Oil glut 2011: A real hybrid killa?

Hybrid demand: Oil giveth, oil taketh away?

Just finished watching some great CNBC coverage on oil and it really made me hone in on two thoughts. First, oil traders have not factored the possibility of hurricanes into the current price of oil. So, if a hurricane hits the Gulf, expect jumps in gas prices. If a hurricane hits hard, plan on moth-balling your car for a few months. Second, most oil experts believe that an oil glut is inevitable once oil companies begin converting dirtier oil resources into refined product, though many predict such a glut is still 2 to 3 years away. Ironically, that potential oil glut could coincide quite nicely with the first generation of plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Will a $40,000 Chevy Volt, for example, still resonate with consumers if oil takes a big hit and gas prices suddenly drop significantly?

The plug-in hybrid, religion?

A Prius before plug-in conversion

For years now I have been advocating for plug-in hybrid vehicles. Yet, I am often more apt to focus on the potential problems of the plug-in revolution, rather than the problems plug-ins will help solve. And, having spent time with engineers working on plug-in hybrids, I can assure you, there are, and will be, problems.

Still, I find it very alarming how many plug-in fans refuse to accept any criticism of plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles. Apparently, plug-ins are part of the global warming religion (While I believe in man-influenced global warming, I do not subscribe to the religion).

Ultimately, costs and grid infrastructure, as well electricity generation, are monumental issues. Are these issues insurmountable? Not at all, but resolving many of these problems timely and effectively will require noble corporate intentions and an honest government. Yeah, that's right, the same Congress responsible for the corn-based ethanol debacle, for example, will also be largely responsible for the success of plug-in hybrids - that alone should worry any open-minded person.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles are a brilliant idea. Making plug-ins a smart reality, however, will require the kind of honest, intelligent and comprehensive energy policy that hasn't been possible for decades. Is it really possible now?

Toyota to make the Prius in the US?

Built at the plant Toyota and GM share?

Rumors continue to flow in from Japan that Toyota is considering a US manufacturing plant for the Toyota Prius. While this rumor isn't surprising, since Toyota has discussed such a possibility in the past, it's where the plant could be that is so interesting.

"Major daily Tokyo Shimbun reported Friday that Toyota Motor Corp. was in talks with General Motors Corp. about producing the Prius, now made in only Japan and China, at a joint venture plant in Fremont, California."

Toyota and GM working in the same plant on hybrid vehicles? Inconceivable?

I agree, high gas prices are good

8 reasons to cheer high gas prices

"By its very definition, oil is crude. It's time we develop more refined energy sources and that will not happen without a cost-driven shift in demand," writes Chris Pummer this morning on MarketWatch while providing 8 reasons why high gas prices are a good thing, seriously.

Obviously, I completely agree. Wars, wars, wars. How many more wars do we need before the costs of war outweigh the benefits of oil? Perhaps oil has always been about war?

Isn't it time to end our crudely powered life in favor of a more refined, intelligent life?

Why did Ford make the Escape hybrid?

Real potential escaping Ford?

With $4.00+ gas it isn't very surprising that demand for hybrid vehicles is on the rise. Thus, one might imagine that automakers would increase production of their hybrids, as Toyota has done year after year. Yet, despite Escape hybrid success, Ford has no plans to increase Escape hybrid production, which is about 25,000 hybrids per year.

Certainly, since Ford leases some hybrid technology from Toyota, it isn't surprising that Ford isn't as bullish on hybrids as Toyota. Still, when you can't seize upon success, what's the point? Just green buzz? A few CAFE credits?

The Escape hybrid is a great SUV, too bad Ford doesn't think so.

Lack of fuel efficient cars: Just market forces?

Or, are consumers, automakers or oil companies to blame?

On today's Behind the Wheel Blog, Phil Lebeau is asking who is to blame for GM's problems. Just GM's, I ask? What about the rest of the auto industry's problems?

There isn't just a lack of quality fuel efficient vehicles from GM, but from all automakers. Even the king of hybrid cars, Toyota, has made hybrid fuel efficiency almost worthless with $3000.00 dealer markups.

And, while consumers, oil companies and government share a great bit of blame, the inability of automakers to realize the future is quite alarming. Yet, scarily, insiders from some of the world's largest automakers have told me that $3.00+ gas prices were forecasted years ago - today's prices were expected. Automakers saw today's gas crisis coming. Sure, maybe they forecasted $3.45 gas, rather than $4.00+ gas, but they saw it coming.

