Camry hybrid available now, in limited supplies

This morning I received a call from my local Toyota dealer informing me that their first Camry hybrid had been received. So, I rushed there to take a test drive, and I had to wait in line. My local Southern California dealer only had one new hybrid Camry in stock, and by the time I left the dealership, it had been sold. This IS the best Camry ever and an incredible addition to the segment of hybrid cars! So, if you have been thinking about a Camry hybrid, it might be worth calling your local dealer this weekend.

I'll be writing more about my test drive later today.

Bush Promotes More Hybrid Tax Incentives This Morning

This morning President Bush said that America needs to end its dependence on oil, but he also noted that such a move will neither be fast nor easy. Again, Bush plugged not only hybrid cars, but plug-in hybrid vehicles. Moreover, he also asked for more tax incentives for buying hybrids and stated that all hybrid buyers should receive the current tax credit.

According to many scientists, $3.00 gas is only the beginning of why we should move on hybrids and other fuel efficient technologies as fast as possible. For if Hubbert's Peak has been reached, or is just around the corner, then America and much of the world will not be able to react fast enough.

On Hubbert's Peak, $3.00 gas is cheap.

So, where or what is Hubbert's Peak? It is the tipping point when global oil production begins a permanent decline. Some scientists think this point was hit in late 2005, others think it will be reached within 20 or 30 years.

In the next 20 or 30 years, global oil demand is predicted to skyrocket. What happens if we reach Hubbert's Peak in 5 years or 10 years? What happens if we've already reached the Peak?

A Prius in Every Pot? Mrs. Dowd smoking too much pot?

"It's taken over five years, but George W. Bush finally made a concession speech to Al Gore.

He conceded that America needs to conserve, by buying hybrid vehicles and developing new energy sources."

This is the lead to Maureen Dowd's A Prius in Every Pot editorial originally posted in the NY Times, in which Mrs. Dowd blames the entire gas crisis on Republicans, particularly Dick Cheney.

Just to be clear, Bush has been on the hybrid band wagon for at least year, even promoting plug-in hybrids last year, but why haggle over facts?

So, Mrs. Dowd would have us believe that Republicans like Cheney, Bush etc. would screw over Americans to make their oil co-conspirators rich at the expense of the entire Republican Party? So, these very rich Republicans are not only selling out their Presidential legacies, but the entire Republican Party, for a little more money?

That's just silly, especially since the current price of oil is decided in the open markets.

Certainly, Republicans deserve a great amount of blame for not helping to promote alternative fuels or alternative technologies, such as hybrid cars earlier. Democrats, on the other hand, deserve considerable blame for protecting the Unions of inefficient, gas-guzzling producing American auto companies.

For decades many Democrats have regularly joined Republicans, including recently, to prevent an increase in CAFE because they knew union members would lose their jobs.

More important, American citizens deserve much blame for not being more fuel efficient. When Europe pays $5.00 for a gallon of gas, did we really believe we could pay just $2.00 forever while always increasing our demand?

And to be fair, just what did President Clinton accomplish to reduce America's average fuel economy in his 8 years? According to statistics, nothing.

O.K., since gas prices weren't that high then, Americans didn't really care about this issue, so we just guzzled more gas. Was this also Bush and Cheney's fault?

Let's not forget, gas-guzzler sales really took off during the Clinton Administration, when Dowd's hero, Al Gore, was in office.

Inevitably, too many Americans, including most members of Congress, waste energy and guzzle gas. Earlier today I posted an article about how the members of Congress contribute to gas-guzzling. Most members of Congress are horrible conservationists and most drive gas-guzzlers, regardless of party.

With this kind of leadership to follow, is there really any wonder why America is in this energy crisis?

Inevitably, Democrats, Republicans, automakers, and many American citizens share the blame for America's oil problems. Too bad professional mudslingers, such as Mrs. Dowd, can't be more open-minded, dare I say fair-minded, for it is precisely this type of myopic, provincial vision that has caused this crisis in the first place.

Gas-guzzling Congress Drives ONE Block to Protest Gas Prices!

Congressional Hypocrisy?

When members of Congress went ONE block to a gas-station news conference to sound off on high gas prices, almost all of them drove, and the majority of them drove gas-guzzlers.

One Senator did drive a Prius hybrid car and John McCain actually made the extremely difficult, one block journey, on foot - an amazing feat!!!

"Since George Bush and Dick Cheney took over as president and vice president, gas prices have doubled!" charged Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), standing at an Exxon station on Capitol Hill where regular unleaded hit $3.10. "They are too cozy with the oil industry."

"She then hopped in a waiting Chrysler LHS (18 mpg) -- even though her Senate office was only a block away." (Washington Post)

So, Mrs. Boxer's plan is to drive one block, stop and wastefully idle, and then drive one more block? Now that's the way to fight high gas prices!

The actions of both Democrats and Republicans demonstrate why gas prizes are too high: Americans drive gas guzzlers and they are lazy.

At least these politicians could have driven some more hybrid cars, biodiesel or ethanol cars on this huge 2 block journey to help promote the kinds of technologies that can fight these high gas prices.

Apparently, most in Washington just talk about making a difference, instead of actually making a difference. It's people like Mrs. Boxer that are causing high oil prices. She who live in a glass house should not throw stones.

With such leadership, is the current state of America really that surprising?

