Toyota Highlander hybrid recall

Do you have a 2008 Highlander hybrid?

39,100 Toyota Highlanders, including some hybrids, need to have an exhaust clamp repaired. Notices should be arriving in May, but if you bought your Highlander hybrid in 2008, you might want to give Toyota a buzz.

Owners can call Toyota at 800-331-4331 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.

4 Hybrids in CR's Best Values

Toyota is value

This year's Consumer Reports Best New Car Values includes a ton of Toyota autos, including 3 of its hybrids vehicles. The Prius, Camry hybrid and Highlander hybrid each made the list.

One other hybrid, the Honda Civic hybrid, also made the list.

Vue the best hybrid SUV deals

A plug-in version of the Saturn Vue hybrid

So, you're in the market for an SUV. And, despite higher than normal fuel prices, you're not sure whether a hybrid version is the right move. According to Intellichoice the answer to that question is clear.

Hybrid SUVs are more cost effective than their conventional cousins. After 5 years the Saturn Vue hybrid will save $3,797 over a conventional Vue. The Chevy Tahoe hybrid will save $3,733. The Ford Escape hybrid will save $2,489. The Toyota Highlander hybrid will save $1,360.

Now that doesn't mean the Saturn Vue hybrid is the best deal amongst hybrid SUVs. If you drive in heavy city traffic, for example, the Escape hybrid is a better deal. Still, if you're in the market for an SUV, and you've contemplated one of the four SUV models above, then the hybrid version is the way to go.

Will Toyota's hybrid price increases affect dealer markups?

Still leaving all the competition behind

Effective August 1st, the Toyota Prius will cost $500 more, starting at $22,720. Soon after that, on August 25th, the Camry hybrid will also see a $500 increase that will bring its base price up to $26,870 as the price of the Highlander hybrid increases $518 to $35,445.

Considering that most automakers are raising prices on any vehicle that can sell to help offset both declining auto sales and increased commodity prices, the price increase is neither surprising or unexpected. However, when coupled with dealer markups as high as $3,000 - $5,000, isn't the pricing of Toyota's hybrid vehicles becoming a little ridiculous?

Camry hybrid: Best hybrid for the money?

Payback in just 18 months?

According to Edmunds, the Toyota Camry hybrid recovers its costs compared to the the base 4 cylinder Camry in just 18 months. The Chevy Malibu hybrid was second at 2.7 years, although it won't save as much money over the long run as other hybrids. Thus, the Toyota Prius at 3.5 years will save more money than the Malibu hybrid if you keep the vehicle for at least 5 years. The Honda Civic hybrid takes 4.8 years to recover its hybrid costs.

Because of large price increases in the last year, the Ford Escape hybrid, now priced more than $2,300 more than last year, and the Toyota Highlander hybrid, now up $5,482 over last year, take 7.3 years and 12 years respectively to recover their hybrid costs. Ouch!

Obviously, some hybrid vehicles are a great hedge against high gas prices, but the Toyota Camry hybrid is beginning to look like a steal.

Highlander hybrid seatbelt recall

Don't put your baby in the third seat

If your Toyota Highlander hybrid was built between May 2007 and March 2008, then you might be receiving a recall notice in June. According to the AP Toyota needs to "fix a problem that could prevent the seat belt in a third-row seat from securing a rear-facing child seat."

Toyota's hybrids continue to lift Sales

Camry hybrid continues to post strong sales

The Toyota Prius achieved a 109 percent increase in November sales compared to last year, selling 16, 737 units. The Camry hybrid achieved sales of 5,118 units, a 65 percent increase compared to last year. Even the sluggishly-selling Toyota Highlander hybrid achieve an almost 11 percent increase in sales at 2,577 units.

Did the Prius give Toyota a green halo? I don't know, but the sales of Toyota's hybrid cars continue to increase and they continue to lift Toyota.

Turbocharged hybrids at SEMA

Some not-so-green hybrids make SEMA appearance

Several hybrid vehicles have found their way onto the floor of the SEMA show this year. Unfortunately, many of them lost their color along the way.

Toyota collaborated with BorgWarner Turbo & Emissions Systems to create the world’s first hybrid turbocharged SUV. According to Toyota, the turbocharged Highlander hybrid "highlights the feasibility of forced induction in a hybrid vehicle. Boost is provided by an AirWerksTM hybrid turbocharger developed specifically for this application, and features a forged billet compressor wheel, a ni-resist turbine housing, and a water-cooled bearing housing to increase longevity. Early testing of the Highlander Hybrid Turbo has shown that vehicle power has increased by close to 20 percent, or 305 hybrid system net horsepower."

West Coast Customs showcased a Toyota Prius that had received "a luxury and performance makeover."

"The green car is starting to make a big effect on the car world, which takes a big effect in our aftermarket world," said Ryan Friedlinghaus, chief of WCC. "People look at the Prius, the younger generation looks at it and says, 'I wouldn't drive that'. Now we made our Prius and the kids start looking at it.

Only 10,000 GM dual mode hybrids?

Just a PR effort?

I'm not a big fan of SUVs, but when I test drove the Chevy Tahoe hybrid, I was quite impressed. If you have to have an SUV of this size, I believe it should be the hybrid Tahoe.

Nonetheless, GM doesn't seem to have very high expectations for either the Tahoe hybrid or the GMC Yukon hybrid. While I can't remember the source, I read something the other day quoting Bob Lutz in which he said GM planned to sell about 10,000 of these hybrids in the first year - in total.

Considering the sales of other hybrid SUVs, such as the Ford Escape hybrid or the Toyota Highlander hybrid, these numbers are not that surprising. Nonetheless, the Highlander hybrid will outsell both of GM's hybrid SUVs, even though it barely qualifies for any tax credit.

I'm glad GM is finally launching some dual mode hybrids, I just wish they were being a little more aggressive.

A good time to buy a hybrid?

The 2008 hybrids are coming

Are you in the market for a new hybrid vehicle? Then now might be a great time to do some hybrid shopping, as dealers prepare to unload 2007 models to make room for 2008 models.

The 2008 Toyota Camry hybrid is already available at some dealerships, and the price of the hybrid Camry is $1000.00 less than last year. Thus, buyers can only assume that dealers are ready to bargain.

The 2008 Toyota Highlander hybrid has been totally revamped, although only small changes were made to the hybrid powertrain. Still, many are calling the new Highlander the best ever, which might create some deals on the 2007 Highlander hybrid.

Unfortunately, Toyota's other hybrid, that quirky little Prius, continues to be a hot seller, so deals on this popular hybrid might not be common. Still, the 2008 Prius will offer a cheaper base version.

The 2008 Nissan Altima hybrid is also set to launch, so again, dealers might be prepared to discount the 2007 model to make room for the 2008s.

Overall, this is a good time of the year to buy an automobile, so get out there and check out your favorite hybrid vehicles. You just might find a deal you can't refuse.

