The problem with US automakers

The poster child of denial?

As I've browsed through the news today, one headline stuck out: When pickup sales dived, automakers changed plans. The article explains how Ford (and GM) realized, way back in May, that small cars and fuel efficiency might be the keys to survival.

May, 2008? Hello? 9/11, War, Katrina, and you didn't believe the dangers of foreign oil dependency might force change until May, 2008?

A few months ago, a source inside GM told me that $3.00+ gas prices had been forecasted as a possibility by GM years earlier. Coupled with Toyota' hybrid success, this forecast moved GM to begin working on the Chevy Volt. That and Bob Lutz couldn't tolerate a company like Tesla beating GM to cost-effective electric vehicles. Of course, that didn't make large vehicles any less important.

The fact that it has been largely impossible for US automakers to steer away from such a heavy focus on large, fuel-inefficient vehicles - despite the obvious evidence - begs the question: What is wrong with US automakers? Certainly, cheap gas, the UAW, healthcare costs, etc. didn't make the job of change any easier, however, can these issues really justify such denial?

Hybrids: Edmunds picks Camry over the Prius

Not the best hybrid?

When it comes to hybrid cars, the Toyota Prius is the king of hybrid sales. Still, when you consider the sale's success of non-unique hybrids, or the lack thereof, the Toyota Camry hybrid is the one exception. This apparently doesn't surprise Edmunds. Recently, the Edmund's guys put the Camry hybrid and the Prius to a number of tests to determine which hybrid they liked the best. Ultimately, despite the superior fuel economy of the Prius, Edmunds picked the Camry hybrid because it's a "more spacious, well-equipped true midsize sedan with normal styling and a familiar interior layout."

Hybrid Vehicle Shopping: Camry hybrid v Prius

A better buy right now?

So, I've been helping a friend of mine, Carlos, shop for a Toyota Prius, which I first covered in $3000.00 Prius markup: Screw the Customer. Since that time we've gone to and called dozens of Toyota dealerships in Southern California, and we've found that many dealerships have increased their markups, read $10,000 extra for a Toyota Prius.

Still, we have found a couple of dealerships that were not adding ANY markups to their Prius hybrids, nor were they accepting deposits. It was simply first come first serve at MSRP. Most dealers, however......

Finish: Hybrid vehicle shopping: Camry hybrid v Prius

VW to put a plug-in hybrid out by 2010

2010: Year of the plug-in hybrid

InsideLine 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.

Oil tops $140, $7 gas by 2010?

Oil futures torching the economy

Oil futures topped $140 per barrel today for the first time ever. And as if the news couldn't get worse, a new CIBC study suggests that oil will hit $200 per barrel by 2010, equating to $7.00 per gallon gas.

Edmunds questions hybrid value

The best hybrid value over time

Using "projected model-specific average vehicle ownership costs, consisting of depreciation, financing, taxes, fees, insurance premiums, fuel costs, maintenance and repairs," Edmunds.com has determined that ultra-compact and compact cars are a better value over time than hybrid vehicles, and all other vehicles, at least for the first five years.

Honestly, the study seems pretty stupid. Compact and subcompact cars cost less up front, come with less options, and usually are less equipped with the latest gadgetry. Since they cost less, insurance is cheaper, as is licensing, taxes and financing. Also, because they have less technical gadgetry they have cheaper maintenance and repairs.

I know this is hard to believe, but if a car costs less, its usually cheaper to own. Brilliant!

--> Check out Consumer Reports Top Fuel Economy Picks for the Money

Ford Focus just as clean as the Prius?

Ford Focus a better deal than the Prius?

Perhaps you've seen the Ford commercial that compares the Ford Focus to the Toyota Prius? It admits the Prius is more efficient, but that the Focus is cheaper. Likewise, the commercial implies the Focus is just as clean as the Prius, as both are PZEV vehicles.

Now, on the highway, the Focus achieves about 37 mpg, the Prius about 45 mpg, on average. In the city, however, the Focus achieves about 24 mpg, the Prius 55 mpg. So, if you live in a city, especially with $4.00 gas, you'll easily make up the cost difference between these vehicles in gas savings alone.

And then there is PZEV, which is not about tailpipe emissions, but fuel system emissions. Obviously, in terms of tailpipe emissions, the Focus is nowhere near as clean as the Prius, especially in terms of carbon emissions.

