VW to put a plug-in hybrid out by 2010
2010: Year of the plug-in hybridInsideLine and gasoline engines. The Golf is reporting that VW "is adapting electric motors, hybrid drive systems and lithium-ion battery packs to its TDITwinDrive test vehicle delivers a combined 174 horsepower and can run up to 30 miles on pure electric power. Over a typical 62-mile route, the vehicle returns more than 90 mpg."
No word on whether such a car would make to it to the US, as this debut was put together by the German Ministry for the Environment.
Labels: plug-in hybrid vehicles
posted by Dahcredyns at
7:43 AM
8 Comments:
What is the cosmic significance of the year 2010? Have you noticed that all these vehicles are scheduled for release then?
Makes me wonder if something unforeseen will happen that year to foil all of my eagerly anticipated plug-ins?....God forbid....
I am really pumped to see that I will actually have choices...how cool is that.
Saturn Vue
Chevy Volt
VW
Toyota's PHEV
etc....
It is interesting. I know we've touched on this conversation in the past, but I think that since GM drew its line in the sand at 2010, all other automakers have fallen into line to make that date.
Unfortunately, other than, possibly, the Saturn Vue hybrid, there might not be many plug-in hybrids available for consumers in 2010.
Toyota has indicated most 2010 PHEVs will be available for fleet sale. GM has already admitted it would only produce a few thousand Volts in 2010, and who knows when the VW might find its way across the ocean.
Thus, 2010 might not really mean much, as far as consumers are concerned.
Make no mistake that these people know more than we do...and I don't mean the engineers, etc...I mean the top brass of these companies.
Forget about conspiracy theories, etc...this is just common sense. ANYONE who thinks these people all over the world don't talk to each other is an out-right idiot.
There are TONNES of people over at VWVortex.com who actually think there's no relationship or collusion going on with oil/auto makers....they are dimmer than a doorknob.
still, i think that 2010 is a bit arbitrary. more important, there won't be phevs available in 2010 in meaningful numbers.
in terms of hybrid technology, there has been a lot of conversations going on between automakers. i don't know to what extent they would collude, as each wants a competitive advantage, but there is no doubt that high level conversations have and continue to occur.
moreover, toyota, for example, has numerous times admitted that a failed GM is bad for toyota because it could result in backlash against foreign automakers, as well as protectionist legislation against foreign automakers.
I forgot about The Toyota PHEV only being available to fleets, dang it.
Is the hybrid Aptera due out by then (2020)? It is a really funky looking vehicle, but the MSRP is supposed to be reasonable (30K range)...
At any rate, I feel it is finally getting exciting and that if I can just wait a couple years, I can finally get the car I want. Unless, of course, my wife strikes it rich and I can buy a 60 thousand dollar RAV4 EV !!!
jabroni-
i'll keep my fingers crossed that your wife strikes it rich!
last i heard, the aptera plug-in hybrid was on schedule for, guess when.....2010.
i've talked to the auto editor of pop mechanics about the aptera, a vehicle he has driven. he told me he was really impressed with the vehicle. of course, that was the fully electric version. still....
That is very encouraging what the pop mechanics editor told you. But I think I would still want the extended range of the plug-in if I bought this as our only real commuter vehicle.
I meant to type 2010 and not 2020...still a little groggy from this morning's arthroscopic knee surgery! (I know.....TMI)
i like that the aptera is considered a motorcycle, which means i can use it in the carpool lane. like you, i would also prefer the plug-in version. most important, however, i like how it thinks outside-of-the-box. we need a lot more of that in the transportation industry.
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