Why not a 2008 Highlander hybrid two-wheel drive?

Only 4WD versions?

Say you're a soccer mom or dad. You need seating for six, but you don't need to do any off-roading, and you want to be as green as possible, as fuel efficient as possible. In fact, you're really interested in hybrid vehicles, and you are interested in buying a hybrid station wagon, mini-van or SUV - any hybrid - it just has to be a fuel efficiency-focused 6-seater.

Well, forget about a two-wheel drive version of the 2008 Toyota Highlander hybrid. Instead, soccer moms and dads will have to fork over extra money for unnecessary 4WD technology. Even though Toyota started out with a 2WD Highlander hybrid, it appears Toyota has given up on this segment.

With better marketing, I think Toyota might have achieved relatively more sales success with the 2WD version of the Highlander hybrid if they had focused on fuel economy-focused minivan orientated consumers.

But, I guess we'll never know.

Highlander hybrid pricing announced

Base hybrid slightly cheaper, loaded - ouch!

The base Toyota Highlander hybrid will see a small price reduction of less than one percent, starting at $33,700 for the 4WD-i vehicle. The loaded Limited Highlander hybrid will see a large price increase of more than 9 percent to $39,950.

The new Highlander hybrid will ride on a new chassis that is almost 4 inches longer and 3 inches wider, significantly increasing the roominess of the Toyota's hybrid SUV. In addition, the Highlander hybrid will offer new tools to manage fuel economy, adding EV Mode, ECON Mode and a Hybrid System Indicator.

Expect the new Highlander hybrids to hit showrooms in October.

Toyota reports hybrid sales for June

Toyota's hybrid sales still strong

Toyota sold almost 30,000 hybrid vehicles in June, an increase of almost 50 percent compared to last June. Not surprisingly, the Prius was the top selling hybrid, posting sales of 17,756 units. The Camry hybrid achieved sales of 5,530 units, while the Highlander hybrid posted sales of 2,403 units.

The Lexus RX400h hybrid achieved sales of 1,562 units.

How about a Toyota FSC-like hybrid-only brand?

Does a hybrid crossover make sense?

So, you like the Toyota Prius, and it works, in theory, for your family of 4. Nonetheless, it seems like your brother's two kids spend almost as much time with your family, as with his. Thus, ultimately, the Prius just doesn't accommodate the needs of your extended family.

Well, what if Toyota offered another hybrid-only brand, as unique as the Prius, but a little larger, with a slick foldaway third row of seating?

We know Toyota is almost certainly going to launch a new hybrid-only brand that is probably going to be larger than the Prius. Wouldn't such a hybrid crossover be the perfect vehicle? It wouldn't really adversely affect Camry hybrid sales, Prius sales, or Highlander hybrid sales.

I'd buy it.

2008 Highlander hybrid in September?

Roomier and more fuel efficient?

Toyota will begin selling the 2008 Highlander hybrid in late September, but has not yet announced pricing.

The 2008 hybrid Highlander will be "larger, roomier and more powerful" and include "one of the most comprehensive lists of standard safety features in it the mid-size SUV class," such as 7 airbags.

Despite some possible tweaking, the 2008 Highlander hybrid will be built on the same hybrid powertrain as the current hybrid Highlander, which Toyota is running a special $2000.00 discount through June.

Prius, hybrid vehicles, hot in Pasadena - A quick shop

Time to get a deal?

I was running some errands the other day that took me near a Toyota dealership, so I thought I'd stop in and check out the selection of hybrid cars.

I haven't been out shopping hybrids in many months, but I was shocked by how things have changed. At one time you couldn't find any hybrids on a Toyota lot. Six months ago or so, you might find a few on the lot, but selection was still very limited. Now, the Toyota lot is loaded with hybrids.

--Finish: Prius, hybrid vehicles, hot in Pasadena - A quick shop

Toyota hybrids post record sales in May

The Camry hybrid was also hot

Ouch! That's all I can say regarding the sales of the Toyota Prius hybrid car this May.

With a tax credit that has been cut in half, then cut in half again, one might have expected a bit of a drop in the sales of Toyota's hybrid vehicles, or at least some stagnation. Instead, Toyota posted its BEST EVER month of Prius sales, selling some 24,009 Prius vehicles - almost equaling the total sales of Toyota's entire Lexus division.

----> Finish: Toyota hybrids post record sales in May

Hard sell? Hybrids help drive record Toyota sales

Almost 20,000 sold in March

With significant help from hybrid cars, Toyota posted "best-ever monthly sales" for the month of March. The Toyota Prius achieved the best month of sales for the second month in a row with 19, 156 vehicles sold, an increase of 133.2 percent according to Toyota.

The Camry hybrid achieved sales of 5,144 units sold in March, while the Highlander hybrid achieved 2,501 units sold. In addition, Toyota also sold 1,471 units of the Lexus RX400h hybrid.

While some of this increase in hybrid sales might be attributed to a decreasing tax credit for Toyota hybrids, that's still an amazing month. Too bad the credit is expiring, I guess Congress just doesn't feel the need to get as many foreign oil dependency fighting, global warming reducing automobiles on the road as fast as possible?

Two Toyota hybrids on Consumer Reports Best of 2007

Highlander hybrid was a top pick

The Toyota Prius received the best mileage ever for a 5 passenger vehicle and was picked as the Best Green Car. In addition, Consumer Reports highly recommends the rearview camera.

One of Toyota's other hybrid cars, the Highlander hybrid was picked as the Best SUV over $30,000. While the 2007 Highlander hybrid was picked by Consumer Reports, CR still suggested waiting until the 2008 Highlander hybrid is released later this year.

(Source: CNN)

Incentives to buy a hybrid vehicle

Ford is offering some nice financial incentives on hybrids in some areas

How many incentives do you really need to buy a hybrid vehicle? Foreign oil dependency is threatening our national security. Pollution from automobiles is threatening our health and almost certainly causing global warming.

How much is it worth to you to do the right thing? How much is it worth to invest in a better future for your family, for your children?

O.K. So, I'm overly optimistic - just a silly, utopian dreamer. You need a few financial incentives to buy a hybrid. Well, even for those with less altruistic motives, hybrid cars can still be a great deal.

---> Finish reading Incentives to buy a hybrid vehicle.

What to expect from the 2008 Highlander hybrid

A Hybrid Highlander at 2007 NAIAS

So, what can you expect from the newest version of the Highlander hybrid? Well, the 2008 Highlander hybrid will not offer any changes to the Hybrid Synergy Drive, nor to any of the hybrid technology powering this vehicle.

Essentially, the 2008 Toyota Highlander hybrid will receive mostly cosmetic changes. Nonetheless, for larger families interested in hybrid technology, the newest hybrid Highlander does offer at least a few interesting upgrades.

The new Highlander hybrid is both wider and longer than the previous hybrid Highlander so there is more interior space. Unfortunately, this extra size adds extra weight. That extra weight will almost assuredly cause decreased acceleration. Fortunately, however, Toyota has indicated that the weight increase will not cause a decrease in fuel economy.