So, why was nothing done?

1.8 million VW hybrids per year by 2015?

A lithium-powered Audi in 2010?

VW and Sanyo will work together to produce lithium-ion batteries for hybrid cars, with the first hybrids coming around 2010. And, while only 10-20,000 hybrids will be produced per year to start, the partnership hopes to be making enough batteries to produce between 1.6 and 1.8 million hybrids per year. By 2015 the partnership believes the world will be producing more than 4 million hybrid vehicles per year.

$3000.00 Prius markup: SCREW the customer?

Subsidizing Toyota's stupid SUV decisions?

Despite the fact that Toyota has raised the MSRP on the Prius, in addition to the rest of its hybrids, many dealers in hot markets have added a $3,000 markup to the Prius and other hybrid vehicles.

Did the dealers add $3000 worth of add-ons? Nope, they are simply using high gas prices to extort more money out of consumers in the guise of supply and demand. Have Toyota dealerships become commodity exchanges or automotive retailers focused on customer service?

Finish: $3000.00 Toyota Prius Markup: Screw the customer?

Volt success hinged to massive tax subsidies?

Much ado about tax credits?

According to Winding Road GM is engaged in a lobbying effort to have Congress create a tax credit for plug-in hybrid vehicles like the Chevy Volt.

"GM has been actively lobbying Congress in advance of the Volt’s arrival, for tax credits that would benefit, “extended-range electric vehicles” like the upcoming Chevy. Such a credit (or credits) could trim as much as $7,000 off the car’s sticker, making the Volt a far better potential value for the predicted 10,000 to 30,000 customers in year-one of the car, and helping to lay the groundwork for making it a high-volume seller in years to come."

I guess those German rumors of a $30,000 Volt were just the result of wishful thinking?

Toyota to build yet another hybrid battery plant

2nd plant announcement in less than a week

Late last week Toyota announced that it was building a second battery manufacturing plant for hybrid cars. Today, Toyota announced that the automaker will now build a third plant as well. Both new plants will focus on NiMH battery technology, although rumors continue to swirl in Japan that Toyota is close to a announcing a lithium-battery manufacturing plant as well.

Robbed: Buying a hybrid car today

A purchase hard to justify?

With $4.00 gas driving my friend Carlos mad, a Toyota Prius seemed like a good idea. That was until he arrived at the Toyota dealership.

First, the dealer told Carlos not to hold his breath regarding his hopes of finding a base Prius anytime soon. So, the $25,000 sticker price on the only available Prius had Carl seeing red, since he had budgeted only $22,000 for the car. Second, as Carlos ran numbers through his head trying to justify the $25,000 price tag, the salesman told him that every Prius and Camry hybrid had a $3,000 markup on top of the sticker price because of demand, which promptly ended our hybrid shopping trip.

And, it's not just Toyota. Most hybrid dealers are sticking it to consumers in every way possible. However, with $4.00 gas prices keeping demand for hybrid cars well above supply, despite the ridiculous markups, little price relief seems possible anytime soon.

Does $4.00 gas justify an extra $3000 markup for a hybrid?

Fast Money - $4.00 gas is here to stay

$4.00: The new norm?

I watch CNBC a good bit every day during the week, and it's a very interesting channel to watch the state of oil because this is a channel that caters to oil experts, especially in terms of investing - including trading and speculating. Many 'in the know' believe that oil is ready for a pop, believing that a significant percentage of oil prices are a speculator-driven bubble.

The guys on Fast Money are semi-split on the causes of the price of oil, but they do believe that oil prices will be very turbulent in the short term and the long term. Yes, there could be declines in the price of oil, even big price drops, but eventually higher pricing points will be breached, they agreed.

Anyway, these bright Wall Street folks believe that $4.00 gallon gas, for the most part, is here to stay, regardless of the price of oil.

Shocking: Chevy Volt pricing could be under $30,000?

Possibly even coming in early 2010

Since the Chevy Volt debuted at NAIAS in 2007, the potential price of the Volt has ballooned close to $50,000, as the date has pushed back to late 2010, or early 2011.

Well, reports coming out of Germany regarding a Rick Wagoner interview indicate that development of the Chevy Volt might now be going better than expected. According to the reports, GM is hoping to keep the price of the Chevy Volt close to $30,000. Even better, the Volt might go one sale on early 2010, rather than late 2010, although in limited numbers.