Are Detroit vehicles irrelevant?

Next month President Bush is going to meet with the Big 3 about energy and the environment, pensions and health care, and currency problems with Japan. Unfortunately, building more "relevant" vehicles probably isn't going to come up.

When Bush told Detroit to build more "relevant" vehicles, auto executives were not too happy. In their minds, huge gas-guzzling vehicles are relevant, which must explain why almost every flex-fuel vehicle - those that can run on ethanol-mixed fuels - are extreme gas guzzlers.

Without tax incentives and even with incentives, ethanol isn't always cheaper than gasoline, so flex-fuel vehicles aren't helping the consumer by offering cheaper fuel costs.

O.K., so is Detroit building flex-fuel vehicles to fight foreign oil dependency?

That doesn't make sense either. If you want to fight foreign oil dependency, then why not offer flex-fuel capabilities in all vehicles? Why just offer flex-fuel capabilities only in vehicles that might fail CAFE?

Today, their are just 600 ethanol pumps covering ALL of America, compared to about 180,000 gasoline pumps. Just a little over a year ago - when GM churned out most of it's flex-fuel vehicles - there were only about 300 pumps. This is why GM never told anyone about the flex-fuel capabilities they added to many gas-guzzlers for a number of years - there was NOWHERE to fill them up and in most states there still isn't.

Now GM is trying to take credit for such actions.

In today's world, flex-fuel gas guzzlers that receive CAFE credits can only be called one thing, irrelevant. Flex-fuel gas-guzzlers neither offer the far majority of Americans cheaper fuel nor do they help fight foreign oil dependency.

While ethanol offers tremendous potential, today's gas-guzzling flex-fuel vehicles do not.

Later this year or early next year, GM will start offering hybrid cars. Once again, most of them will also be gas-guzzlers.

With the unstable nature of gasoline and oil and the limited supply of ethanol and pumps, are any of these vehicles - whether hybrid or flex-fuel - really relevant?

Nissan doesn't plan to use Toyota hybrid technology for long

When the Nissan Altima hybrid goes on sale either later this year or in early 2007, it will use hybrid technology that was leased from Toyota.

According to Carlos Ghosn; however, Nissan will not use this technology for long. "I don't think this agreement will go for a very long time," he said Tuesday. "We have other projects and are developing our own technology." (AutoWeek)

Mr. Ghosn has often stated that hybrid technology isn't yet ripe for the market, but he has never said he doesn't believe in hybrid technology. Thus, either Nissan is preparing for a big hybrid development, or Carlos is bluffing and hoping that the sales of hybrid cars collapse.

Bush asks Congress to limit cap on tax credits for hybrid vehicles

Tax incentives for clean vehicles, such as hybrid cars, are great legislation. Unfortunately, tax credits for hybrids are capped. Consequently, before the end of this year, Toyota hybrids will not qualify for the full tax credit.

At least for this year, that could change.

"The easiest way to promote fuel efficiency is to encourage drivers to purchase highly efficient hybrid or clean diesel vehicles," President Bush said in an address to the Renewable Fuels Association summit in Washington.

"If the automakers sell more than their limit, new purchasers are not eligible for the full tax credit.

"And so here's an idea that can get more of these vehicles on the road, and that is to have Congress make all hybrid and clean diesel vehicles sold this year eligible for federal tax credits," he said. (DetroitNews)

Congress shouldn't stop with the clean vehicle credit. Congress should also add hybrids to the $25,000 small business tax deduction, which currently only applies to the worst gas guzzlers.

$5.00 gas!! Blame the gas-guzzlers?

Boone Pickens told CNBC today that he would not be surprised to see $5.00 gas this summer.

Almost unbelievably, this prediction was made on the premise that nothing new would happen to the oil market. Thus, if problems get worse in Nigeria, Venezuela, or Iran, prices could hit even higher levels, and there is always the possibility of hurricanes in the Gulf.

Mr. Pickens also noted that gas prices have to go up. American demand for oil is simply too high, according to Pickens. Thus, the only thing that will have any effect on gas prices in the short term, is less gas demand.

Good thing Americans still love their gas-guzzlers.

Since gas-guzzling increases oil demand, which increases gas prices, do Americans that drive fuel efficient vehicles - such as hybrid vehicles, biodiesel, or small cars - have a right to be angry with people who guzzle gas?

Jetta TDI versus the Prius: AutoWeek MPG King

AutoWeek has crowned the Volkswagen Jetta TDI - when fueled by biodiesel - as the high mileage king of the road. The Toyota Prius came in second.

Read the Full AutoWeek Story

Biodiesel versus hybrid

Anyone that regularly reads AutoWeek knows that the magazine is smitten towards performance vehicles and that many of their editorial staff have much angst towards hybrid cars. So, how reliable is AutoWeek?

In terms of testing the vehicles, there are some interesting notes.

Regarding the Prius, AW reports, "Part of the shortfall [mpg] was due to the pace we maintained. At a more hybrid-friendly 55 to 65 mph, the dazzling dashboard display showed numbers closer to 50 mpg". Thus, it appears the drivers wanted to play with the capabilities of the hybrid technology and were not seeking purely the best fuel economy.

On the other hand, regarding the TDI, "As it was, we just drove gently, stayed with the caravan and employed the manual mode on the six-speed automatic transmission when it seemed useful." Unlike the Prius, it seems the focus of the TDI test was purely to achieve the best fuel economy.