Ultimately, the extra size creates more room for larger families seeking a hybrid. In addition, the latest Highlander hybrid offers more airbags - a total of 7, and AWD is no longer optional. Instead, AWD is standard on all hybrid Highlanders.

Hybrid Vehicles Dead? Toyota Prius sales soar in January

Are hybrid vehicles losing their appeal?

Despite lower gas prices and a federal tax credit that was reduced by 50 percent, the Toyota Prius had its best January on record, selling 8,299 units. The Camry hybrid posted sales of 2,801 units, the Highlander hybrid reported 1,810 sales, while the Lexus RX400h reported 1,245 units sold.

So, if Toyota sold more than 14,000 hybrid cars in January with only a reduced tax credit, how many more would Toyota have sold if it still qualified for the full tax credit? Considering the seriousness of foreign oil dependency, pollution and global warming, it is simply silly that Toyota is being punished for being too successful doing the right thing.

--> More on Hybrid vehicles dead? Prius sales soar in January

How long before FT-HS hybrid technology finds other Toyota hybrids?

0 - 60 in 4 seconds with 4 cylinder fuel efficiency! What are we waiting for?

I've already stated that I want the FT-HS hybrid concept to become a reality, and I've also stated that the technology behind the FT-HS hybrid is more important than the vehicle itself. Obviously, this begs the question, "When is some of this new hybrid technology going to find its way into Toyota's current hybrid cars?"

Already, Toyota has contemplated a city Prius, for example. Why not put FT-HS technology into a smaller Prius - say one with only a 3 cylinder engine - that would achieve greater fuel efficiency, yet still be capable of amazing bursts of speed or power.

Also, why not a sporty version of the Camry hybrid? Couldn't this new hybrid technology provide more torque and/or towing capacity for the Highlander hybrid?

Since Toyota has claimed the FT-HS is basically a production-ready vehicle, one has to assume the third generation Hybrid Synergy Drive has to be almost production-ready as well. So, why not give consumers a little taste?

Toyota hybrids at the LA Auto Show

Heading to the Los Angeles Auto Show this weekend, I had few expectations regarding Toyota and its hybrid vehicles. Pre-show hybrid buzz focused on the Aura and Yukon hybrids and GM's new green identity. Since, I started out on the GM side of the convention center, I thought the best of the show's hybrid displays were behind me, especially when I walked into the Toyota side of the convention center and saw Toyota Tundras everywhere.

Eventually, though, I did make my way through the Tundras and into Toyota's hybrid section.

The difference between GM's hybrid offerings and Toyota's was absolutely stunning. In fact, there was simply no comparison between Toyota and any other automaker at the show regarding hybrid vehicles. Ironically, Toyota's hybrid section was all business and no show gimmicks. There was a huge information bar where you could sit down, talk to a rep and obtain product literature. Then of course, there were Toyota's three hybrids, the Highlander hybrid, Camry hybrid and the Prius.

As I sat near the Toyota hybrid section I was amazed at the visitors to this area. This was a high traffic area, but it wasn't just people looking at hybrids. Here people were getting into hybrids - sitting in the front, then the back, opening the trunk, touching every gadget that the vehicles had to offer. These visitors looked like buyers.

Wow, I thought, not bad for a company without any new hybrid debuts. Then, however, I noticed the Lexus hybrid section and realized Toyota did debut a hybrid at the show, the Lexus LS600h L hybrid. While Lexus had the GS 450h hybrid the RX 400h hybrid at the show, in addition to a split 450h show gimmick, the LS 600h was the show stopper. Still, the Lexus hybrid section was pure auto show marketing, unlike the Toyota section, and it worked. The buzz around the Lexus hybrids was nothing short of phenomenal.

In terms of hybrid vehicles, Toyota didn't just dominate the LA Auto Show; it was the LA Auto Show.

Hybrid vehicles still offer excellent reliability - Consumer Reports

Hybrid vehicles are very reliable according to Consumer Reports survey research. The Honda Accord hybrid and the Toyota Prius hybrid are the number one and two most reliable family cars, and the Honda Civic hybrid took third place for most reliable small car. The Toyota Highlander hybrid and the Lexus RX400h took the first and fifth spots for most reliable midsized SUVs.

The only hybrid to suffer a bit this year compared to last year was the Ford Escape hybrid, which dropped from above average to just average.

(Source: CNNMoney)

Civic and Escape hybrid sales up big in October

Sales of the Honda Civic hybrid were up 890% in October compared to October 2005, reaching 2,288 units sold. The Ford Escape hybrid and the Mariner hybrid hit 1,602 units combined, up 30.6% compared to October 2005. The sales of all other hybrid vehicles were down in October 2006 compared to October 2005.

So what is the story? Why are sales of the Toyota Prius, for example, down while the Civic hybrid is up? Or why are sales of the Highlander hybrid down, while sales of the Escape hybrid are up?

Well, I'd bet it all comes down to tax incentives. October was the first month that tax incentives for Toyota hybrids were cut in half.

While Prius sales were down about 12%, Toyota still sold 8,733 of the hybrid vehicles - far more than Honda's Civic hybrid. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see what happens over the next couple of months. If gas prices begin to again go up, I think Prius sales will be fine despite the lower tax incentive. If gas prices remain stable, this downward trend might continue.

(Source: Green Car Congress)

Hybrid Interest down 10% in Q3 according to Autobytel

Overall interest in hybrid vehicles was down 10% in the 3rd quarter according to Autobytel. Still, interest in the Toyota Prius and the Camry hybrid remained relatively strong, while interest in the Highlander hybrid surged 32%. On the other hand, interest in the Ford Escape hybrid dropped a whopping 49%.

(Source: Autobytel)

Do you want to be in a Toyota hybrid commercial

Are you so proud of your Toyota hybrid vehicle that you want to tell the world about it? If you own a Prius, Highlander hybrid or Camry hybrid then you can apply to be in one of Toyota's next hybrid commercials.

"We want to know who you are and what your reasons are for owning a hybrid vehicle. Participants will not only get the chance to be part of an important national campaign that supports a good cause but may also receive financial compensation for participation! You must own or have a Toyota hybrid vehicle in your immediate family to apply."

HOW TO APPLY:

Send an email to telluswhy@nvbb.net including:

Your name
Age
City/state of residence
A photo of yourself and anyone in your household who uses the car (ideally posed in front of your Toyota hybrid)
Your reason for purchasing a Toyota hybrid vehicle

Deadline:All applications must received no later than OCTOBER 30TH, 2006

For further questions please contact: epoteet@nvbb.net

Last Day for full Toyota hybrid tax credits

Tomorrow is the last day to buy a Toyota Prius, Highlander hybrid, Camry hybrid, or Lexus RX400h if you want to receive the full hybrid vehicle tax credit.

