Chicago to offer free parking to hybrid drivers?

According to the Chicago Sun Times, the city of Chicago might offer free parking to the drivers of hybrid cars if a recent ordinance is approved. Stay tuned.

Bush plugs plug-in hybrids again

"We're working on battery technologies," President Bush said in Washington at a speech to the National Association of Manufacturers. "They say we're pretty close to a breakthrough in a battery where you can drive the first 40 miles on a battery, and your car doesn't look like a golf cart." (more)

Sure, he might be an oil man, but when it comes to hybrid cars, President Bush deserves a few kudos. Bush has now been on the plug-in hybrid vehicle bandwagon for at least year and he has been lobbying Congress to extend the tax credits for buying hybrid cars. Hopefully, Congress will take a little action.

More on the obstacles regarding plug-in hybrids.

Plug-in hybrid cars not ready for prime time?

I love the idea of plug-in hybrid cars, but I've long believed that plug-in hybrid cars are not ready for prime time. California's current electrical grid, for example, simply could not tolerate millions of cars plugging in at this time. Then there are environmental concerns and high costs.

In reality, even standard hybrid cars aren't yet ready for prime time, but they are close. Until there is a $15,000 hybrid vehicle, mass market consumption of hybrids will be extremely limited. Still, the technology behind hybrid vehicles - both standard and plug-in - is poised for great advancements and both hybrids will not only become more powerful and fuel efficient, but cheaper. In fact, the potential of the next generation of hybrids demonstrates that fuel cell vehicles might not even be quite so necessary. While that doesn't mean we should discontinue fuel cell vehicle research, it does mean we should do everything we can to create the most environment friendly, fuel efficient automobiles as quickly as possible. Hybrids and plug-in hybrids offer too much potential to turn back now. More important, as I recently argued, give consumers the choice to choose their fuel - whether that fuel is gasoline, electricity or ethanol

For an interesting article on the realities of plug-in hybrid cars, check out this CNN article, Plug-in hybrids: Not ready for primetime.

Reliability of hybrid cars: Check out the fleets

According to CNN Money, hybrid cars in fleet use, such as the Ford Escape Hybrid and the Toyota Prius Hybrid have now gone "hundreds of thousands" of miles without any battery problems. (More)

Fuel efficient hybrids not popular?

I love hybrid vehicle critics - they are usually so easy to ridicule. One such critic, John McCormick of the Detroit News, is nothing but a mudslinger when it comes to hybrid cars. Recently, he noted that the wrong hybrids are selling. For example, he cites rising sales of the Lexus RX400h and a 12% decline in Toyota Prius sales as evidence (more). Of course, he forgets to mention the facts that a fire hampered Prius production earlier this year and that Toyota reduced Prius production so that the Camry hybrid could be added to the Toyota lineup of hybrid cars.

Anyway, I sent these comments to the Detroit News.

Wow! Toyota Prius sales are down by 12% and now hybrids are dead? Let's forget about the fact that Toyota decreased Prius production to build the Camry hybrid - why don't we?

Hybrids are a just an emerging technology. Even if millions wanted to buy them, the industry couldn't make that many at this point in time - it just isn't technologically feasible, yet.

Let's get real Mr. McCormick, you've consistently written negatively about hybrids, and it seems you somehow believe that hybrids are the anti-Detroit.

Well, this fear of technology and change will mean the end of Detroit if Detroit doesn't change.
Like them or not, the hybrids are coming. Yes it will probably take another couple of years before the technology starts to become cheap enough and available enough for mass consumption, but it WILL happen.

Toyota has vision - something too many automotive experts in Detroit lack - and is simply laying the groundwork for where the market will be in 3 to 5 years; when technology for hybrids is significantly more powerful and cheaper.

Technology is like chess, you have to be many moves ahead if you want to win. Current hybrid production puts Toyota many moves ahead of those only thinking about today and dreaming about a fuel cell future.

More juice for plug-in hybrid vehicles

Recently, I was doing some research on the Tesla electric car. 0 - 60 in around 4 seconds, 250 miles per charge at a fueling cost of about 1 cent per gallon - how awesome is that? Sure the vehicle costs $100,000 and will probably only be an option for the Hollywood elite, but it still demonstrates that the days of gasoline are nearing an end and that we definitely don't have to wait for hydrogen to save the world.

Even better, especially in the short term, flex-fuel-plug-in hybrid vehicles could be made for less than half the cost of the Tesla. Such a vehicle would extend the range of the vehicle and make it easier to fuel on long distance trips. Additionally, it would allow owners to choose the fuel of their choice.

While gas-guzzlers and their producers consistently talk about consumer choice, wouldn't real choice include not just the size of the vehicle, but the choice of fuel? Let me decide if I want ethanol, gasoline or electricity. Now that's real choice.

Honda preparing for huge jump in hybrid production

By 2008 Honda will be able to quadruple its production of hybrid cars because of a new battery producing plant in Japan. For months, stories have filled the Internet regarding the possibility of a Honda Fit hybrid - or something very similar. Whatever the new hybrid, Honda has announced they believe the new hybrid vehicle could sell 100,000 units, and it appears Honda is preparing for such an outcome.(Source:Nihon Keizai)

Congress "examines" more hybrid vehicle incentives

"Congress today will examine ways to entice more people to buy and use hybrid vehicles as the list of government-issued perks to gas-electric hybrid owners grows longer." (DetroitNews)

While there will probably be little immediate action today, let's hope Congress, minimally, ends the cap on tax credits for hybrid vehicles. Besides, isn't it about time America get's serious about fuel efficient technology?