More important; however, is the whole premise of the test.

The '60's are over and cruising on the highway is no longer the American norm. According to every modern transportation study, congestion hasn't only become the norm, congestion is consistently becoming, well, more congested. In today's world and the world of tomorrow, highway driving simply isn't the standard. Even worse, highway fuel economy estimates offer the perception that America's fuel consumption isn't as bad as reality.

Other reviews of the TDI Diesel report mileage drops of well below 40 mpg when just a little urban driving is added to mostly highway miles. So what does it achieve in daily congestion? In these conditions - the conditions of the future - the Prius is the king without any question.

Nonetheless, with today's technology and limited 'green' choices, both the TDI and the Prius are excellent vehicles, especially if you can fuel the TDI with biodiesel. Moreover, if you drive mostly highway miles, then a biodiesel TDI might be your best option.

On the other hand, if you live in an urban area, then the Prius is your best choice.

Ultimately, AutoWeek does make one great point. "Imagine a Prius-like hybrid that ran on biodiesel instead of gasoline. We may not be there yet, and adapting diesels to use the cylinder-cutoff technology found in the Jeep and Honda might be a tough task, but look how far we've come already."

Still, considering America's foreign oil dependency, look how far we have yet to go.

Bin Laden, 9/11, Iraq and Gas Guzzling

"Bin Laden's remarks touched on the full range of issues that anger militant Arabs and other Muslims. Many of them see a renewal of a Christian- and Jewish-inspired Western "crusade" to dominate the Islamic world and to confiscate Muslim lands and resources - particularly oil." (MyWay)

While I don't agree that the West is trying to confiscate Muslim land and resources, I do believe that the United States' relationship with the Middle East is about one thing, oil.

America's ever-growing foreign oil consumption is largely driven by one thing, transportation. Ironically, as automotive technology advances, it never results in better overall American fuel economy. So, our dependency on foreign oil grows year after year after year.

Gas prices are now near $3.00 and there is an outrage among many Americans.

I say the worst is yet to come.

I say $3.00 gas is cheap. I say if the real cost of America's foreign oil dependency were paid at the pump, rather than credited to the deficit, we'd realize that the true cost of gas guzzling is far too high.

What if gas prices hit $5.00 or more, which is exactly what would happen if America was cut off from Saudi Arabian oil - something Bin Laden has advocated.

Yet, this is only one doomsday scenario.

Often the automotive press asks, are hybrid cars worth the cost, and usually they say no.

I ask, is ever-increasing gas guzzling worth the cost?

Altima hybrid to only be sold in 8 states

Are you interested in the Nissan Altima hybrid? Well, your ability to buy one might be dependent upon the state in which you live.

"Nissan's first hybrid, the forthcoming 2007 Altima HEV will only be sold in eight states. To put a geographical point on it, the Japanese automaker will sell the eco-friendly sedan in the Northeast and California: New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine and New Jersey will join the Golden State. All of the states in question have adopted versions of the latter's zero-emissions vehicle program, which in effect will force manufacturers to sell hybrids." (LeftLaneNews)

In the past Carlos Ghosn has stated that it isn't the right time for hybrid cars yet due to pricing, and I think he still feels that way. Inevitably, the Altima hybrid is not a major hybrid play by Nissan, it is purely a PR move.

While I think the Altima hybrid could be a hot car, its success will be completely dependent upon price. Since the Altima hybrid is being built upon leased Toyota hybrid technology, it will be hard for Nissan to make money off of the Altima hybrid.

Thus, I don't expect Nissan to sell more than 20,000 hybrids simply because the price comparison between an Altima hybrid and a conventional hybrid will be too wide, much wider than it would be if Nissan had proprietary hybrid technology. For this reason I don't think Nissan even wants to sell more than 20,000 hybrid Altimas.

With today's technology, only unique hybrid vehicles, such as the Toyota Prius, will achieve great sales. Converting conventional vehicles into hybrids probably won't rock the auto world until the next generation of hybrid batteries. Of course, now the Toyota Camry hybrid will probably make me eat my words on that prediction.

Would Hummers Sell Without $25,000 Tax Deduction?

You would think that sales of GM's Hummer would be almost non-existent with $3.00 gasoline, but Hummers are actually selling quite well.

So What Gives?

It's ironic how many Hummers I see that advertise some kind of service, or maybe it isn't. It seems quite obvious that many Hummer buyers are taking full advantage of the $25,000 small business tax deduction.

If not for this deduction, I assume many of these advertisers/buyers would buy something else

How can the government justify this deduction in light of terrorism, Iraq and America's growing dependence on foreign oil? How can the government cap smaller tax credits for hybrid cars and other clean technologies, yet not cap much larger deductions for the worst gas-guzzlers?

In fact, while I feel bad for GM's business story, if the only way GM can survive in today's world is via tax-subsidized gas-guzzlers, then it's time to let GM go under.

Congress can do much better. We must make Congress act. Join the Hybrid Car Revolution Campaign.

Plug-in hybrids gain a little momentum

AutoWeek claims, "Hybrid variant holds promise".

"Top politicians from President George W. Bush to Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch have thrown their weight behind a hybrid variant dubbed the 'plug-in hybrid.'