If you are going to buy any other hybrid, no worries - not this year.

Hybrids only 9% more efficient than regular vehicles?

Are hybrid vehicles only 9% more fuel efficient than conventional vehicles? That's what J.D. Power claims, according to the Detroit News. While noting that interest in hybrids is growing, J.D. claims that hybrid buyers have unrealistic expectations in terms of performance.

While I agree that some buyers have unrealistic expectations, I have to question the 9% figure. Other studies have claimed the same, but those studies were done using track testing. For the majority of drivers, track testing is about as accurate for gauging real world fuel economy as are EPA estimates of hybrids.

Moreover, saying 'hybrids' are only 9% more efficient than conventional models is completely deceptive. For example, some hybrids were not produced to achieve the highest fuel efficiency possible. The Honda Accord hybrid, for example, is really a performance hybrid, though it achieves excellent fuel mileage for that performance. The same is largely true of both the Lexus RX400h and the Toyota Highlander hybrid, though these vehicles are - for their class - more fuel efficient than the Accord hybrid.

In terms of fuel efficiency, both the Ford Escape hybrid and the Toyota Prius hybrid, are the two hybrids most designed for fuel economy. While the Civic hybrid is a very fuel efficient vehicle as well, so to is the standard Civic. Additionally, the Civic hybrid doesn't offer as much electric assist as the hybrid Escape or Prius.

Consequently, comparing some hybrids is about as accurate as comparing apples to oranges. Thus, averaging their fuel economy is completely useless.

Even worse, if the Silverado hybrid was also included in the 'hybrid class' by J.D., then the results are completely skewed against hybrid fuel efficiency. The Silverado hybrid isn't even a mild hybrid in my book. In fact, its not even a hybrid in my book.

Consequently, the class of current hybrid vehicles are actually a very diverse group of vehicles. To average their fuel economy is misleading at best and, ultimately, deceptive. Studies by both Consumer Reports and Edmunds very much call into question the number, 9%.

Some hybrids are more fuel efficient than other hybrids. Some hybrids offer more power than other hybrids. Some hybrids perform better on highways compared to other hybrids, and some hybrids perform better in urban slow-and-go or stop-and-go traffic than other hybrids. Inevitably, hybrid fuel efficiency can ONLY be assessed vehicle by vehicle. Even then, two different drivers of the same hybrid can still achieve vastly different outcomes.

So, don't take this 9% very seriously. It might be true for some hybrids, but it certainly isn't true for all hybrids. If you want to read more about real world fuel economy from real world hybrid drivers, check out these hybrid testimonials.

Business Week helps pick your hybrid vehicle

O.K., so you've read all of my articles and you still can't decide which hybrid is best for you? While I don't believe that, you can still check out Business Week's latest article on hybrid cars, New choices boost hybrids into mainstream.

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.

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.

2010: Year of the hybrid?

Today, critics often question the value of hybrid cars. Only a few can save money over the long term at today's gas prices they state and reliability is still an issue.

Yet, hybrid technology is only just emerging and the future of hybrid vehicles won't really be understood until at least 2010. By then Toyota will offer 14 different hybrid models. Even Detroit will offer numerous hybrid vehicles. Plus, Nissan, Hyundai, Porsche - even Suzuki - will be in the hybrid game.

Then it won't just be the Toyota Camry hybrid that challenges the Prius for total sales, but many new hybrid models.

More important, there will be several different types of hybrid technology on the market and many more hybrid parts suppliers. This competition will give consumers real choices. Should I get the Chevy Tahoe hybrid, Ford Escape hybrid or Toyota Highlander hybrid? That will really begin to depend on your needs, such as towing, and that is just the beginning.

Moreover, Toyota has indicated that its hybrids in 2010 will not only be significantly more fuel efficient, but the cost differential between hybrid cars and conventional cars could be cut in half. Other automakers will have to do the same if they want to compete.

Competition, better technology, cheaper costs - by 2010 the question won't be why would you want a hybrid, it will be why would you want anything less than a hybrid.

Newsweek's Green Gap: Hybrid Critics have become boring

I was just reading Newsweek's Green Gap which asks, "Hybrids might be hip, but are they saving consumers enough at the pump to compensate for their high sticker price?" Over and over auto writers have noted that the Honda Accord hybrid and the Toyota Highlander hybrid are not selling well because of their sticker price. So hybrid cars are dead, right? Well, not exactly, the Toyota Prius and the Toyota Camry hybrid are hot, the Honda Civic hybrid is also hot. Ultimately, hybrid sales keep going up, and the hybrid market is only just emerging, only just being understood. It seems today's media loves to talk about hybrids. Recently, I questioned whether there was a media bias against hybrids. When Toyota announced a recall that includes the Prius, but wasn't limited to hybrids, nor was it related to hybrid technology, yet most of the media focused only on the Prius, not the fact that the majority of the affected cars were NOT hybrids.

GM and Ford Claim Hybrid Car Pool Lane Discrimination

Sometimes I think it is best just to keep quiet. This is one of those situations for Ford and GM. "Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp., seeking to boost sales, want the federal government to force New York and California to let solo drivers of their hybrid vehicles join those of Honda and Toyota cars in highway carpool lanes." (JSONLINE)

While I like the Ford Escape hybrid, it doesn't achieve the kind of mileage that the Honda Civic hybrid or the Toyota Prius hybrid achieves. More important, the Toyota Highlander hybrid also doesn't not qualify for HOV lane access in these states - so there is no discrimination. The point of New York and California HOV legislation was to promote the very best fuel efficiency.

Both of these American companies should be leading the fight against foreign oil dependency, instead they survive only by increasing America's dependency.

Fickle consumers underscore need for hybrid technology

Most Consumers Still Demand Performance and/or Size

Hybrid technology is just emerging and still evolving, but already there are mild hybrids, full hybrids, one-mode hybrids, two-mode hybrids, gasoline hybrids, diesel hybrids, hydrogen hybrids, plug-in hybrids, flex-fuel hybrids, etc.

Another class of hybrids, performance hybrids, have often been the source of much media ridicule because they are as much about performance as fuel efficiency. Such hybrids include the Lexus RX400h and the Honda Accord hybrid. Additionally, other hybrids, such as the Toyota Highlander hybrid, could have been made to be more fuel efficient, but Toyota figured Highlander drivers, and many SUV drivers, still favored a certain level of performance more than fuel efficiency. Much evidence seems to show that Toyota is right.

According to a CNN/Kelly Blue Book study, almost 25% of consumers are willing to give up performance and size for better fuel economy; however, 25% refuse to give up anything for better fuel economy. The other 50% will give up a little size, or a little performance, etc.

Along those same lines, an AutoWeek article notes, Loyalists won't quit big SUVs; hauling power, improved fuel economy help move vehicles . "Arguably, Americans insist on SUVs. It's unique to their lifestyle and utility."