A $30,000 Volt in 2010? Wow. Let's just hope that GM's battery partners can get it together fast because it will be impossible for GM to stay up with demand if GM can keep Volt pricing at $30,000 or less.

Toyota Prius rules the city

No competition in city driving

The Gas Sipper Smackdown is over, and Karl's on Cars fuel efficiency tests have once again proven what many hybrid fans have been saying for years. In city driving, the Toyota Prius has no competition, and that includes small diesels, such as the Jetta TDI.

Hybrid vehicles work, haters. Yes, there are some cost issues to work out, but nothing that economies of scale can't handle.

Toyota amps up its battery plans

Both NiMH and lithium?

Toyota is spending $192 million dollars on a new battery manufacturing plant to produce NiMH batteries for its hybrid vehicles. With a limited number of batteries already limiting Toyota hybrid production and the launch of the third generation Hybrid Synergy Drive less than a year away, such a move seemed obvious. Unfortunately, however, this move won't help today's hybrid consumers whom are experiencing rising prices on hot hybrids like the Toyota Prius.

There are also rumors coming out of Japan that Toyota is also set to announce such a manufacturing plant for lithium-ion batteries as well. (AP via Yahoo)

Malibu to become a full hybrid?

To become a dual mode hybrid?

A couple of months ago, GM made an interesting announcement regarding its mild hybrid technology, such as found in the Chevy Malibu hybrid. Around 2010 GM will begin using lithium-ion batteries in their mild hybrid powertrains. Thus, around 2010 the Chevy Malibu hybrid will become a lithium-powered mild hybrid, but it will still be a mild hybrid, right?

Who cares?

I just finished reading a review of the Malibu hybrid that claimed that GM will turn the Malibu hybrid into a full hybrid. Does that mean a lithium-powered mild hybrid, or a dual mode hybrid, such as the GMC Yukon hybrid?

GM's dual mode hybrid technology is a great bit of hybrid technology, but a technology that was especially designed for large vehicles, especially vehicles carrying heavy payloads or that tow regularly. Such capabilities, however, are not required for a Malibu hybrid. So, is GM going to scale down the dual mode hybrid powertrain for cars - something I've been calling for now for a few years - or is GM going to brand its mild hybrid technology as full hybrid technology once lithium is added?

Kaizen: America's oil crisis

Crisis is simply an opportunity for innovation

Tonight CNBC will host a segment, America's Oil Crisis, a name that I find a little funny. I don't see today's oil situation as a crisis, but rather an opportunity for change. America needs a real energy policy.

Ultimately, cheap oil has retarded American innovation. We've been fat, dumb and happy gas-guzzlers. Yet that cheap oil has only been possible because of diplomatic collusion with dictators and other repressive regimes. Likewise, while oil has been cheap, the US has never added the cost of military protection of oil to pump prices - we pay that cost in taxes and wars.

The other day a venture capitalist was on CNBC discussing the significant amount of capital that is pouring into energy efficient solutions, such as solar power, alternative fuels, transportation, etc. He noted, however, that a big drop in oil prices would significantly reduce this capital. Now that would be a real crisis.

A Prius derivative for Lexus?

Something like this vehicle?

Insideline is reporting that Toyota is now considering a new upscale Prius for its Lexus brand as well as a new crossover hybrid. The two new Lexus hybrid vehicles are expected to debut at NAIAS 2009 along with the third generation Toyota Prius, which is expected to go on sale late Spring of 2009 - a few months after its NAIAS debut.

One of the Lexus hybrids might also use lithium-ion batteries, rather than the NiMH batteries currently powering Toyota/Lexus hybrids. Nice call KP. Using lithium in a limited production vehicle might be a great way to slowly test the reliability, particularly the safety, of lithium-ion batteries in automobiles.

Oil: Democrats are morons

Of course, Republicans aren't any better

Led by Democrats, today a Judiciary Committee is going after oil companies and traders to reduce the price of gasoline. At the same time, many of these same Democrats are calling for the US to get off foreign oil. So, their plan is to 'manage' the price of gasoline lower to reduce foreign oil dependency?

High gas prices are changing consumer behavior in a big way. We're going smaller. We're taking public transportation. We're buying hybrid cars and other more fuel efficient automobiles - something Congress has never been able to accomplish, despite spending billions of tax payer dollars for this purpose. Even more important, massive amounts of capital are flowing into R&D for foreign oil dependency-fighting technologies.

Nothing will get America off foreign oil faster than high prices and new technologies. Ultimately, high gas prices, not Congress, are pushing America towards intelligent behavior. Yes it hurts, but in the long run, we'll be better off, unless Congress again screws it up.