The Ford focus is a fine car, but portraying the Focus to be as clean as the Prius and a better deal than the Prius is largely nonsense.

Americans disappointed in US energy policy

Time for an energy revolution

Americans blame the federal government, foreign oil companies, Congress and Middle East tensions for the lack of a quality energy policy in the US according to a new survey reported on BehindtheWheel. Of course, we should probably be blaming ourselves a bit for thinking there would never be any consequences for guzzling foreign oil as if it was free.

While both Presidential candidates have announced plans to tackle this problem, can either really be expected to succeed without some serious changes in Congress?

Warren Buffett talks oil

Forget windfall taxes

Warren Buffet, an open advocate for Barrack Obama, is on CNBC as I write this post. Thus far, he has stated that today's oil prices are driven by supply and demand, not speculation. He said for everyone speculating that oil prices will go higher, another is speculating that they will go lower. Additionally, he called windfall profit taxes on oil companies a very bad idea. He claimed if you tax oil companies for windfall profits, then you should tax corn, copper and steel producers, for example, for windfall profits as well.

On a final, unrelated note, Buffett claimed the tax code needs to be reworked and that the super rich need to be taxed far more and everyone else, far less.

Dyson to focus on solar powered cars?

Do sun-powered cars make sense?

When you hear Dyson, you probably think vacuum cleaners, but you might soon be thinking automobiles. Using his experience developing lightweight, yet powerful electric motors, Dyson hopes to create solar-powered plug-in electric cars according to an Independent story. The vehicles would either be powered by solar arrays on garages or on the car itself, and Dyson believes fleets of such solar-powered vehicles could be on the road within 10 years. (Source:Cars.com)

Is McCain's battery prize really that dumb?

And the X-Prize was worth only $10 million

When I first heard of John McCain's battery prize and tax credit for EVs, I wasn't impressed. I wanted tax credits for today's hybrid vehicles. Others, such as Cars.com have called it hype, and the DetroitNews even called it dumb. Barrack Obama called it a gimmick.

Ironically, Obama has ethanol contests planned, and I'm pretty confident there isn't a bigger "gimmick" than corn-based ethanol.

Still, the X-Prize inspired many to risk lives to achieve back-to-back suborbital space flights that many claimed impossible - all for just $10 million. For a small start-up, the potential of a $300 million dollar prize could be quite alluring. And, let's be honest, the US auto industry has been stuck in the box for decades, such a battery prize could help a small company compete against this in-the-box mentality.

Granted, a battery prize is not comprehensive energy policy - not by a moonshot - but isn't a little competition better than just the handouts that have gotten us nowhere in the past?

JD Power - Americans ready for hybrid revolution

Build 'em and they will come

A new survey by JD Power indicates that American auto consumers are ready to buy hybrid cars according to a report that just aired on CNBC. The latest data demonstrates that 72 percent of American consumers are ready to buy a hybrid car. Even more interesting, even if the hybrid premium compared to a conventional vehicles is $5,000, 46 percent of consumers are STILL interested.

Did the Prius kill the US auto industry?

All about expectations?

Yesterday, Jim Cramer echoed a sentiment that has been growing louder on Wall Street: The Big 3 are running out of money and they might not survive until new, efficient products hit the market. Others believe they have enough in the bank and enough strong foreign sales to survive. So, opinions on the automaker deathwatch vary.

Still, the other day I was at a Toyota dealership that was adjacent to a GM dealership. The Toyota dealership had a small stream of traffic. The GM dealership was dead. The difference, in my opinion, hybrid cars. Slowly, but surely, Toyota's hybrid vehicles, led by the Prius, have changed the perception of consumers. With $4.00+ gas, hybrids have made consumers realize that automakers could have done better, should have done better.

Ugly. Stupid. A bad science experiment. Whatever. So, who is laughing now?

GM's plug-in revolution won't happen fast

Leaving the Prius behind anytime soon?

By late 2010, if plans stay on course, GM will begin rolling out the Chevy Volt. Unfortunately, however, 2010 might see less than 1000 plug-in Volts hit the road. In 2011, GM hopes to produce 10,000 Volts, followed by 60,000 the following year. Thus, the world won't see 100,000 Volts per year until at least sometime after 2012.

While I'm a fan of the Volt, less than a year ago, I asked Bob Lutz about a dual mode hybrid Prius fighter. He essentially asked why, when something like the Volt would be superior to the Toyota Prius, according to Lutz. For perception, I replied back then, to prove that GM had changed and that it could and would take on the Prius.