Hatch suggests a plug-in hybrid that burns ethanol could be the 'silver bullet' that frees America from dependency on foreign oil."

Still, effective plug-in hybrids are probably not cost-effective until lithium-ion batteries are far more common. Even then, according to Toyota, such capability could reduce the life of lithium-ion batteries. Obviously, this is a serious concern. Moreover, when lithium-ion batteries are made cost-effective, will hybrid cars even need plug-in capabilities?

Toyota believes its next generation Prius, a coupling of lithium-ion batteries and advanced computer technology, could achieve 94 mpg - without plugging into the grid.

Nonetheless, it's beautiful thing to imagine plugging your hybrid vehicle into a solar or wind powered house for a little extra energy.

Now that's energy independence.

Ethanol Toyota Vehicles Coming, Hybrids Still Preferred

Toyota wants to sell ethanol cars in Brazil, but will also offer the cars in the U.S. if the demand exists. In order for that happen, more than just 600 of the Nation's 180,000 gas pumps will have to start selling ethanol. Still, Toyota is concerned about corrosion problems caused by ethanol and is more "keen" on hybrid cars.(Reuters via Yahoo)

Hybrid sales driven by many reasons

Interesting little article in MotorTrend today about what is driving the popularity of hybrid cars, at least in Northern Colorado. In Hybrid Popularity Driven By More Than Tax Credits, it is noted that, "car buyers may wait from five to six weeks to upwards of three months and longer for a hybrid. Tax credits and insurance discounts offered to hybrid car owners have probably spurred some buyers to the showroom, but aren't driving the strong sales of hybrid automobiles, say area car sellers."

Why is it so hard to believe that someone might buy a hybrid to help fight pollution, or to help fight foreign oil dependency, instead of just trying to save money?

Why is spending money on bling, bling so unquestioned, yet spending money on trying to do the right thing so questioned?

Ethanol Windfall Profits?

While most Americans have no problem blaming big oil companies for high gasoline prices, they aren't the only energy producers experiencing huge profits. Ethanol producers are also enjoying tax incentives, tariffs and, ultimately, profits.

"The increased demand has sent ethanol prices through the roof. Tom Kloza, a gasoline-markets analyst for the Oil Price Information Service, figures ethanol producers such as Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) are enjoying profits as high as $65 out of every $115 barrel. That's contributing to the gasoline price run-up as refiners pass those costs along."

BusinessWeek Via MSNBC

First small riceburners, then hybrid cars

Hybrids will prove America wrong, again

I remember my parents picking me up from grade school one afternoon in the late '70's. Across the street from school, my father noticed my teacher's new Honda Civic. He laughed and said, "Who would ever want to drive a small riceburner like that? Honda is a motorcycle company, not a car company."

Well, needless to say, the rest is history. Not only did Honda do well selling cars no one "would ever want to drive", but so too did Toyota and Nissan. Just a few decades later, these 'riceburners' have knocked the American auto industry against the ropes and a TKO is very possible.

My father was a Union machinist and back in the '70's buying such a vehicle, regardless of how reliable it was or much gas it saved, was simply un-American. And it wasn't just my father, but most of America that felt that way.

Many Americans still feel that way today, which is why I think so many Americans are SO against hybrid cars. If hybrids take over much the same way riceburners did, it might just spell doom for American automakers.

According a Detroit News poll, the majority of Detroit-area readers don't believe hybrid vehicles will be around long. (See the Poll)

I say, get your head out of the sand. Don't make the same mistake twice.

The days of cheap oil appear to be over, and there probably isn't a windfall tax that can do anything to change that. A windfall tax can't stop problems in Iran or Nigeria. A windfall tax can't stop a billion new drivers from China and India.

The world has changed. Fuel efficiency and pollution will be the key drivers of not just automotive technology, but of all technology. In fact, clean and green technology is not only possible, as the Toyota Prius hybrid car so beautifully demonstrates, but it is destined to improve greatly, while getting significantly cheaper.

$3.00 gas is only the beginning, the beginning of the hybrid car revolution. Flex fuel hybrids, diesel hybrids, gasoline hybrids, hydrogen hybrids, and fuel cell hybrids - hybrids are THE future.

Saturn Vue Hybrid: The Right Kind of Hybrid?

The Saturn Vue Hybrid is almost set to go on sale, and at $23,000, the Vue Hybrid will be significantly cheaper than other hybrid SUVs.

However, unlike the Ford Escape hybrid and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, the Vue hybrid will offer less hybrid technology, which is why the price is cheaper.

"But the Vue Green Line's electric motor can't actually drive the vehicle on its own at low speeds, the way, for example, a Ford Escape Hybrid's can." Additionally, "the Ford Escape Hybrid can go up to 25 miles per hour without starting its gasoline engine at all. In the Vue Green Line, however, the gasoline engine starts running the moment the driver's foot lifts off the brake pedal." (Money)

If you are a highway driver, the Vue hybrid might be a good buy. If you drive in an urban area, however, the Vue hybrid probably isn't your best choice.

Oil closes at $70! Gas-guzzling rules!!!!!

Gas prices are now over $3.00 for regular unleaded where I live. Today, oil prices closed over $70.00. Yet the problems in Iran, Venezuela, Nigeria - not to mention Iraq - are only getting worse, and the busy summer driving season hasn't even begun. The worst is yet to come. Will it be enough to get Americans out of gas-guzzlers? Will it push the government towards more tax credits for hybrid cars? Will it result in more than just 600 ethanol gas stations to cover the entire United States?