Can hybrid technology save large SUVs

So big it's scary?

Not only are the sales of largest SUVs declining, resale value is also racing downward. All of this as happened as GM's large hybrid SUVs have hit the road, but are these hybrid vehicles the solution to high gas costs for SUV drivers?

Probably not. In the last two months GM has sold a combined 1000 such hybrids combined.

It's not that hybrid SUVs, such as the Chevy Tahoe hybrid or the GMC Yukon hybrid, don't offer a huge increase in fuel economy, they do. With a 50 percent improvement in city fuel economy, these hybrid SUVs provide a great increase in fuel economy over their conventional counterparts. But they are still huge, and they cost $50,000+.

For those needing a large SUV, these hybrid SUVs are a good deal. For everyone else, however, smaller vehicles seem to be looking better by the minute, or at least every penny that gasoline prices increase.

New Honda hybrid on schedule

But it probably won't look like this

Without releasing any new details, Honda President Takeo Fukui confirmed that Honda's newest hybrid, a dedicated hybrid will be ready for sale in early 2009. The price of the new hybrid has not yet been released, but Honda has reiterated over-and-over their intent to sell more hybrid vehicles by making them cheaper.

According to the AP, "In addition to the new hybrid, Honda will introduce several other hybrids: a Civic, a new sporty model based on the CR-Z and a Fit subcompact, sold as the Jazz in Europe."

Flextreme Dream: Europe key to Volt success?

The Saturn Flextreme: For America, for Europe, for the world?

Soon, GM will begin building a significant number of cars off the next generation Delta platform. That means models such as Cobalt, Astra and Opel will share the same platform, largely bridging the platform gap between much of Europe and America. More interesting, however, these models will also share the same platform with the Chevy Volt and the E Flex Drive.

Thus, as I was reading a story regarding how an almost-production-ready Volt could debut at the Paris auto show, I started wondering how much of an impact the Volt, and/or the Opel Flextreme - also an E Flex Drive vehicle - could impact Europe.

With gas prices at $8.00 or higher in many parts of Europe, it seems that perhaps the Volt could have an even bigger impact in Europe than in America, at least initially. Maybe GM could even sell the Volt closer to real world costs in Europe than in America thanks to high fuel costs.

Could Europe be key to Volt success?

Can disincentives get the US off oil?

It's the auto, stupid

I'm a fan of the gas tax as a way to move America off oil, an idea which would push most Americans to call me crazy. Of course, I think most Americans are crazy for not taking foreign oil dependency - and their individual role in that dependency - far more seriously.

But, if a gas tax were utilized intelligently, which is a bit of an impossibility in today's Congress and political world, couldn't it be used to create effective change?

Finish: Can disincentives get the US off oil?

EVs: Why Nissan makes me laugh

A good, leased start?

Just a few years ago, Nissan's Carlos Ghosn was the darling of the auto world, having completely turned around struggling Nissan. During that turnaround, however, Ghosn was very bearish on hybrid cars. Nissan's only hybrid, the Altima hybrid, is significantly based on leased Toyota technology.

Yet, over the last few months - as oil prices have skyrocketed - Nissan has been speaking ever more about electric cars. Even today, Nissan announced that it is ready to supply batteries to any automaker interested electric vehicles, yet Nissan isn't offering any new electric vehicles.

Is Nissan an automaker or a battery manufacturer? Why not build a few electric cars before hyping up the media with your EV capabilities?

No respect: Fuel cell hybrid vehicles?

Honda's sad solar-powered fuel cell fantasy?

I'm a big fan of hybrid vehicles. Not long ago, however, I wasn't much of a fan of mild hybrids. Recently, the Chevy Malibu hybrid eased my case of mild hybrid angst, especially when coupled with GM's plans to soon make these BAS hybrids lithium-powered.

Now, it seems only fuel cell hybrid vehicles receive less respect than mild hybrids. Even GM's own, Bob Lutz, has announced his preference for plug-in electric vehicles over fuel cell vehicles, despite the billions GM has invested in fuel cell technology. On the other hand, Honda, the world's most efficient automaker, is aggressively and confidently moving ahead with fuel cell hybrids.

Obviously, there are huge technological obstacles to cost-effective fuel cell hybrid vehicles, but at one time the technical obstacles of reaching the moon seemed even more insurmountable. And, like the moon missions, striving towards fuel cell technologies has resulted in many technological insights, revelations and developments that have advanced electric drive trains and lithium batteries.