However, if I saw him today, I would ask, with $4.00+ gas, can GM really wait several more years before GM isn't only challenging the Prius with possibly better technology, but in numbers that matter?

Will global warming stickers on cars help?

Will consumers care?

If you live in California, the next time you go car shopping you might see a different sticker on your car of choice called an Environmental Performance sticker. Showing both a smog score and a global warming score based on EPA data, California lawmakers hope it will influence consumers to buy greener vehicles.

Can a sticker make consumers buy greener cars?

McCain offers prize to fight foreign oil dependency

$300 million for a new battery

If President, John McCain would like to create a $300 million prize for a battery that is at least 30 percent cheaper than today's and has "the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars." Likewise, he would give automakers a tax credit of $5000 for every zero emission vehicle.

I'm glad to see McCain focus some attention on this issue, but what about consumer incentives? Apparently, today's hybrid cars are worthless to McCain, so I guess McCain will just drill until the perfect solution is achieved?

SoCal hybrid drivers save over $2,500 per year?

Dial a clue hybrid haters?

OK, I don't have any statistics to support this claim, but I was just watching Jane Wells, of CNBC, discussing mass transit versus driving in the Los Angeles area. One interesting 'fact' she pointed out: the average SoCal commuter wastes $2500 per year just idling in traffic. Since hybrid vehicles can use only electric power during much of this idling, SoCal hybrid drivers are saving a nice chunk of change compared to non-hybrid drivers in this all-too-common SoCal driving condition.

How far will Prius sales drop in June?

40 percent in May, how far down in June?

I was just browsing an article that Mainstreet.com posted on the Toyota Prius regarding how the Prius can save money on gas, but good luck finding one at a fair price. Since Toyota only planned on producing 180,000 Prius hybrids per year for 2007 and 2008, availability on the Prius could be trending downward for the rest of the year.

In 2007, Toyota sold its full allotment of Prii, and sales through 2008 have been blowing away the 2007 numbers every month until May. So, quite simply, Toyota is running out of hybrid cars for the rest of 2008, just as demand is skyrocketing. And, thus far, Toyota has essentially claimed that nothing can be done to alleviate this problem until sometime in 2009.

Mercedes: The Prius doesn't make sense

The future of hybrid cars?

According to a report in LeftLaneNews, one of Mercedes' top vehicle researchers claimed that the Toyota Prius doesn't make sense for manufacturers, as LeftLane itself assumed stating that Toyota "is known to have absorbed enormous losses to keep its Prius Hybrid at the forefront of the green revolution".

According to Toyota, money is made off every Prius, and I wonder how many non-hybrids Toyota sold through the years simply because of the hybrid halo? And, how much extra money are dealers making now because of the Prius, of the Camry hybrid?

Still, head of Mercedes-Benz’s Research and Development, Dr Thomas Weber, told LeftLane “Most hybrids have a price premium but the question is whether the premium is enough to earn money. On smaller cars, that answer is ‘no’ right now, but we are developing modular architecture for hybridization and we believe it will be possible to be profitable straight away.”

Maybe small hybrids aren't profitable for Mercedes, but I'll bet Toyota isn't complaining. Likewise, Honda's new hybrid religion seems quite contrary to Mercedes - so, I think I'll put my money on Honda and Toyota.

Bumper stickers a sign of insanity?

But don't take away my guzzler

During the build up to the latest war in Iraq, there were protesters near my office every Friday. And, as I would watch some of these protesters arrive, I was shocked at how many drove SUVs, BMWs and other not-so-efficient vehicles with 'no blood for oil' bumper stickers. I could never understand how someone could say no blood for oil, but drive a gas-guzzler. Now I understand.

According to new research cited by Edmunds, those with bumper stickers on their cars are more likely to engage in road rage. So, I guess those hypocritical protesters couldn't help it, they were just crazy?

Will GM say goodbye to oil?

So, GM will be fully hydrogen and electric powered?

Earlier this week reports started coming out of GM that the automaker was considering a new advertising campaign. Essentially, GM would send a Dear John letter to the oil industry - via television - saying, it's been good, but now its time to end the relationship. And, no doubt, the Chevy Volt will be a huge feature in that campaign.