I hope not, the world can only get better if we keep gas-guzzling!!!

Gas-guzzling SUVs hot, thanks to the government

The last minute tax rush is demonstrating that many small business owners have taken advantage of the $25,000 tax deduction that the government offers for the biggest gas guzzlers according to the Orlando Sentinel.

"The deduction was not put in place for people to buy Cadillac Escalades or [Hummer] H2s," said Charlie Fitzgerald, a principal with financial planning firm Spraker, Fitzgerald, Tamayo & Moisand.

Yet, to stimulate the economy, the federal government wants businesses to spend money on big-ticket items. So, "there is a loophole that continues to be there for these particular kinds of vehicles," Fitzgerald said.

Even worse, there is no cap on these deductions, unlike the credits for hybrid cars, which are capped by manufacturer, meaning that by next year Toyota hybrid purchases will no longer qualify for a tax credit.

While there is a proposal in Congress to add hybrid vehicles to the small business tax deduction, it has not yet been approved.

Let's make Congress act. Join the Hybrid Car Revolution for Tax Incentives.

Toyota Prius is one of the safest small cars

The Toyota Prius is one of the safest small cars, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, especially when it includes optional side airbags. The Honda Civic also is a top car, but the Civic hybrid wasn't specifically mentioned. (More From CNNMoney)

Reduced Accord hybrid sales are not the end of hybrid cars

One might think the end of hybrid cars is near. Carlos Ghosn, whose Nissan Company has no hybrid technology, and Honda make some bearish comments regarding hybrids, suddenly, hybrids are no longer hot.

"We've had to reevaluate our position [regarding the Accord hybrid]," Honda Executive Vice President Dick Colliver recently stated. "It's having a hard time in the market." (MSNBC)

Well, it isn't necessarily surprising that the Accord hybrid might see a production decrease. Nonetheless, Honda's other two hybrids, the Civic hybrid and the Insight are seeing very good sales. Moreover, Honda has never been as bullish regarding hybrids as Toyota and they are still not.

More important, the Toyota Prius is still attracting waiting lists and is blowing all the competition away. The Prius is a unique vehicle powered by excellent technology.

Let's face it, sticker shock is the most important factor in buying a vehicle. Even if all hybrids saved $2000 compared to their conventional cars after 5 years, but customers had to pay more upfront, the majority of buyers would still go for the most immediate savings.

As hybrid technology becomes cheaper and gas prices go higher, America's perception of hybrids will continue to improve. Today, however, if you want to sell a 100,000 hybrid vehicles, produce a unique hybrid.

Altima hybrid still due later this year

Carlos Ghosn confirmed that the Nissan Altima hybrid will be available for sale later this year. While Mr. Ghosn was bearish in his comments about hybrid cars at the New York International Auto Show, Mr. Ghosn said hybrids make sense, especially due to California's clean air regulations.

"At least admit I was the only guy saying, ‘Watch out, the consumer decides, don’t be excited about it,"’ Ghosn said in an interview with reporters at the New York Auto Show [regarding hybrids]. "I have some kind of satisfaction of being a little bit right on this one." (MSNBC)

Of course, Ghosn quickly tempered his remarks, "I didn’t say I didn’t believe in it. I said it’s too early," he said.

I guess that's a matter of perspective. Was it too early for the Toyota Prius hybrid?

Will it be too early if gas hits $3.00 + for several months in a row with spikes into the $4.00 and $5.00 range. I guess if that happens, Nissan will just lease more and more Toyota hybrid technology.

The LA Times: Neither liberal nor progressive

I hate the posturing of the LATimes. The paper tries so hard, at least politically, to portray themselves as liberal and progressive. Ultimately, the Los Angeles Times is just elitist.

The 'populist liberals' at the LATimes, just like the Washington Post, have chosen hybrid cars as their whipping boy, continually whining about hybrid vehicles and the car pool lane. (Read)

BOO HOO HOO.

I wonder what kind of vehicles these liberal, progressives drive anyway?

Nonetheless, I'm so tired of the hybrid car and HOV lane cry-babies. You'd think from their reaction that HOV lanes were on the verge of saving California from not just congestion, but pollution and foreign oil dependency - if not for 50,000 hybrid cars.

Give me a break. Gas in LA is almost $3.00 per gallon and it isn't even the summer yet. If there is another serious hurricane next year, or continued problems with Venezuela, Iran, Nigeria - not to mention Iraq - we could see $4, $5, even $6 gallons of gas. But I guess that's no problem for this group of liberal, progressives.

Then there is pollution. While the cloud of smog that blocks my view of the foothills in Altadena from Northeast LA has gotten better, it is still ridiculous. How many billions in extra health care costs does this cost every year to SoCal?

Hey, but it's a good thing there's two people in that Hummer driving in the HOV lane getting 12 mpg. Now that's earth-saving efficiency!!!

Damn, if we could just get hybrids out of the HOV lane and replace them with 2 passenger Yukons and Tahoes, all the world's problems would go away - now that's a liberal and progressive idea!!!!

Lexus debuts 2008 LS 600h L hybrid sedan

Lexus unveiled the 2008 Lexus LS 600h L hybrid sedan at the New York International Automobile Show today.