Big dreams breed innovation. Aren't fuel cell hybrids a big dream worthy of investment if not just to push the technological envelope?

Barack's automaker bailout?

but, still need to build more relevant autos

"Obama's plan to help the Big Three cope with stricter fuel-economy and emissions standards starts with a 10-year, $150 billion commitment to clean energy, with part of the money going to help automakers retool their factories to build alternative-fuel cars. In addition he would double funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a program that currently assists manufacturers in upgrading to more efficient technology. Lastly, the candidate would use money from a $10 billion venture-capital fund to create a program in Michigan that would focus on bringing eco-friendly auto technology from the lab to the market. All told, Obama says he plans on "committing the kind of resources we haven't seen in decades here in Michigan."" (more)

Pandering? Pork? A good idea? Much ado about nothing? What about tax credits for consumers that make more intelligent automobile purchasing decisions? Why not let automakers compete for this money in some way that requires consumer to put some skin in the game?

Exciting? Tata enters the X-Prize

What's 100 mpg worth to you?

Tata Motors has thrown its hat into the X-Prize ring to develop a 100 mpg car, according to recent reports. With countries such as India and China becoming hugely critical to the future of automobile sales, such a development appears interesting. Not only is Tata developing super cheap cars, such as the Nano, Tata is also developing hybrid cars, fuel cell vehicles and alternative fuels, but on this hemisphere, few seem to care. Now that Tata is taking on the X-Prize - the first major automaker to do so - a strong X-Prize showing could drive huge buzz to this up-and-coming automaker.

Chevy Volt achieving 40 miles of electricity on public roads

Lutz getting into his beloved Volt

"Today is a big day," GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz told Edmunds' AutoObserver.com in an exclusive interview Tuesday. "Today is the first day it is running on the street on battery power."

And the Chevy Volt isn't just running on the street on battery power, it's achieving 40 miles of pure electric range - a critical benchmark for GM's Volt program.

"It is reliably meeting its objectives. Even with a rough calibration, even with the wrong drive unit, the wrong body, etc. etc., it has been hitting its 40 miles on electric power," Lutz said.

I have few doubts that the Chevy Volt will meet its 2010 launch, I just wonder what the final price will be and whether GM can produce tens of thousands - even a hundred thousand - Volts by 2011 or 2012. If so a lot of Volt critics will be eating crow.

Prius: Over one million sold

1,028,000 and counting

As of the end of April Toyota had sold 1,028,000 Prius hybrids since its launch about a decade ago.

Toyota has expressed a goal of one million hybrid vehicle sales per year soon after 2010. Last year Toyota sold 429,400 hybrid vehicles and the automaker is on pace to sell well over 500,000 hybrid vehicles in 2008. And, with the launch of the 3rd generation Hybrid Synergy Drive expected sometime next year, it's beginning to appear as if Toyota might actually come close to hitting its goal of 1 million hybrids per year - a goal mocked by most other automakers just a couple of years ago.

(Reuters via Yahoo)

Electrification of the auto: Just a hedge against CAFE?

How many plug-in hybrids will automakers really build?

GM's Bob Lutz has become a huge fan of plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles. Nissan has been a hybrid bear, but an electric vehicle bull - at least in terms of talk and future plans. Yet, Honda, the cleanest most fuel efficient major automaker, has been an electric vehicle super bear, claiming conventional hybrid vehicles and then fuel cells are the solution (of course a fuel cell vehicle is an electric vehicle).

What's going on?

There is a whisper in the auto world claiming that while electric automobiles have great potential, automakers have no interest in a major conversion from gas to electric anytime soon. Instead, automakers talking electric have very specific plans to only make enough expensive electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles to balance their fleet fuel economy (CAFE).

Is the move towards the electrification of the automobile a real movement, or just PR and regulation-driven gimmickry?

GM accepts SUV defeat and hybrid future?

Hummers: Not the most visionary vehicle?

We all know that large SUVs and trucks have been GM's bread and butter. And, while many have seen the writing on the wall regarding the death of large SUVs, GM has seemed unwilling to accept this 'reality', until now.

"We've been promoting our trucks more than we should have," Mike DiGiovanni, the company's top sales analyst, told a bankers' conference in Warren. "We're going to shift our marketing toward fuel economy and hybrids."

