furthermore, the car has a vehicle range of more than 700 miles on a single tank of gas. That’s about 300 laps at the Homestead-Miami Speedway—without having to refuel.

Many racing associations and circuits have been spotlighting eco-friendly alternatives like diesel and ethanol in recent years, but this level of exposure for a hybrid vehicle is unprecedented. Nascar’s fanbase is larger than professional football and baseball, combined. With over 80,000 race attendees and roughly 20 million television viewers, this could prove to be the ultimate hybrid endorsement.

Spy Shots: Near Production BMW X6 Active Hybrid Spotted

The hybrid X6 will be a full, two-mode affair as previewed by the X6 Hybrid SUV concept at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, and will make use of two electric motors powered by nickel metal hydride batteries. The configuration is said to deliver 20 percent better fuel economy, in part because it offers a fully electrically powered mode.

The production car is likely to make its world debut at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in January. Scroll down below to read the spy photographer’s own notes.

BMW are in the final stages of testing with the X6 Active Hybrid. The X6 Active Hybrid will come with a Two-Mode-Hybrid-Concept, meaning two electric engines and a big nickel metal hydride battery. With this technology BMW is reporting to save about 20 percent of fuel and it’s even possible to drive the car fully electric.
The visual changes are very small; you really need to be a BMW fan to notice the differences but here is a tip, check out the bulge on the engine hood. 

First introduced as an X6 Hybrid SUV Concept at the Frankfurt Car Show in 2007, the finished X6 Active Hybrid is expected to be unveiled at the Detroit Car Show in January 2009.

Honda Civic Hybrid vs Honda Fit Sport

Edmunds put a comparison between the Honda Civic Hybrid ($27,420) and Honda Fit Sport ($19,430) by putting them to a series of tests. One drawback for hybrid will be the batteries replacement which will cost about $2000. Video after the break.

Edmunds:
They’re not fast, they don’t corner hard and they’re certainly not the most pulse-quickening cars we’ve ever tested at Inside Line. But if fuel-efficiency and utility are priority items in your next car purchase, then the 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid and 2009 Honda Fit Sport are unbelievable machines.

Combining economic operation and utility like few other cars sold today, either of these Hondas is a responsible choice for the buyer looking to save fuel, minimize emissions and haul the family. Each has its own unique qualities — important distinctions that can’t be overlooked.

The question, then, is which is the better car? To figure it out, for two weeks we used the 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid and the 2009 Honda Fit as they’re designed to be used. We drove them to work, loaded our families in them, packed our groceries in them and took them to the track to measure their performance. We argued the merits of the Civic’s superb fuel economy vs. the Fit’s exceptional utility.

In doing so, we designed this test to suit the priorities of a buyer looking for reasonably priced utilitarian transportation. Accordingly, fuel economy and price make up the majority of each car’s total score at 25 percent each. Performance, feature content and our 29-point evaluation score make up 15 percent each, while editors’ personal and recommended picks combine for the remaining 5 percent.

[via Techeblog]

Durango and Aspen Hybrids Killed

It appears that Chrysler will discontinue the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen full-sized hybrids just two months after both vehicles began full-scale production. A company press release stated, “In response to the continuing global economic slowdown and auto industry contraction, as well as the market's continuing movement toward smaller vehicles, Chrysler is announcing…the pull-ahead of the closure of the Newark, Del. Assembly Plant.”

The release further details the December 31st 2008 shutdown of the plant, where both the hybrid and non-hybrid versions of these two models are built. Approximately 1,000 jobs will be lost. This news hits just one year after the Durango and Aspen Hybrids made their world debuts at the 2007 Los Angeles International Auto Show.

According to reports, there have been about 3,000 pre-orders for the two hybrids. It is not clear at this time how many of those orders have been filled, and what is to happen with those not yet delivered.