"The LS 600h L was developed to explore the outer reaches of performance, style and safety," said Bob Carter, Lexus Division group vice president and general manager. "It is a vehicle as efficient and familiar as it is indulgent and advanced, a far-reaching concept, fully developed and fully realized. It is simply in a class by itself." (Read the Press Release)

According to Lexus, the 600h will offer Best of Class V8 fuel efficiency - even achieving better fuel economy than many smaller V6 vehicles, and will offer 70% cleaner emissions the "cleanest" of competitors.

Available April, 2007.

Automakers misusing hybrid technology?

Many environmentalists are mad, mad that the word 'hybrid vehicle' is being misused by automakers, and they want the word hybrid vehicle to only describe fuel efficient vehicles. Therefore, only hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius or the Honda Civic hybrid, deserve the label 'hybrid car'.

"With the emergence of performance-oriented hybrids and ultra-mild hybrid systems, environmentalists now see the technology as one more example of how Big Auto has hoodwinked consumers into believing their products are as green as they can possibly get." (MSNBC)

While it's true that some hybrid technology, currently, offers very little improvement in fuel efficiency, where do you draw the line?

"We think that hybrid technology ought to be reserved for the environmental and consumer benefits [it] can deliver," says UCS's Jason Mark. "Every quasi-hybrid under the sun is being labeled as a hybrid for public relations benefits." Mark thinks that hybrid technology should be put to better uses than turning a 16-mpg vehicle into an 18-mpg vehicle. "The point is not to turn extreme gas-guzzlers into moderate gas guzzlers."

So, what should these 'hybrid' vehicles be called? Gas guzzling vehicles with hybrid technology?

Maybe.

Still, if more and more hybrid vehicles are produced, won't customers start to realize which hybrids offer the best fuel efficiency bang for the buck? More important, the government should offer better tax incentives for the most fuel efficient hybrids in each class.

Hybrid vehicle buyers are important leaders

Imagine a 94 mpg Prius

CNBC's Hot Topic on Morning Call was about Hybrid Cost Hype. The main question was, do hybrid cars save money over the long haul? Answer, it depends on the type of hybrid and the driver, but in many cases, no, hybrids do not save money.

So what's the point?

How about significantly reduced pollution, how about reduced foreign oil dependency?

More important, even the 'hybrid critic' on Hot Topic acknowledged that if people keep buying hybrids, they will become cheaper and they WILL save money compared to conventional vehicles for ALL drivers.

That means reduced foreign oil dependency, significantly reduced pollution, and cheaper than conventional vehicles.

Those buying hybrid cars today are leading the world towards a cleaner, safer world that everyone will be able to afford tomorrow. Check out the articles provided by Zendude's comments. A 94 mpg Prius is the future and every hybrid buyer is investing in that future, helping to make that future a reality.

Hybrid buyers are helping fund the revolution for a better planet. What are hybrid haters accomplishing?

Car pool lane breeding hybrid hate

Road rage, or the 'Prius backlash' is building against the drivers of hybrid cars, especially in the HOV lanes of California and Virginia.

"There's a mentality out there that we're a bunch of liberal hippies or we're trying to make some statement on the environment," said Travis Ruff, a real estate agent from Newbury Park who drives a Toyota Prius. "People are a lot less friendly than when I drove a Mercedes." (LATimes)

So, instead of hybrids, would it be better if HOV lanes were slowed with more car poolers? Inevitably, HOV lanes can't make gas cheaper, end foreign oil dependency, or even end global warming. In fact, HOV lanes can't even end congestion.

I have an idea, how about if carpool lane accessibility is determined not just by passengers, but by fuel efficiency as well? Say, if you drive a large SUV, achieving less than 20 mpg, then you have to have at least 4 occupants to qualify for HOV lane access - isn't that the point of these vehicles? Thus, only those vehicles achieving at least 30 mpg can enter the HOV lane with only 2 occupants?

Let's be real, what has a bigger effect on the world today, hybrid vehicles in the car pool lane, or tens of millions of gas-guzzlers achieving far under 20 mpg - even in the carpool lane?

Pollution, high gas prices, congestion, just blame hybrid vehicles.

Automakers versus big oil: Who is to blame for high gas prices?

Gas prices are going up, and the potential for significantly higher gas prices is increasing regularly. Who is to blame? Big oil says, "the U.S. economy had become vastly more fuel-efficient since the first oil shock, 'so why is the average fuel economy of American cars unchanged in two decades?'"

Chrysler responds, "Despite a documented history of blowing their exorbitant profits on outlandish executive salaries and stock buybacks, and hoarding their bounty by avoiding technologies, policies and legislation that would protect the population and environment and lower fuel costs, Big Oil insists on transferring all of that responsibility on the auto companies." (Detroit News)

O.K., so oil hasn't done their job, but what has Chrysler, or any of the Big 3, done?

Nothing regarding fuel economy, that's for sure.

Oops, I forget, they put millions of Flex-fuel vehicles on the road, that's right. Instead of paying fines for missing CAFE requirements, automakers have added flex-fuel technology to gas-guzzlers. I guess that's enough!

Unfortunately, with only 600 ethanol stations out of 180,000 gas stations, most simply can't find ethanol.

Ultimately, big oil and the Big 3 have failed America and the world.