Additionally, while Congress is going to finally address CAFE, it now appears that the new regulations will still protect Detroit's SUV domain. It is just too obvious in Congress that Detroit probably cannot survive if CAFE is pushed too high.

Unfortunately, performance and size are simply more important to most Americans than is fuel efficiency. Nonetheless, ever rising oil prices, ever more realizations of the connection between foreign oil, terrorism and American hate, will slowly force more and more Americans to take fuel efficiency seriously.

The technology behind hybrid cars enables automakers to continue to provide performance and size to Americans, while also significantly reducing foreign oil dependency. This isn't something that should be done, it is something that must be done. While Congress will probably be weak on CAFE, they should be overly aggressive in offering tax incentives to promote hybrid technology.

Join our Campaign to Make Congress Act On Hybrid Tax Incentives.

The hybrid revolution: Is Toyota just coasting?

According to Toyota, its hybrid cars are selling as fast as they can be made. Contrary to recent articles, even the Highlander hybrid and the Lexus RX400h, are also selling well, notes a recent AutoWeek story.

Nonetheless, Toyota isn't necessarily selling many more hybrids this year compared to last year. In fact, with the release of the Camry hybrid, for example, Toyota has had to reduce its production of the popular Prius, in order to have the capacity to build the hybrid Camry. Thus, overall sales of Toyota hybrids are not accelerating as fast as in the past, even though interest is growing.

So, why isn't Toyota producing more hybrids?

"Expanding hybrid volume requires increasing the number of vehicles that have the hybrid option available," stated Jim Press, President of Toyota U.S.A. "That's driven by engineering resources, and it's difficult to accelerate that."

One can only speculate that "engineering resources" also includes technical parts from suppliers, such as batteries. Why don't suppliers rush to this demand? Maybe the better question is, why should they? NiMH batteries appear to already be a dead technology soon to be replaced by lithium-ion technology. Yet, unfortunately, this whole transition will take years, maybe even a decade.

Whatever the causes for this lack of "engineering resources", it appears that Toyota is either willing, or has no choice, to just coast for a few years, producing only a few hundred thousand hybrids annually.

Hopefully, soon-to-be-released hybrid technology from GM and Chrysler, or a new hybrid Fit from Honda, will accelerate Toyota's hybrid production.

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.

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.

Hybrid cars: Why Toyota is the Most Important Automaker in the World

I was reading an article this morning, Honda sees hybrid owners buying fuel cell cars, and it struck me how Toyota has become the most important automaker in the world.

It turns out Honda is looking to the drivers of its hybrid cars to drive Honda Fuel Cell Vehicles.

"Honda has a rough idea of who its first fuel-cell customers will be, people trading in their gasoline-electric hybrid cars," states this AP article.

"We already hear of people saying, 'gee I like my hybrid but what's next. I want to go beyond gasoline'," says Steve Ellis, manager of fuel-cell marketing for American Honda Motor Co.

Yet, Ellis also notes that, "fuel-cell cars will make up only a fraction of the auto market for two or more decades."

While it's great that Honda is looking beyond hybrid vehicles, is the status quo of the world's fleet of automobiles good enough for the next two or three decades?

What happens when millions and millions of new drivers from China and India demand more oil in the next decade? What happens if Iran cuts oil production to the West? What happens if 10 years of increased, severe hurricane activity batters oil refineries in the Gulf of Mexico? What happens if global warming is actually much more serious than believed?

Even worse, what happens if the 'hydrogen economy' is found to result in some unintended consequence that actually makes gasoline still a better a solution?

How Green is Green Enough?

Sure Honda is the greenest automaker in the world, but none of the world's automakers are green enough, and that's why Toyota is so important.

Toyota's aggressive push into hybrid cars has made the public realize that much better automobiles - in terms of fuel economy and pollution - are available now, not in decades.

Yet, the best thing about hybrids is that hybrid technology offers much more potential than is currently offered. For example, hybrid technology could be added to flex-fuel vehicles, to diesel vehicles, to bio-diesel vehicles, to hydrogen vehicles, etc. Moreover, more and more research will lead to significantly better hybrid batteries. Consequently, 100 mpg hybrid vehicles could easily be less than a decade away.

100 mpg vehicles aren't worth striving for along the way to fuel cell vehicles in today's world? The status quo is simply good enough for another few decades?

Inevitably, when America experiences sustained gas prices of more than $3.00 per gallon combined with the constant threat of gas spikes of more than $5.00 per gallon, automakers won't - at least those that want to survive - have any choice but to build as many hybrids as possible.

Thanks to Toyota, Americans and the world will know, automakers can do better, much better.

Accord hybrid versus the Camry hybrid

Hybrid Competition Heats Up, A little

Slowly, albeit very slowly, competition amongst hybrid cars is building.

Already we have the Toyota Highlander hybrid versus the Ford Escape hybrid versus the Lexus RX 400h, as well the Toyota Prius versus the Honda Civic hybrid, and soon we'll have the Toyota Camry hybrid versus the Honda Accord hybrid.

Both the Accord and the Camry are already top selling cars in America. So, how will the hybrid battle between these two champions play out?

Unfortunately, it probably won't be much of a battle.

The Accord hybrid is a performance hybrid, offering some of the best performance of any Accord. For the power offered, the Accord hybrid offers good fuel efficiency. Ultimately, however, the hybrid Accord was built to perform on the highway, not to set fuel efficiency records.

The Camry hybrid, on the other hand, will offer significant gains in both fuel economy and pollution reductions compared to a standard Camry. While the hybrid Camry will still perform well, it wasn't designed for 0 to 60 supremacy, however the hybrid Camry should offer exceptional fuel efficiency.

Ironically, the real competition in the hybrid vehicle wars will probably be between the Camry hybrid and the Prius.

Are automakers destroying hybrid technology?

Yesterday, Business Week printed the article, Are hybrid sales running out of gas, which argues that other than the Toyota Prius hybrid, the sales of most other hybrid cars are slowing.

Unfortunately, I basically agree with Business Week that the costs of hybrids are an issue that is slowing hybrid sales. Hybrid vehicles do save gas, but they do not always save enough gas to justify the higher costs, especially hybrid SUVs.

Thus, only those with the wallet and the passion to fight foreign oil dependency or for the environment, can afford these vehicles.

A much larger customer segment; however, can afford vehicles such as the Prius or the Honda Civic hybrid. Still, the conventional Civic isn't a gas-guzzler, so you inevitably start comparing the Civic hybrid to the conventional Civic. For most consumers, up-front costs will eventually dominate.

The Prius, on the other hand, is unique. It is the hybrid vehicle, not a conventional vehicle with hybrid technology.

If someone wants to buy a sports car, they wouldn't typically want to buy a souped-up Chevy Malibu, they would want to buy a Corvette. Simply putting a badge on a Chevy Malibu that states 'Corvette Powered' doesn't make the Malibu a Corvette, even if they both have the same engine and performance.