The hybrid system used in the Aspen and Durango featured the two-mode technology co-developed with General Motors and BMW. Both vehicles join an electric motor with Chrysler’s famed Hemi-V8 engine. The two-mode transmission used in the system is separately built in a plant in White Marsh, Md., which last year added a significant boost in square footage, hardware, and personnel, necessary to produce the new technology. Chrysler did not comment on the status of that facility.

The death of the Durango and Aspen hybrids has not changed Chrysler’s plan for more hybrid gas-electric vehicles. “More hybrids are coming in the future,” said Chrysler spokeswoman, Mary Beth Halprin in an interview with the Detroit News. Chrysler has not signaled a disruption in plans to launch a hybrid Dodge Ram full-size pickup in 2010. That vehicle will share the same two-mode technology as the Aspen and Durango hybrids.

Top New Car Technologies for 2009 – Part 1

Exciting innovations in automotive technology are introduced every year: from new safety features to the latest in in-car entertainment amenities. The model year 2009 presents an exciting array of new car technologies that aim to enhance how our automotive experience. Even with a crisis facing the automotive industry, the demand for new technologies that will enhance safety, entertainment, comfort and connectivity will has nowhere to go but up. Here’s a rundown of the top new car technologies for the 2009 model year.

Adaptive Cruise Control – also known as active or intelligent cruise control, ACC uses radar and/or laser sensors usually located behind the grille to determine the speed and distance of the vehicle in front. It maintains the vehicle’s pre-set speed and adjusts it accordingly to maintain the proper distance between vehicles in the same lane. For instance, if the vehicle in front slows down, the system sends a signal to the engine or braking system to decelerate. The system accelerates to the last speeds setting when it detects that the distance is safe again.

Traffic and Weather Alert Navigation – Future drivers will be more informed about weather and traffic conditions with real-time information superimposed on GPS-based navigation systems. The weather/traffic information is scaled and customized for the driver’s location and route. The service provides alerts about severe traffic and weather conditions that can help drivers avoid a massive traffic jam or a storm brewing on the road ahead.

Adaptive Headlamps – A vehicle’s headlamps can now follow wherever the driver turns the steering wheel to illuminate where the driver is looking instead of the car’s front end only. The adaptive headlamps system involves processing of information about the location of the steering wheel and the speed of the vehicle which then signals electric motors behind the headlamps to turn left or right accordingly.Portable Nav Device Integration – As portable navigation devices become even more popular, automakers are now equipping their vehicles with interfaces and storage compartments for these gadgets.

Portable Nav Device Integration – As portable navigation devices become even more popular, automakers are now equipping their vehicles with interfaces and storage compartments for these gadgets.

Collision Avoidance – This system monitors the distance and closing rate between the vehicle equipped with the system and the vehicle or an object ahead on the road. If the system thinks that the driver is not braking enough, it alerts the driver with tools such as flashing lights, vibrating seats, tugging seatbelts and more. In some collision avoidance systems, the brake is applied automatically at the last moment if these alerts don’t work.

Source: MSN Autos

Top New Car Technologies for 2009 – Part 2

The Candidates on Energy and Hybrids

The third and final Presidential debate last night allowed candidates Barack Obama and John McCain to once again outline their ideas about energy and transportation. While McCain underscored the need for increased drilling to decrease dependence on foreign oil, Obama talked about creating 5 million new jobs—more than twice the amount within the oil and gas industries today—by ramping up clean-energy initiatives and technology. As the election draws nearer, let’s take another look at the candidates' proposals.

John McCain

• Wants to expand domestic offshore drilling in order to reduce the need for foreign oil from the Middle East and Venezuela.
• Favors construction of 45 new nuclear power plants by 2030. To handle the additional reactor waste, he wants to open the Yucca Mountain geological repository in Nevada, which many scientists argue is an unstable place for storage of such materials. McCain believes nuclear power is the best long-term solution to remedy global warming.
• Plans to cut greenhouse gases to 66 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2050. This would be accomplished by utilizing a cap-and-trade system, which sets an aggressive cap on emissions, and mandates a high level of compliance from market participants.
• Opposes a windfall profits tax on oil companies.
• Calls for a $300 million prize to whoever can develop a battery that will "leapfrog" the abilities of current hybrid and electric cars.
• Wants to allow a $5,000 tax credit for purchasing a zero-emissions vehicle. [Note: The $700 billion bailout bill signed by President Bush on Oct. 4, 2008, includes tax credits up to $7,500 for US buyers of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.]