Of course Americans keep buying gas-guzzlers and performance that can't be utilized, but we look good! Well, that's another story...

Irresponsibility - it's always someone else's fault!!

The hybrid vehicle revolution is dead?

The Wall Street Journal reported that sales of some hybrid cars are slowing, according to Car and Driver. That magazine cited such evidence as interest free loans for the Ford Escape hybrid, as well as new financing deals for the Toyota Highlander hybrid, and cuts in production on both the Highlander hybrid and the Honda Accord hybrid.

Of course, the Toyota Prius hybrid car is burning off the lot, and the Honda Civic hybrid is also seeing strong sales.

So, what's the problem? Cost effectiveness.

Ultimately, I believe there two main types of hybrid consumers: those driven by the environment and foreign oil dependency and those driven by saving money on gas.

The Prius and the Civic hybrid fit the demands of both of these consumer segments. The rest of the hybrids don't fit the majority of consumers in either one of these segments very well.

Still, the best of hybrid technology is yet to come and even large hybrid SUVs will eventually see lower prices and higher fuel economy.

Hybrid vehicles are far from dead.

Energy Secretary Disses Hybrids?

U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman called on Americans to embrace ethanol, but did little to promote hybrid cars or clean diesel at the SAE conference in Detroit.

"It should be our common goal that E85 become a nationwide fueling option," Bodman said. "In the coming days, I will be asking that we do more to make consumers aware of the flex-fuel option both when they are considering a new car purchase and for existing owners of flex-fuel vehicles."(DetroitNews)

Additionally, the Secretary plugged electric cars and hydrogen fuel cells as the 'answer' to America's energy problems.

It's ironic that since GM, Ford and Toyota fuel cell vehicles will be hybrid vehicles, that the Secretary didn't promote hybrids, minimally, as a bridge to not just fuel cell vehicles, but electric vehicles as well. Plug-in hybrid vehicles, for example, can function as electric cars, while also providing gasoline, diesel, ethanol, biodiesel or even hydrogen as a supplementary or primary fuel source.

On the other hand, there is a good chance that if someone buys a flex-fuel vehicle, especially if they live on either coast - they will never fill it up with E85, since they won't be able to find any gas stations that carry ethanol.

In fact, if you are worried about the environment, or foreign oil dependency, many flex fuel vehicles cause much more harm than good. Since many flex fuel vehicles are large trucks and SUVs, flex fuel capabilities were only added to avoid penalties for missing CAFE requirements. Consequently, flex-fuel technology is often only serving as a loop hole that increases foreign oil dependency and pollution.

And the government is good at loopholes. According to some, Bush's new CAFE requirements - intended to make more fuel efficient trucks and SUVs - might lead to bigger, more fuel inefficient trucks and SUVs thanks to another loophole. (AutoWeek)

Why should we be surprised since the government already gives unlimited, $25,000 tax deductions for small business owners to buy the most pollution and foreign oil dependency causing vehicles, yet gives much smaller, capped tax incentives for hybrids?

It seems the government and the Energy Secretary are either ignorant, incompetent, or too focused on protectionist legislation designed to protect American corporations, rather than to actually make America a safer place. Apparently, only gigantic, inefficient corporations can save America.

Yes, ethanol is important, but so to is clean diesel, biodiesel, and even clean gasoline. More important, hybrid technology can make any of these fuels much more efficient, while clearing the path to fully electric cars and/or fuel cell hybrid vehicles.

Let's put the power in the hands of the people, not the corporations. Join the campaign for hybrid vehicle tax incentives.

Ford expands interest-free hybrid vehicle loans

A few weeks ago Ford began offering interest free loans on the Ford Escape hybrid and the Mercury Mariner hybrid, but only in Washington D.C. and California. Starting Monday and through July 5, Ford will extend this program to the entire nation.

In the first quarter of this year, sales of Ford hybrid cars are up 7% compared to a year ago (CNN).

Does SUV hate empower SUV drivers?

Recently GM launched a 'Write-Your-Own-Ad' for the new Chevy Tahoe as part of a viral marketing campaign. Essentially, you can go to the website chevyapprentice.com and use some tools offered on the website to build your own Chevy Tahoe ad.

Of course, SUV haters have used this opportunity to blast the Tahoe for its poor fuel economy and lack of environmental friendliness. Many Tahoe critics even used the Chevy site to try to create campaigns against this Chevy vehicle, posting some of their videos on Youtube, for example.

So, did Chevy lose or win this campaign? Is any publicity good publicity? Is any buzz good buzz?

Often I am incensed by the haters of hybrid cars, whom only empower both my passion for hybrid technology and my hate for gas-guzzling.

Is the same true of SUV lovers? Do the SUV haters only empower the majority of them to continue their support of SUVs?

Even hybrid SUVs?

Yesterday, I made a post about the Durango hybrid and I realized how hard it is for me to support large SUVs, even when powered by hybrid technology. Soon, there will also be a Tahoe hybrid. While I'm not fond of large hybrid SUVs, I feel that I must completely support them.

Minimally, they offer significantly improved environmental performance, a 25% gain in fuel economy, additional hybrid competition and hybrid investment.

Is this perfect? Not by a long shot, but it's positive momentum. Thus, while I want to be a hater, is hate really very effective?

Is attacking the Chevy Tahoe ad useful, or, ultimately, counterproductive?