Vehicles, such as the Ford Escape hybrid or the Toyota Highlander hybrid, will always have an audience, but they will never meet the sales demand of the Prius. If there were a unique hybrid SUV; however, it would dominate hybrid SUV sales.

Nonetheless, in the next year gas prices are going to go up significantly as refineries go from MTBE to ethanol additives. Additionally, in the next couple of years we will probably see multiple, significant spikes in the price of gasoline. All of these events will renew interest in ALL hybrid vehicles.

Additionally, hybrid technology is and will continue to advance. These advancements, and the potential small business tax credit for hybrid vehicles, could make hybrids, such as the Escape and Highlander, very cost-effective - perhaps even long term bargains.

Still, the only way hybrid technology will ever take off is when a number of unique hybrid vehicles are competing against each other. If automakers don't take this approach, the potential of hybrids will never be reached.

Intellichoice Best Overall Values of 2006: A lot of hybrids

In the last 2 weeks, hybrid cars have picked up some great press.

Consumer Reports picked two hybrid vehicles, the Toyota Prius and the Toyota Highlander hybrid, for it's Top 10 Best Values in automobile's issue. The Prius hybrid was also found to be the most satisfying to owners, with 95% of those owners interested in buying another Prius.

Then Edmunds/CNN released a report that the Prius, Ford Escape hybrid and the Lexus RX400h hybrid were among the 10 hottest cars in America because these vehicles fly off the sale's lot.

Intellichoice also picked a number of hybrids as the Best Overall Values for 2006. The Toyota Prius, the Ford Escape hybrid, and the Toyota Highlander hybrid were included in the 8 Overall Best Values. The Honda Civic hybrid and the Honda Insight also picked up awards in Best Values in their Class. (more)

Consumer Reports and Hybrid Cars: What you need to know

What's the word on hybrids?

Consumer Report's Annual Auto Issue is one of the most important sources for unbiased ratings and reviews of automobiles. So, what can we learn from Consumer Reports when it comes to hybrid cars.?

First, we learned that the Toyota Highlander hybrid is the best SUV over $30,000 and that the Toyota Prius hybrid is the Best Green Vehicle.

Second, we learned that the Prius is the Most Satisfying vehicle according to owners. A whopping 95% of Prius owners would buy another Prius (more).

Third, we learned that hybrid vehicles have thus far proven to be extremely reliable. In fact, the Prius and the Honda Civic hybrid topped CR's rankings of Most reliable, with just 4% of owners reporting problems. In addition, the Highlander hybrid, Lexus RX400h hybrid and the Accord hybrid also did very well in reliability.

Of course, the long term reliability of hybrids is still a question, a question that can only be answered once enough hybrids have been on the road for more than a decade. Ultimately, the reliability of hybrids is extremely important as it is the factor in determining the overall value of hybrids, which brings us to our final point.

Fourth, are hybrid vehicles worth the cost?

According to Consumer Reports, only two hybrids can save you money after the first five years: the Prius and the Civic hybrid. Of course, once the capped tax credits for hybrids expire, these vehicles will then cost more than their conventional counterparts, well, maybe.

The article, Hybrids: Save gas, lose money, notes that "six hybrid gasoline/electric vehicles, will lose 2 percent to 3 percent more in value over five years of ownership than otherwise identical non-hybrid vehicles." While the Prius can save $406 after 5 years and the Civic hybrid saves $317, the rest of the hybrids lose money after five years: Ford Escape Hybrid ($1,883), Honda Accord Hybrid ($4,263), Lexus RX400h ($4,171) and Toyota Highlander Hybrid ($5,508).

Of course, as in life, few things are ever black and white.

To start, there is no "identical non-hybrid vehicle" to compare to the Prius. If the Prius were simply a hybrid Corolla, it would be called the Corolla hybrid. Quite simply, the Prius is a unique vehicle and when you consider performance, reliability and customer satisfaction, the Prius is a unique, awesome vehicle.

As for the rest of the hybrid vehicle segment, it is true that cost is an important concern. Still, for those that care, can you really put a cost on foreign oil dependency or a cleaner environment? Sometimes doing the right thing is neither the cheapest nor easiest thing to do.

Furthermore, the Consumer Reports study makes several important assumptions. For example, it assumes that your auto insurance will cost more. Overtime; however, this might not be true, especially when you consider that some insurance providers have already offered discounts to hybrid drivers.

CR also assumes extra financing costs for hybrids. Already, Ford has begun to offer incentives and better financing deals on its hybrid vehicles, so this 'cost' might not remain an extra cost.

The most important assumption affecting the costs of hybrids; however, is extra depreciation, which CR claims could range from $2,900 to 6,300 after 5 years. These are huge numbers that cannot, at this point in time, be backed by fact.

For example, if hybrid batteries generally last the life of these vehicles, which Toyota engineers claim is quite possible, then these numbers will be horribly wrong. Additionally, as more hybrids are built, hybrid battery costs will come down.

Moreover, it could turn out that replacing the battery packs of older hybrids could make hybrids twice as fuel efficient as before with new battery technology, such as lithium batteries. Not only would this reverse depreciation costs, but it would double fuel savings costs.

In 10 years, it could turn out that replacing the hybrid battery pack on an old hybrid actually results in a better hybrid than when new. Imagine the effect this would have on resale value.

Additionally, "Hybrid supporter and Prius owner James Bell, publisher of the automotive guide IntelliChoice, recently sold his two-year-old Prius for just $4,000 less than he originally paid for it -- a remarkably low rate of depreciation." (more)

So, hybrid depreciation is a complete wild card.

Furthermore, "We really like hybrids in terms of their overall performance" and environmental benefits, says Doug Love, a spokesman for Consumers Union.

In conclusion, the CR study does demonstrates that hybrid vehicles do pose some risk when it comes to long term value; however, the CR study largely assumes the worst case scenario. If hybrid batteries are very reliable and/or new battery technology could cost-effectively make old hybrids twice as fuel efficient, then hybrids could end up as long term bargains.

Slow hybrid sales push Ford incentives

Ford's hybrid slump isn't a surprise

So far this year Ford has sold about 1000 hybrid vehicles, as sales for both the Ford Escape hybrid and the Mercury Mariner hybrid have slowed. Ironically, as Ford has increased hybrid marketing, sales have simply not kept pace and this has resulted in incentives as high as $1000.00 for Ford's hybrids (more).

Why?

I remember my first Escape hybrid test drive, which left me very unimpressed. It wasn't that I didn't appreciate the vehicle - I did - I just thought the cost was simply far too expensive.

I felt the same away about the Toyota Highlander hybrid, which I also love, but the price difference between the Highlander hybrid and a conventional Highlander, is the definition of sticker shock.

That doesn't mean I wouldn't buy either of these vehicles, I would, if I had to drive SUVs, but I'm not an SUV driver. This highlights the main problem of hybrid SUVs: Who are the customers?