Barack Obama

• Is willing to explore offshore oil drilling options, but on a limited basis.
• Want to create a $150 billion fund to be spent over the next 10 years on developing “climate friendly” technologies such as wind, solar, hybrids cars, and clean-coal.
• Calls for cutting greenhouse gases to 80 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2050. Like McCain, Obama supports a cap-and-trade system with aggressive caps.
• Mandates utility companies to produce one-quarter of their total output using renewable energy by 2025. This could include wind, solar, or any other “climate friendly” measures.
• Advocates a windfall profits tax on oil companies.
• Wants to allow a $7,000 tax credit for purchasing an advance-technology vehicle. This would include hybrids, plug-in hybrids, electric cars, and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, among other potential developments.
• Sets a goal of 1 million plug-in hybrids on the road by 2015.

The ability of either candidate to deliver on energy promises remains to be seen. But at least we know where they stand. The next step, my friends, is up to you, your comments, and your vote.

Mercedes hybrid coming June 2009

The first ever Mercedes-Benz hybrid goes on sale next summer. Business Week reports that the S400 BlueHybrid will be available from June 2009 in Europe, with the US and China following later in the year. Mercedes-Benz's press office tells me it can't confirm Britain will get the luxury car; concrete word on a UK edition is expected next month.

While greener than some of Mercedes-Benz's current top-end models, the S400 is still effectively a small tank, so it's hardly the future of sustainable transport. It really just an efficient luxury model, akin to Lexus' LS600h.

The S400 is based on a lithium battery and a 'mild' hybrid system, meaning it can't run on electric power alone. Instead, the electric motors assist the petrol engine to improve its miles per gallon.

If a UK model gets confirmed, you'll read about it here.

Honda, Ford, Nissan Prep Hybrids to Hunt Prius Before Volt Unveil

DETROIT — As it becomes increasingly likely that General Motors will unveil the production version of its much-anticipated Chevy Volt here later this month, competing automakers are now codifying their plans for next-generation hybrids of their own. On the heels of a senior Ford official describing all-electric cars to PM last night as “the ultimate solution”—and confirming that its Escape hybrid was headed for production as a plug-in—Honda offered a first look this morning at its new, cheap, 40-mpg-plus Honda Insight hybrid (pictured above).

A full look at the already teased Volt should begin a cavalcade of new hybrid hype—the much-spied (and seemingly close-to-production) Insight concept will debut next month at the Paris Motor Show, likely followed by a 2010 Infiniti hybrid at a show early next year, and finally the launch of the new Toyota Prius next spring. But don’t expect radical jumps in fuel economy—even an electrified Prius is still prepping for fleet testing in Japan late next year, as hyperefficient plug-ins will arrive later. Here’s an update on four hybrids we’re watching closely as GM prepares to drop the Volt bomb.


2010 Honda Insight Hybrid
Honda will finally go toe-to-toe with the Prius when the unique-looking five-passenger hybrid that we’ve been expecting debuts next spring under the popular Insight moniker. Specific details are slim, but we know the Insight hybrid will use a powertrain similar to the Civic Hybrid, which means a 1.3-liter VTEC four-cylinder engine mated to an electric assist motor (about 115 hp total) and CVT transmission. This powertrain rarely operates in electric-only mode (only during light-load cruising), so that means a plug-in version is highly unlikely—for now. But as far as miles per gallon go, the Insight should still hit the mid- to high-40s on the EPA’s city and highway test cycles.