Dodge Durango Ready for hybrid conversion in 2008

Dodge is 'prepping' its 2008 Durango hybrid, which will be "powered by a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine. Dodge anticipates a 25 percent fuel-economy boost. The hybrid powertrain was jointly developed by DaimlerChrysler AG, General Motors and the BMW Group." (AutoWeek).

I guess that will turn an extreme gas-guzzler into a significant gas-guzzler, which is an improvement.

Inevitably, I'm for all hybrid cars because every hybrid makes hybrid technology more cost effective. Additionally, based on GM's real-world pollution, any improvement is important.

Study suggests gas-guzzlers pollute far more than believed

A new study suggests that as gas-guzzlers get older they pollute far more than government tests acknowledge, and that the government should measure pollution not by miles driven, but gallons of gas used. (Intech via MotorTrend).

BMW and Toyota vehicles pollute less over time, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Chrysler, and GM were most likely to pollute.

Compact cars versus hybrid cars

If you build them, will they come?

There is no doubt that America should move away from gas guzzlers, and one good way to reduce gas guzzling is simply to make vehicles smaller.

While hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius or the Ford Escape hybrid, can significantly reduce fuel consumption, they do so at a cost - higher prices.

On the other hand, the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, or Kia Rio, for example, can offer very good fuel economy for less than $15,000. (Full Story)

Hybrid cars have forever changed the automotive world

The X-Prize Foundation is going to move beyond spaceships and start an automotive contest. "To win, a team must create practical, fuel-efficient vehicles 'that far exceed anything available on the market today.'" (DetroitNews)

The X-Prize Foundation announced this contest at the 2006 Society of Automotive Engineers Conference where innovation is the key buzzword this year.

While some engineers are focused on hybrid alternatives, there is no doubt that the success of hybrid cars, especially the Toyota Prius, has radically altered the automotive world. In the past, smaller vehicles were the only option to higher gas prices, however, customers now realize that technology can solve many of these fuel problems and consumers are starting to demand better technology from automakers.

Camry and Accord hybrids: Another view

Last week I wrote about the upcoming battle among hybrid cars between the Honda Accord hybrid and the Toyota Camry hybrid (more). This week, the New York Times has done the same. "RELIABLE, practical and popular, the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry are as mainstream as white bread and as exciting as mom's meatloaf. But hybrid technology has transformed versions of these family cars from conservative appliances into cutting-edge green machines."

(Read the New York Times Story)

CNW Hybrid Vehicle Efficiency Study?

Don't buy that hybrid!

Hybrid cars actually use more energy than gas guzzlers. At least, that is what CNW Marketing Research Inc. would have you believe. If every American drove a Hummer, instead of a Prius, America would use less energy overall! (P.S. - I also have some great land I'd like to sell to you.)

What nonsense.

It has been demonstrated that if every American drove a Toyota Prius hybrid car, for example, America could stop importing foreign oil.

If every American; on the other hand, drove a Hummer we would significantly increase foreign oil dependency. Yet, CNW would have Americans believe that a Hummer is actually more efficient than a hybrid.

CNW derives its Energy Cost by totaling the "energy necessary to plan, build, sell, drive and dispose of a vehicle from initial concept to scrappage. This includes such minutia as plant to dealer fuel costs, employee driving distances, electricity usage per pound of material used in each vehicle and literally hundreds of other variables."

Well, since hybrids aren't mass produced at the same level as conventional vehicles, this automatically creates extra SHORT TERM costs. If hybrids were produced in the same quantities as conventional vehicles, many of these extra costs would not exist. Moreover, over time the production of any vehicle becomes more efficient.

Additionally, the electric components of hybrids - many of which are the foundation of fuel cell vehicles - are expensive to dispose notes CNW. While this might also be true, this again is largely due to the newness of the technology. Many of these components will eventually be recycled. Anytime there is an emerging technology, different processes are required and take time to develop. Furthermore, the advancement of hybrid batteries alone will change dramatically in the next decade.

Not long ago, computer parts were not recycled, now huge businesses are being built around recycling computer components. Perhaps, computers were also a bad invention compared to the efficiency of pen and paper - a computer is less energy efficient!

Using CNW's logic, America's answer to foreign oil dependency and to pollution is simply to do nothing, as every experimental vehicle, such as hybrids or fuel cell vehicles, will always take more energy to produce in the short term. Obviously, since there are fewer hybrid suppliers, for example, chances are those hybrid supplies will have to be shipped further - taking more energy.

Using CNW's logic, invention and technological advancement are evil things. Since supply chains for new technologies seldom exist, their creation will ALWAYS, INITIALLY, be less efficient. Therefore, the status quo is always best, well, at least in the short term, but who really cares about the future?

Nonetheless, I cannot help but wonder how much CNW determined that it costs the U.S. to maintain a military presence in the Middle East every year to protect our oil habit? How much energy do all those destroyers and air craft carriers cost the 'overall efficiency' of conventional vehicles?

Did CNW also add the billions and billion of dollars of medical costs that can be directly attributed to vehicle emissions - the same emissions that hybrids SIGNIFICANTLY reduce?

I won't even get into the ultimate costs of global warming.

So get out there and buy a Hummer, it's an investment that can save America from foreign oil dependency while protecting the environment! (Now about that land.)