Fans of hybrids are driven mostly by two factors: the environment and foreign oil dependency. Most, but not all, of this customer segment is not interested in hybrid SUVs (I'm not saying hybrid SUV drivers aren't just as committed!!). While there are many others that are concerned about these same issues, they are not driven by these causes, and these people are inevitably going to be driven by cost when it comes to buying a hybrid versus a conventional vehicle.

Many of these hybrid buyers will buy a Prius without thinking about it because there isn't a conventional comparison -I don't buy the Corolla comparison. Every other hybrid, other than the Honda Insight, forces this compare and contrast mentality.

Consequently, until hybrid vehicle costs are more competitive, only unique hybrids such as the Toyota Prius will be hot sellers. There could be exceptions, such as the Toyota Camry hybrid, but that won't be the norm until hybrid battery technology advances.

Of course, all of this could change if the 3 ton SUV small business tax deduction were applied to hybrid vehicles. Let's hope the momentum for this in Congress keeps rolling.

Hybrid cars and reliability

Can you trust hybrid technology?

I regularly receive e-mails that ask, "Are hybrid cars reliable?"

Well, according to Consumer Reports, they are. In fact, both the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic hybrid were found to be the most reliable vehicles by CR, with just 4% of owners reporting problems.

Additionally, the CR study also picked the Toyota Highlander hybrid as one of its Top 10 vehicles of 2006, a ranking which also includes reliability. Two other hybrids, the Lexus RX400h and the Honda Accord hybrid also received high marks.

Sure it is possible that the smaller production lines of these hybrid vehicles eases the ability to ensure their reliability. Moreover, the long term reliability of hybrids is still somewhat of question, since hybrids simply haven't been around long enough. Yet, first generation Prii and Honda Insight hybrids have proven to be reliable after several years.

While the long term reliability of the hybrid battery pack will remain a question for another decade, based upon current evidence hybrids appear extremely reliable. If the hybrid battery pack lasts the life of the vehicle, as many Toyota hybrid engineers believe, the long term value of hybrids has been significantly underestimated.

Camry Hybrid built for Fuel Efficiency

The Toyota Camry hybrid will be built for optimal fuel efficiency according to Consumer Reports. While this is great news, I don't fully understand what that really means. Toyota has admitted in the past that the Highlander hybrid was built for a mixture of performance and fuel efficiency. Yet, the Camry hybrid is still going to offer 192 hp. EPA estimates for this vehicle are 40 mpg, of course in the real world that will probably mean low 30's. Ultimately, I'd expect the Camry hybrid to achieve the best fuel efficiency of any Camry, while offering performance similar to the 6 cylinder Camry.

Two hybrids in Consumer Reports Top 10

Prius and Highlander picked by Consumer Reports

Toyota's hybrid cars did very well in Consumer Reports Top Picks for 2006. The Toyota Highlander hybrid was the best Mid-sized SUV costing more than $30,000. Only the hybrid Highlander and the Lexus RX400h hybrid received "Excellent" scores in Consumer Report's Testing (more).

The Toyota Prius won the Green Car award for the third year in a row and is a good alternative to a mid-sized sedan, noted Consumer Reports. Only 4% of Prius owners reported serious problems, topping the customer satisfaction survey.

Camry hybrid: How hot will it be?

Could the Camry hybrid challenge the Prius?

The Toyota Camry hybrid is months away from going on sale and the price still hasn't been officially released. Yet, dealers are already taking orders on Toyota's newest hybrid.

Now, this isn't that unusual in the world of hybrid cars. Preorders were also common on the Highlander hybrid and the Lexus RX400h before they were officially launched. Yet, the sales hype behind both the Highlander and the RX400h hybrids eventually waned a bit, especially compared to the Prius hybrid.

So, how will the Camry hybrid compare?

The Toyota Camry already owns a very loyal following. Will this core customer group drive Camry hybrid sales? Ultimately, that will probably depend on pricing, but current owners offer a huge, potential customer base.

Additionally, many potential hybrid buyers have complained that the Prius is just too small, otherwise they would have purchased the vehicle. Many of these potential customers have expressed strong interest in the Camry hybrid. Will this segment outnumber current Camry owners seeking an upgrade?

It's also possible that those putting down-payments on the first hybrid Camrys are simply hoping to lock in tax credits. As I blogged yesterday, Toyota hybrid tax credits will expire before the end of the year, so placing a down payment as quickly as possible isn't a bad idea.

One can be sure; however, that the entire auto industry will be nervously watching the launch of the Camry hybrid. If the hybrid Camry is as popular as the Prius hybrid, the hybrid revolution will reach critical mass much sooner than anyone is expecting. If this happens, competitors beware, for only Honda is positioned to face this challenge.

Even Toyota might not be ready for such acceptance, so I wouldn't be surprised if Toyota prices the Camry hybrid fairly high simply so that it can adequately supply demand - at least in the short term. Until the hybrid supply chain is a little more robust, Toyota just might not have much choice, although I'd love be wrong.

Interested in a hybrid vehicle? Now might be the best time

So, you're thinking about buying a hybrid vehicle, but you just aren't ready? Well, now might be your best opportunity.

In the last several weeks gas prices have dropped, yet last week's suicide attack on a Saudi oil refinery could have pushed the price of gasoline up far more than Katrina. Almost certainly, we are in the calm before the oil price storm and gas prices will eventually spike this year. When that happens, as it did after Katrina, interest in hybrid cars will also spike.

Even without a spike, tax credits for Toyota hybrids will expire before the end of the year. So, if you are interested in a Prius or Highlander hybrid you should act now, if the credit is important. Interest in the Prius is always high, but if gas prices skyrocket again, finding a Prius could prove almost impossible.

While tax credits for the Honda Civic hybrid or the Ford Escape hybrid, for example, will probably last through the year, finding one of these vehicles might also prove nearly impossible following another surge in energy prices.

So, if you want to buy a hybrid this year, now could be the best time. Of course, if you are waiting for the Camry hybrid, there isn't much you can do until at least May.

Update on Toyota Prius hybrid patent lawsuit

I watched a special on CNBC's Squawk Box regarding the patent lawsuit that has been filed against Toyota and its hybrid vehicles. There is a bit more to this lawsuit than I originally thought. Nonetheless, Toyota is and has been well aware of this patent and contends that they are not violating the patent. Still, even if Toyota loses this suit, it shouldn't mean the end of the Toyota Prius and the Highlander hybrid in America. If Solomon Technologies wins this patent dispute, they are seeking damages, not sales prevention. Still, I can't help but wonder why wasn't Ford, which uses technology similar to Toyota, also named?

Stop selling the Toyota Prius and Toyota Highlander hybrids?

Solomon Technologies, Inc. has filed a lawsuit against Toyota for patent infringement that seeks to stop Toyota from selling the Toyota Prius hybrid and the Toyota Highlander hybrid in the United States.