What’s more, the Honda powertrain has a more conventional design than Toyota’s, which means the Insight will cost far less the Prius’s $22,000 base price. Our guess is that it will be well below 20 grand and will probably be the least expensive hybrid on the market. The Insight’s five-door body is based on the FCX Clarity fuel-cell car, and if the dimensions carry over, that means a generous rear seat and lots of cargo room. Considering that the Honda Fit is already shockingly roomy for its diminutive exterior, we expect the same of the Insight. Honda will also include a dash readout that will coach pilots to drive for better fuel economy. The planned U.S. sales volume is 100,000 a year, which shouldn’t be hard to achieve.


2010 (?) Ford Escape Plug-in
If the Insight is Honda’s shot at the Prius, Ford is cooking up some pure EV competition for the extended-range Volt hybrid. Down on hydrogen-powered cars and fuel cells in particular, Ford VP for Global Product Development Derrick Kuzak hinted here last night that all-electric cars might be the company’s endgame. “We have to get beyond having two powertrains,” Kuzak said, citing weight, complexity and cost issues as reasons to eventually move beyond hybrids and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). There’s already a basic electric infrastructure, he said, that can be upgraded to handle EVs a lot easier—and at a far lower cost—than setting up a hydrogen infrastructure. Down the road, Ford may not seek a 200-mi. range for such vehicles, as Kuzak insisted that 100 miles was acceptable “for most of the world”—and, it should be noted, for competitors like Nissan.

If the race to workable lithium-ion battery technology proves to have too many hurdles, Ford remains optimistic about the possibilities for cellulosic ethanol. Right now, however, the company is running a number of plug-in versions of the Ford Escape hybrid as part of a project with Southern California Edison. And without offering a specific timetable, Kuzak confirmed that Ford plans to put into general production a PHEV version, with a “general” goal of achieving Volt-level range on battery power alone—that’s to the tune of 40 miles per charge.


2010 Infiniti Hybrid
On a recent test drive in Japan, we sampled a prototype of Nissan’s first in-house designed hybrid. We noticed that the transitions from gas to electric were a bit rough—not quite production-ready. So, some fine-tuning remains. The system will debut on a 2010 Infiniti product. It works similarly to the two-mode approach used by GM and others, but Infiniti will provide a longer EV-only range and a maximum speed of 75 mph on pure electric power.


2010 Toyota Prius
The current Prius is the only hybrid that doesn’t have a conventional gasoline counterpart. It was designed as a dedicated hybrid. And even in its final year of production, it’s still a hit. The all-new Prius will arrive next spring with a larger 1.8-liter gas engine, but the rest of the hybrid system is evolutionary. Eight months after launch, Toyota will offer a plug-in hybrid Prius with a lithium-ion battery pack. And it, too, could match the Volt’s projected 40-miles-per-charge, electric-only range.

Renault parades Ondelios flax car

You can eat it, buy towels and bags made from it, but did you know you can make a car from flax? Renault thinks so, as today it unveiled the Ondelio, a new eco concept car partly made from flax.

The Ondelious is a 6-seater diesel hybrid that Renault says represents the "medium term future" of motoring. It'll be on show at next month's Paris Motor Show.

Renault claims the flax bodywork is there for "for greater recyclability." Flax is certainly a renewable resource -- unlike oil-based plastic -- but I'm sceptical it has great potential for recycling in the car industry.

A more credible eco claim is the use of carbon fibre and polycarbonate in the car's bodywork, which should reduce its weight and fuel consumption (like, say, the Axon).

Renault reckons the car will manage 120g/km CO2, thanks to its aerodynamic design, light body, low resistance tyres and stop-start technology that saves fuel when you stop at lights. 120g would be pretty impressive for a car this size.

The hybrid tech inside is of the 'mild' variety, meaning it'll assist your diesel driving for fuel efficiency. You can't, however, run on 100 per cent electric alone. The lithium-ion battery recharges when you brake, and the car has electric motors front and back.

The Ondelios certainly looks nice for a concept car -- I'm a sucker for roof-hinge doors -- but the eco claims are a tad oversold. It's basically a luxury concept with decent fuel economy and okay performance of 0-60mph in 7.8 seconds.