Some argue this is a great campaign because it proves GM has changed, or at least, is changing. Yet, GM's fleet is going to be sucking down a massive amount of oil for decades, and the Volt won't be on the road for another 2 years, and only in limited numbers.

While I believe that GM is changing, actions speak louder than words, and nothing demonstrates that better than rubber hitting the road. So, when GM achieves a huge improvement in fleet fuel economy, such a campaign might make sense. As for today, however, it's just talking the talk when what the US needs is a lot more walking.

What if we drilled offshore 20 years ago?

Katrina nailed rigs, but they didn't spill

What if America had drilled offshore for the last few decades, would America be as dependent on foreign oil as today? I have no idea, but I'd bet that we'd be in the same situation. Nonetheless, there are many Americans - probably not a majority - whom believe that greens are to blame for not allowing any drilling. And, what, other than foreign oil, has replaced this lack of drilling? Thus, when greens talk about global warming, these constituents do not trust them.

So, why not open up some drilling, on the condition that there is guaranteed money for other alternative energy products? While Democrats keep claiming we can't drill our way out of foreign oil dependency, you can't do nothing and end foreign oil dependency either. The job of Congress is to create consensus-driven legislation, not to just blame the other side and never accomplish anything.

Plug-in hybrids and fuel cells: Two peas in the distraction pod?

How many years until everyone drives a plug-in?

It takes about 12 years to recycle through today's fleet of automobiles. Thus, if everyone started buying $40,000 plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2010, it would be about 2022 before almost everyone in America was driving a plug-in.

Of course, if automakers sell even 100,000 plug-in hybrids, collectively, in 2010, or even 2011, I'll be shocked.

On the other hand, by 2010, Toyota alone could be selling well over a million hybrid vehicles, hybrid vehicles that scale plug-in hybrid costs downward by standardizing electric motors and other electric drive supplies, in addition to helping fund battery technology.

Yet, most hybrid tax credits are now expired, and the only ones being talked about are for plug-in hybrids. However, if Honda comes out with a 50+ mpg hybrid for less than 20,000 next year, and a $3,000 tax credit were added, an under $17,000 hybrid would be affordable for almost everyone, unlike plug-in hybrids. And then there's the competition.

Have plug-in hybrids become the new fuel cell vehicle - tons of potential, but a little too futuristic?

Chevy Volt will only achieve 20 miles of juice?

Get outta here!

Earlier today I checked out a thread on MotorTrend titled Toyota laughs while Chevy Volt battery power ripped in half.

The article references a 20 mile Volt, versus the intended 40 mile Volt - 40 miles of pure electricity that is. This 20 mile Volt idea has been floated around by GM, at least in theory, for some time. It's called consumer options, folks. A 20 mile Volt is NOT a sign of Volt failure.

In fact, there are many Volt variants, such as a fuel cell Volt. Actually, there aren't just many Volt variants that are being conceptualized, there are also many E Flex variants - the electric drive of the Volt - that are being conceived. The Chevy Volt is just the beginning.

Nonetheless, the first E Flex vehicle, the Chevy Volt, WILL achieve 40 miles of electricity. That word was confirmed to me by GM's Tony Posawatz, an engineer on the Volt team. For more, check out Tony's quote at http://www.gm-volt.com/, easily the best Volt-dedicated blog. Make sure to say high to Lyle for me if you check it out.

New Honda hybrid achieves "insane" fuel economy?

Another future Honda hybrid?

Rumors. A year or so ago, rumors began spilling out of Japan that the third generation Toyota Prius was achieving 100 mpg. Others quickly reported that fuel economy was measured differently in Japan than in America, and 100 mpg probably meant 70 to 80 mpg. Today, it seems the third generation Prius will probably, on average, be in the 50+ mpg range, versus today's mid-40's (Yes, many Prius drivers achieve far better mileage).

Thus, when LeftLaneNews.com reports that Honda's new hybrid vehicles, loosely based off of the Fit, might achieve "insane" fuel economy, it's hard to know what to believe. According to the "insane" mentality, the new Honda could achieve 70+ mpg. Leftlane believes that actually means 50-55 mpg. As for me, I'm just hoping that Honda can stick to the under-$20,000 price tag, despite rising energy problems, higher steel costs, etc.

Chrysler set to launch first hybrids - who cares?

Does this sell with $4.00+ gas?