When it comes to hybrid vehicles, GM has a very intriguing and exciting lineup - on paper. From lithium BAS hybrids to the Chevy Volt, GM seems prepared to compete in the new future, but few of these new hybrids are either on the road or even ready to hit the road.

Can GM let go of the past and fully embrace this new fuel-efficiency-driven future? Or, is this just PR?

Volt can't kick start GM stock

Not that electrifying to investors?

Is GM's Chevy Volt vaporware? Is it just a CAFE off-setter? Is the Volt GM's ticket to the future?

While opinions vary regarding what the Volt means to GM's future, CNBC's Phil Lebeau pointed out that the Volt is certainly not helping GM's stock. Rather than invest in automakers, Lebeau suggested today that investors put their money in battery company stocks, such as Johnson Controls or Hitachi, if they wanted to invest in plug-in hybrid vehicles and the electrification of the automobile.

$6.00 gas: Bring it on

As if there are no costs to cheap gas

I just finished reading an article about gasoline protesters - people protesting the 'high' cost of gasoline. Some of these knuckleheads believe that protesting the high cost of gasoline can also raise awareness about environmental issues, as if cheap gas is good for the environment. Wow.

Today, Americans are funding a Hugo Chavez-led revolution in Columbia, for example, that seeks to fight against any American interests. Our thirst for cheap gas has funded hate against America around the world, and yet foreign oil dependency has no costs, despite the 10's of billions we spend every year on non-war costs just to secure foreign oil (Maybe we should pay that cost at the pump?)?

High gas prices are pushing solar power, biofuels, sales of hybrid cars and, even more important, R&D into new technologies that might forever end oil dependence in a cheap, clean and cost-effective way. High gas prices are breeding innovation. A return to cheap gas - ok, cheaper gas - will only lead to technological stagnation and greater pain in the future.

$6.00 gas. Bring it on.

Supply shortage: Better buy your Prius now?

It's hot, hot, hot

Toyota dealers are beginning to run short on their Prius supplies, according to Bloomberg, as supplies have fallen to their lowest levels in two years. Currently, the eighth best selling car in the US through April, the Prius no longer qualifies for any incentives. And, because of battery shortages, the supply of Toyota Prius hybrids is only expected to decline, despite a recent increase in pricing - currently the Prius costs $869 more than last year.

If you've been contemplating a Prius purchase this summer, it might be best to act sooner, rather than later.

Prius, Escape hybrid rule city fuel economy

Escape hybrid outperforms the Civic hybrid

When I tell people that a Toyota Prius can achieve as much as 60 mpg in LA driving, many don't believe me. Yet, a recent city driving test by Cars.com has proven my - in some minds - wild claims.

In several tests of real world Chicago traffic, the Toyota Prius achieved fuel economy ranging from 50.5 mpg to 60.8 mpg, averaging 55.7 mpg according to observed tests and 59.1 mpg according to the Prius computer.

Surprisingly, the Ford Escape hybrid outperformed the Honda Civic hybrid in the same traffic, achieving 38.3 mpg versus the 37.6 mpg of the Civic hybrid.

Cars.com only tested four hybrid cars. The other hybrid tested, the Chevy Tahoe hybrid, achieved 20.5 mpg.

SUV drivers burning their gas guzzlers

Shoulda gotta hybrid

CNBC's HomeFront just ran a story about how insurers are seeing a big increase in insurance fraud regarding SUVs. Owners are abandoning and torching their SUVs in an attempt to offload their gas-guzzlers, since SUV value has gone through the floor. I'm sure some politicians will begin using this fact as proof that a gas tax holiday is needed to save SUVs before they go extinct.

Toyota loses hybrid patent appeal

Will it face a new price increase?

"The U.S. Supreme Court let stand a $4.3 million award against Toyota Motor Corp. for using another company's patented technology in gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles, including the top-selling Prius, Bloomberg News reported today.

In addition to the amount awarded in the lawsuit, Toyota might also have to pay royalties on future hybrid cars, but that is dependent on an additional lawsuit.

Fisker playing PR games with Karma?

Media manipulation?

AutoWeek's Dutch Mandel is calling out Fisker Automotive for fake spy shots of the Karma plug-in hybrid vehicle.

"As a media professional I am appalled, but perhaps I should not be. I suppose these La-La Land flakmeisters (and the obsequious, fawning, sycophant media with which they deal in the so-called star business) are used to spoon-fed, fabricated stories created to make their myriad celebrities look good. C'mon, guys: sending out Fisker "spy photos" is akin to having paparazzi on retainer and on call to "capture