My favourite 'eco' element is the promise of a Samsung multimedia gaming gadget for every passenger.

Maybe Renault didn't notice, but people already one iPhones and PSPs. If a son of the Ondelios ever sees the light of day, let's hope the Samsung gadgets are an optional extra.

Lexus LF-Xh hybrid concept headed for Paris

Green car fans can glimpse the next generation of Lexus' hybrid 4x4s next month at the Paris Motor Show. The Lexus LF-Xh hybrid isn't a new concept car and it's been 'hanging' in a Milan art gallery, but this is its first European motor show debut.

The car has a V6 engine and promises "excellent fuel efficiency", athough mpg and CO2 figures are still under wraps. That's about it for details, so in the meantime, cast your eyes over the pics below.

Lexus sells a range of hybrids today -- a limo and a 4x4 -- which fall in the efficient luxury car class rather than the truly low emissions camp.

Plug-in Prius lands on UK roads, details emerge

Today the UK caught up with France, Japan and the US with the launch of a year-long trial of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHV). I've just returned from the Hyde Park launch event, where I chatted with the Toyoto and EDF folk behind the project. Here's the lowdown.

The car looks like today's Prius -- it's cosmetically identical aside from a plug socket on the right of the car -- but promises greater fuel economy. The Prius PHV's extended battery can be recharged with a mains socket at home and road-side charging stations on the go.

Toyota told the crowd of journos and politicos -- including the Conservative's Tim Yeo and Labour's John Hutton -- that the Prius PHV uses 60 per cent less petrol than a normal Prius on journeys under 25km.

The car can run for 6.2 miles on pure electric power and takes two hours to recharge. Toyota's chief hybrid architect, Koei Saga, said he didn't believe drivers would be willing to wait for a longer charge.

Toyota also explained a key difference between the PHV and the normal Prius: it can hit 60mph on electric power alone. That's up from 30mph on the current model.

Prius PHVs will be available in 2009 for company fleets, but Toyota was cagey when I spoke to them about an on-sale date for UK consumers. The best answer I could get was the car would be available within five years at the latest. Price is a closely guarded secret.

Toyota's Saga also talked about the Prius' future direction. He said battery management was the main area of R&D, and ruled out diesel hybrids in the short term because of the high price tag of a diesel hybrid. "In the long run", he added, "diesel hybrids are something we'd consider."
The Prius PHV trial is in conjuntion with 50 jammy staff at energy company EDF, who will see how the Prius PHV performs on UK roads. EDF said it'd try to include employees who have microgeneration technology at home, such as solar panels and wind turbines.

If you can't wait for Toyota to sell the official Prius PHV, you could contact Amberjac Projects which mods the vanilla Prius into a plug-in conversion. Or you could start saving for 2009's Honda Insight, which is being billed as the world's cheapest hybrid.

Photos: Prius PHV up-close and around London

Following the news about the UK's first ever plug-in petrol electric hybrid, here are some great Toyota photos of the car zooming around British roads. Discover how the charging process works and check out the road-side charging stations popping up in London and beyond.

One of the 40 public charging stations installed by EDF.

The charging cable looks very similar to the ones supplied with 100 per cent electric cars such as the G-Wiz and Mega City.

As you can see, the Elektrobay charging posts conceal a standard plug socket.

Like today's Prius, the plug-in version will be exempt from the London Congestion Charge.

This is the only real cosmetic difference between the Prius PHV and the standard Prius: a plug cover on the car's right-hand-side.

EDF claims the plug-in Prius will have lower carbon emissions than a normal petrol car in Britain, even though much of the fuel mix for UK electricity comes from carbon-dense coal rather than renewable energy.

Honda Insight Hybrid on sale in UK early 2009

Honda is promising a new hybrid car that'll be "priced significantly lower than any other hybrid." SmartPlanet has learned the Honda Insight hybrid will go on sale in the UK for spring 2009, though the price is still shrouded in mystery. Considering today's basic Honda Civic Hybrid costs £17,145 and a basic Toyota Prius costs £17,145, my guess is we're looking at a hybrid for £15K or less.