In August, Chysler will begin selling both the Dodge Durango hybrid and the Chrysler Aspen hybrid, for about $5000 less than GM's similar hybrid vehicles, such as the GMC Yukon hybrid. Thus, the Durango hybrid will debut at $45,340, and the Aspen hybrid at $45,570 (DetroitNews).

This month, however, GM has reduced the prices of its full-sized hybrid vehicles, and it seems possible that Chrysler's pricing will force GM to keep those reduced prices.

Still, with today's high gas prices, can hybrid technology save large SUVs?

FastMoney picks Toyota FCVs over Honda's

The new standard in fuel cell vehicles?

A year ago or so I thought that GM was the leader in fuel cell technology. However, in the last year, Honda has really kicked it up a notch with the latest iteration of the Honda Clarity. Yet, on FastMoney last night, Pete Najarian claimed that, just as with hybrid cars, Toyota would surpass Honda and everyone else with its fuel cell hybrid vehicles.

Recently, Honda pinned its technological future to cheap hybrids and fuel cell vehicles, completely dismissing plug-in hybrids and EVs, at least for now. Has Honda lost its technological edge in some way?

Chevy Volt battery breezing through tests

GM almost ready to pick its supplier

GM's Bob Lutz told Reuters that the Chevy Volt continues to hit all benchmarks and that the battery is performing so well that GM is on the verge of naming is supplier, either A123 Systems and/or LG Chem. More important, the Volt should be ready for its 2010 launch.

"I would say there's almost no reasonable doubt in our minds anymore that this is going to work," said Lutz, who heads vehicle development for GM.

Lutz also took a poke at Toyota claiming it was GM that forced Toyota to reconsider lithium-ion batteries for hybrid cars and that reporters should remember that GM pushed forward with something that Toyota said wasn't possible.

$10,000 extra for a Toyota Prius?

Just not worth it?

I love the Toyota Prius. I mean I LOVE the Toyota Prius. Yet, at MSRP the Prius isn't the best deal for everyone, however, it is an especially good deal for urban drivers.

Still, is the Prius worth an extra $3,000, the amount some dealerships are adding to the cost of the Prius (more on Prius markups)? How about a $5,000 dealer markup, for nothing, other than a dealership taking advantage of supply and demand?

Still a good deal?

Well, how about a $5,000 markup and $5,000 worth of dealer, and highly dealer-profitable, add-ons? That was the cost of the only available Prius at my local dealership on Saturday - yes, I live in area with extremely high Prius demand, but still, can consumers justify such costs in fuel savings?

Hybrid battery competition simmering

But it won't boil until 2010?

It seems every few weeks there is a new battery announcement regarding hybrid cars. Samsung and Bosch have announced the latest joint venture on batteries for hybrid vehicles according to Yahoo. While exciting for fans of the electrification of the automobile, this venture, like most hybrid battery ventures, won't fully be rolling until 2010. Yes, the hybrid revolution is growing, but it still won't really heat up until at least 2010, when battery competition for hybrids finally boils over.

Convert your gas guzzler into a hybrid?

Turn it into a plug-in hybrid for just $7000?

Two new companies will soon offer ways for consumers to convert their conventional vehicles into hybrid cars. In August Poulsen Hybrid will offer a $7000 conversion kit that will turn conventional vehicles into plug-in hybrid vehicles. Using electric motors in the rear wheels and a lithium battery pack, Poulsen hopes to double the mileage of any vehicle.

In 2009 VS Composites' $4,000 Electrocharger will be sold as a conversion kit that replaces the alternator with an electric generator, which is supposed to increase city fuel economy by 60 percent. (MSNBC)

Plug-in hybrids: The key to both biofuels and the grid?

Should plug-ins be an integral part of energy policy?

Blackouts. Every summer, at least once, I come home to a defrosted freezer thanks to a blackout. But, what if a number of Americans drove plug-in hybrids? On days when electric loads were getting too high, the grid could tap into numerous plug-in batteries and avert a blackout, and give me a fat paycheck - helping to offset the costs of my battery. Smart legislation could make that happen.

Likewise, the world now knows that ethanol is not going to end foreign oil dependency, but cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels still have potential, but limited potential. However, a bio-fueled plug-in hybrid would need very little liquid fuel on a day-to-day basis. Thus, smarter biofuels coupled with plug-in hybrid technology could be perfectly complimentary.