Toyota more interested in plug-in hybrids

Toyota is becoming more and more receptive to plug-in hybrid cars saying they are "strongly considering" the technology. Still, there are some critical battery issues that must be resolved and a Toyota plug-in hybrid is still probably years away. More important, Toyota announced that hybrid cars are an integral piece of the future, “Make no mistake about it, hybrids are the technology of the future and they will play a starring role in the automotive industry in the 21st century.” (MSNBC)

Prius part of another Toyota recall

Toyota is recalling over 400,000 more vehicles due to a faulty engine part. Around 8,476 Toyota Prius hybrids are part of the recall - manufactured in the year 2001. This is the second Toyota recall which has also included hybrid cars. A few days ago both the Toyota Highlander hybrid and the Lexus RX400h hybrid were also part of a large recall. In all cases; however, the problem was unrelated to hybrid technology and a only a very small number of hybrids were included in the recalls.

Mercedes hybrid coming in early 2008

The first Mercedes hybrid will come in early 2008. It appears it will be an S Class. (Source: AFP)

Ford's hybrid vehicle plans still very alive, 70 mpg Focus

Ford is planning to invest almost $2 billion dollars to develop hybrid cars in Britain. According to reports, Ford hopes to build a 70 mpg Focus hybrid at the new hybrid production plant.

Is China the key to hybrid vehicles?

I was watching a PBS special yesterday about the green revolution in building design that is beginning to sprout in China. With pollution such a huge problem in China - a leading contributor in 1 of 4 deaths there - the Chinese are beginning to realize that green might be the only way forward.

Consequently, it is no surprise that multiple Chinese auto manufacturers are now getting into the hybrid vehicle game (more). Currently, China is the 3rd largest automobile market in the world, yet only a tiny percentage of the population either owns or drives an automobile. Yet, as freeways begin to interconnect the cities of China, this trend is changing rapidly. Ultimately, without clean technologies like hybrid cars, China will not only run out of fuel, but choke itself to death.

AP test drives the Saturn Vue hybrid

I'm not a big fan of the Saturn Vue Greenline hybrid. I think it has taken GM a long time to come up with a legitimate 'mild' hybrid vehicle. Still, there are many hardcore GM fans out there, and if you are one of them, then you might want to check out this test drive. If you live in an urban area, then this isn't your hybrid, but if your commute is mostly highway driving, the Vue might be a good hybrid buy. Eventually, the Vue hybrid should become a full hybrid, so if you need a full hybrid to deal with congestion - and it has to be a GM hybrid - you might want to wait.

$6500.00 to double your hybrid's fuel mileage?

So, you achieve 50 mpg in your Toyota Prius, nice, huh? Would you pay another $6500 to double your mileage? By next summer, that's the price Hymotion is hoping to sell its plug-in kits for hybrid cars. Currently, the price for such a kit and installation is $12,000. Is $6500.00 still too expensive, or a great bargain?

Highlander hybrid, Lexus RX400 part of huge Toyota recall

Early 2006 Toyota Highlander hybrids and Lexus RX400h hybrids are part of a recall affecting nearly 370,000 Toyota vehicles. According to Toyota about 3,700 Highlander hybrids and 8,300 RX400hs are part of the recall. Owners should be notified by the end of this month. The recall is regarding a small piece of console trim on the center-left side which could come loose and interfere with the accelerator. No other Toyota hybrid cars were part of the recall.

Alternative fuels to save the world?

Can alternative fuels, such as ethanol or biodiesel, end the world's oil dependency?

It seems to me that supply and demand will always catch up to most fuels. Once petroleum was extremely cheap, so cheap that alternative fuels just didn't offer a viable enough economic case compared to gasoline.

While I'm not opposed to alternative fuels, technologies, such as hybrid cars, demonstrate that fuel is becoming less and less important. Lithium-ion powered hybrid cars with plug-in technology, for example, could take the far majority of Americans to work and home every day without any fuel. Now it is true that some electricity would be required to power these hybrids and that electricity might not come from clean sources. Nonetheless, how much quicker would a solar powered roof become cost effective if you could not only power your home, but all of your daily driving needs?

Oil prices racing towards a $100.00?

"Oil prices will soar to well over $100 a barrel and stay high as part of a sustained commodities bull run that has another 15 years to run, U.S. celebrity investor Jim Rogers told Reuters in an interview." (More) In the end, I guess hybrid cars might not be such a bad deal!?

Nissan and GM to partner on hybrid vehicles?

According to recent reports, GM and Nissan will discuss hybrid vehicle collaboration. Currently, GM is finalizing its own hybrid technology, as is Nissan. Nonetheless, Nissan will lease hybrid technology from Toyota for its upcoming Altima hybrid. Some speculate this potential alliance might focus on collaborative buying of the parts for hybrid cars. (More)