While the price is unknown, the design isn't: it's essentially a tweaked version of the hydrogen FCX Clarity in the US and Japan. Green car fans will be able to see it first-hand at the Paris Motor Show this October. The look is certainly far less dowdy than Honda's current UK hybrid, the Civic Hybrid, which the Insight will complement rather than supplement.

The new Insight, which revives the name of Honda's US hybrid in 1999, will be a five door family hatchback. It'll be smaller than today's Civic Hybrid, which is one of the two top-ranking low carbon small family cars in the UK. Intriguingly, Honda says the Insight will have a "unique function to assist more fuel efficient driving": we'll have to wait for an explainer.

The Insight should give a boost to UK hybrids, which are facing stiff competition from cheaper diesel cars. Ford's Focus ECOnetic, for example, has attracted plaudits and undercuts both the Prius and the Civic Hybrid by more than a grand.
Honda also used the Insight news to remind us of its (already public) plans for three further hybrids: a new Civic Hybrid, a Jazz supermini hybrid, and a sporty hybrid based on its concept CR-Z design.

Watch this space for the price announcement on the Insight.

From right-to-left: Honda Insight, FCX Clarity, CR-Z concept

World’s First Hybrid SUV Stretch Limo

It’s not the first hybrid stretch limousine, because a Canadian firm converted a Prius into a 10-seater last year. But it does appear to be the first stretch limo built from the body of a hybrid SUV, which would make it the world’s largest hybrid gas-electric vehicle—if it weren't for hybrid buses and locomotives.

LimeLite CoachWorks of Santa Clara, Calif.—which builds a variety of stretch limos from Hummers and Escalades to Mini Coopers and Jaguar XFs—recently added more than 13 feet to a Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid. LimeLite Business Development Representative Mike Williams told HybridCars.com that it’s the first hybrid limo off the line for the company, and was sold before it was finished being built. The vehicle will soon be put into service by Zbest Limos of Baltimore, Maryland.

Williams noted that limo services historically have not paid much attention to fuel economy, but rising gas prices have given them new interest in the savings offered by hybrids. The company believes that using the Tahoe hybrid can yield up to 80 percent fuel savings compared to a comparable non-hybrid model.

When parked, all of the electronics in the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid limo run off the battery while traditional limos need to run the gas engine to power toys such as flat-screen TVs, Karaoke machines, full-service wet bars, and multi-color neon lighting. In the company’s first conversion, the usual purple neon lights were switched to green.

LimeLite has more hybrids on the way. Shop foreman Miguel De la Vega said the stretch of 160 inches in the first Tahoe was conservative—they now feel they can go to a more extreme 220-inch stretch. The company had no problems dealing with the high-voltage hybrid system, though De la Vega said he was “very careful.” All of the Tahoe’s hybrid system remains intact. In a standard limo, they would have added an additional battery and a beefed up alternator.

Phil Restivo, president and CEO of LimeLite, told HybridCars.com that the hybrid limo business is just beginning. “The hybrid Escalade is coming in October,” he said. Since the standard Escalade is one of LImeLite’s big sellers, he thinks the hybrid version will be popular.

XR3: The new DIY hybrid car

Among the innumerable amount of ‘do it yourself’ (DIY) things like lamp shades, book shelves, guitars, solar cookers, now comes a brand new addition – An automobile. As per instructions from the product design company in Glendale, Arizona, anybody can personally build their own unique crossbreed car namely the XR3, Robert Q, that will give 225 miles per gallon. With the firm offering $200 worth of construction plans, the whole activity could be little challenging yet a lot of fun.

This car will run either on an electric or a diesel-based hybrid, with a rough estimate of $5000 for the spare parts of an electric replica. The building process could be a little taxing, but no pain no gain right? This DIY car is a definite dream coming true for all those car lovers who have always wanted to own a custom-made mobile!

via: rqriley