Plug-in hybrids can help radically change America's energy paradigm, but such a task will require a new, comprehensive energy policy. Sure it might be expensive, but isn't national security and a technologically-advanced economy worth the costs? Isn't it time to DEMAND this from our well-financed politicians?

Enough? DOE gives $30 million for PHEV projects

Time to get real about energy

The US Energy Department has given the Big 3 $30 million dollars to help fund some plug-in hybrid vehicle projects. The Big 3 had sought $500 million (more).

Wow, the US spends billions every year just on the coast guard and military costs of securing oil tanker lanes - a sum not paid at the pump, but rather through hidden taxes. Yet, the government can only spend $30 million on the technology that has the potential to end foreign oil dependency altogether?

It's official, diesel fans are clueless?

So, diesels are more efficient than even diesel hybrids?

Boy, diesel fumes must really make diesel fans crazy. Motoring is claiming that the debate is over, diesel vehicles are more fuel efficient than hybrid vehicles.

Forget the fact that a hybrid vehicle could be a diesel hybrid vehicle. Forget tests by Cars.com and Edmunds.com, for example, which have demonstrated conclusively that in urban driving, the Toyota Prius is simply better than a similarly sized diesel vehicle.

What I'd really like to know, is if it takes more oil to produce a gallon of diesel versus a gallon of gasoline, does diesel offer ANY advantage over gasoline in terms of foreign oil dependency?

If diesel engine efficiency is simply counter-balanced by the need for more oil, what's the point?

Consumers ready to convert to hybrids, not diesel?

The car consumers want most?

Behind the Wheel is reporting that a new survey shows that people are ready to make the conversion to hybrid cars, but they are still not interested in diesel vehicles. In the interim, however, when not a lot of hybrids are available, most consumers will downsize their vehicle as the first move.

Ford can't make plug-ins without gov. help?

A plug-in hybrid Escape at NAIAS

According to Reuters, Ford will need "substantial government investment" to make plug-in hybrid vehicles a reality, including both research money and tax credits.

"While the basic architecture is similar to our current hybrid electric vehicles, there are engineering challenges," Mark Fields, Ford's North American President told a hybrid electric vehicle conference sponsored by the Brookings Institute think tank and Google.org.

"Japan, China, Korea, and India are significantly funding the research development and deployment of plug-in hybrid vehicle technologies. This is a race we must win," Fields said.

Foreign oil: $40+ billion fricken dollars per month

Foreign oil profits to buy Chrysler building

$40+ billion per month. That's the cost of foreign oil dependency. Sadly, that doesn't even include the billions per year that the US spends on Coast Guard and military costs to secure shipping lanes for oil tankers. Then, add in war costs, and the amount of money being 'exported' to major oil exporters isn't just alarming, it's disgusting.

Congress can talk about exporting jobs, outsourcing, etc., but imagine what Congress could accomplish by funding a revolution against energy dependence. I don't just mean tax credits for hybrid cars, I mean what if the US had invested that kind of money into solar power, wind power, smarter biofuels, etc - talk about jobs and exportable technology! Unfortunately, Congress - both Democrats and Republicans - have just been too busy eating lobbyist-funded pork.

We, the people, have allowed and enabled politicians to sell out America in the name of militarily-secured, cheap foreign oil. Has it been worth it? Are we going to do anything about it?

A new Prius or Civic hybrid for 2009? Better get on the list now

Gonna have to wait 3 to 4 months?

Cars.com called around the country yesterday trying to find out where a Toyota Prius or a Honda Civic hybrid can be found on a dealer lot. Waiting lists were the only thing they could find. While the average waiting list for a Civic hybrid was 3 to 4 months, the Prius was 4 to 6 months.

If you're shopping hybrid cars, it might just make more sense to tune up your current vehicle in the short term until supplies of hybrids can better meet demand.

Toyota: Lithium hybrids coming in 2010

Ready for fleet sales in 2010

Toyota will start producing lithium-ion battery packs next year, achieving full scale production by 2010, according to Reuters. In that year, Toyota will begin selling plug-in hybrid vehicles, at least for fleet customers. Nonetheless, Toyota will continue to use NiMH batteries, even as lithium is developed.

"We plan to use both nickel-metal hydride and lithium-ion batteries, choosing the appropriate option depending on the vehicle," President Katsuaki Watanabe told a news conference to outline Toyota's environmental activities.

Additionally, To