Hybrid cars are breeding much needed innovation

Yesterday, I went off on the over-used statement, hybrid hype. Aside from what I discussed yesterday, hybrid vehicles are breeding much needed innovation in the automotive world.

Recently I've blogged that Ford has announced the Reflex diesel hybrid vehicle and Mitsubishi has promoted the In-wheel Electric Vehicle (MIEV) hybrid powertrain (more).

In the past I've discussed experimental hybrids such as the Engima hybrid vehicle, an 80 mpg hybrid that goes from 0 to 60 in 4.3 seconds.

Hybrid cars have spawned massive exploration and innovation all across the automotive world. Every major automobile manufacturer is developing hybrid technologies, but so too are many smaller companies.

Yesterday, I came across another hybrid startup, Accelerated Composites, which is developing a 3-wheel parallel hybrid designed to achieve 330 mpg and cost under $20,000 (more).

In reality, technology, such as hybrid vehicles, demonstrates that automotive technology has so many more possibilities than what Detroit has explored. In fact, the complete lack of innovation coming out of Detroit is an embarrassment to the idea of American innovation.

Let's face it. Detroit has not been focused on innovation, but only on profit. Of course capitalistic corporations need to make money, but they need to make that money by creating products that make the world a better place, not products that simply maintain the status quo at a profit.

Not only are hybrid cars no longer hype, but their development will forever change the automotive world. Isn't it about time?