Thus far, for legal reasons, Toyota is not commenting on the case.

Still, it is kind of interesting that Solomon Technologies, Inc. didn't file a lawsuit against Toyota until September of 2005. They didn't realize their patent was being illegally used until then? Moreover, the Solomon site claims that its technology is used not only in Toyota hybrids, but also in the Ford Escape hybrid and the Honda Accord hybrid.

Is Honda or Ford paying Solomon?

Since Ford and Toyota negotiated on hybrid patents, it seems odd that Solomon's 'proprietary' patent could have been missed if Solomon and Ford have a relationship. If they don't have a relationship, why does the lawsuit only name Toyota?

On the face of it, this case seems derived to drive publicity to Solomon, but that is only my gut feeling. When I researched this company's stock and some other corporate information, I noticed that all questions were referred to the President of the company, which made me wonder if there are any other corporate officers in this company.

If an investor thought that Solomon had a case and that Solomon would eventually obtain a bucket of cash from Toyota, maybe a small stock purchase would be worthwhile? Is that Solomon's game? Again, I am just speculating.

Of course, on the contrary, Solomon could have a case, and what would happen to hybrid cars if Solomon wins?

3 Hybrid Vehicles are Best Values

According to Intellichoice.com three hybrid cars are "Best Overall Values".

The Toyota Prius, Toyota Highlander hybrid, and Ford Escape hybrid each won 2006 "Best Overall Value of the Year" awards.

Interestingly, contrary to hybrid critic opinion, hybrids were cited for low maintenance costs and high resale value. "These cars are proving to be a great economic bonus and not just in terms of fuel efficiency, "said IntelliChoice publisher James Bell.

"Hybrids, small cars, jazzy designs": Will it work for Ford?

It's hard to make out out Ford's "way forward" plan.

"To stand out in a world awash in car manufacturers, Ford's brands and products have to be clear, relevant and distinct," said Ford Americas President Mark Fields.

According to the DetroitNews that means hybrids, crossovers and small cars, such as the Mercury Mariner hybrid, the Ford Edge and possibly the Reflex hybrid, an insanely hot concept car.

Ford's plan of 250,000 hybrid vehicles by 2010 is a nice step that could position Ford towards success well into the future. Additionally, Ford will enjoy some good P.R. with this move.

Still, let's face it, when it comes to hybrids, it's all about the Toyota Prius. Only the Camry hybrid seems like it could de-throne the Prius, but I wouldn't bet on it.

The Prius dominates because it is a model that is "clear, relevant and distinct."

Only the Honda Insight is as "clear, relevant and distinct", but it is simply too small. A two-seater will forever be a niche vehicle, regardless of whether it is a hybrid or not.

While I like the Ford Escape hybrid, or the Toyota Highlander hybrid, the price difference between a conventional vehicle and its hybrid twin is just too glaring. While I believe these hybrids are worth the price difference, especially in the long run, this math simply will not sell for the average buyer.

To what; however, do you compare the Reflex diesel hybrid?

In the short term, the move to a 'hybrid option' is a bad move for most automakers if they don't have at least one unique hybrid. If you want to be a future leader you can't keep one foot in the past and one foot in the future - it's all or nothing.

If Ford hybrid technology works in the Ford Escape hybrid, then it will work in a "clear, relevant, and distinct" hybrid vehicle as well. If Ford is too afraid to take its own advice regarding future models, then it's already over for Ford.

A Ford hybrid model that could move 100,000 units would be far more important than a hybrid option on 10 different models that will only move 20,000 units per vehicle. A combination of the two could immediately turn things around for Ford via P.R. alone.

It doesn't have to be the Reflex hybrid, but it should be just as "clear, relevant and distinct". If Ford simply follows its own advice it will move forward.

A performance versus fuel efficiency 'switch' on Toyota hybrids

Hybrid fuel efficiency versus performance

A couple of days ago, as Phil Lebeau was doing a segment at the North American International Auto Show for CNBC, the fuel efficiency of hybrids came up. Mr. Lebeau noted that Toyota was investigating a 'switch' for its hybrid vehicles that would enable the driver to choose to be more fuel efficient, or to have more performance.

Currently, the Toyota Prius hybrid, the Highlander hybrid, and the Lexus RX400h hybrid have the ability to be more fuel efficient, but drivers would have to give up some horsepower for this better fuel efficiency.

In Toyota hybrids, the balance between horsepower versus fuel efficiency is largely controlled by software. Nonetheless, Mr. Lebeau noted that such a development might be pretty expensive. Today, Car and Driver mentioned this possibility, but added no further details.

Hybrids, the Cobra, the Camero and the Detroit Auto Show

I've been watching CNBC's coverage of the Detroit Auto Show all day long, and I've been struck by one thing: the past versus the future.

Today, Toyota's buzz has revolved around one thing, the future and hybrid cars. This morning the Lexus LS460 hybrid was unveiled, but the real hype, the real excitement is around the launch of the new Toyota Camry hybrid. Now, not to be too biased, the launch of the new conventional Camry is also big news, but the hype around the future for Toyota is still hybrids.

On the other hand, much of the buzz for Ford and GM seems to revolve around the past, particularly around the Cobra and Camero muscle cars.

Now I know that Ford has the Escape hybrid and the Mariner hybrid, and GM will soon be launching its own hybrids, but the Detroit Show again demonstrates just how far ahead Toyota is pulling into the future.

And, regarding GM hybrids, some are even questioning 'how hybrid' GM hybrids are really going to be. "What GM is talking about in my book are not hybrids," said David Healy, an auto analyst with Burnham Securities. "These are trucks with humongous starter motors." (more)

What also struck me, unfortunately, was how much horsepower drives America, which clarifies why not only Ford and GM are hyping the Cobra and Camero, but why Toyota is hyping the Lexus LS460 hybrid.

Horsepower is even driving Toyota hybrids.

Phil Lebeau of CNBC noted how hybrids have become focused on horsepower as much as fuel efficiency. Therefore, the Toyota Highlander hybrid gives you V6 performance with V4 fuel efficiency, but the focus is not purely on fuel efficiency. In fact Mr. Lebeau noted that new hybrid batteries, combined with new micro-processors and software, offer hybrid vehicles the ability to be even more fuel efficient, but that efficiency would come at the expense of horsepower.

So, fuel efficiency isn't even the pure driver of hybrids, yet. If gas prices spike in the coming years, that might change; however, if a breakthrough in hybrid batteries occurs, it might not even matter. Such a breakthrough would afford hybrids the ability to offer significant horsepower coupled with unbelievable fuel efficiency.

While gasoline electric hybrids might not dominate the future before fuel cell electric hybrid vehicles, I wouldn't bet against them if I were an automaker. Since computer technology has essentially become the driver of hybrid success, betting against hybrids is like betting that computers don't have any room for improvement.

Hybrid car testimonials: Read others and add your own

Do you own a hybrid vehicle?

Have you added your experiences to our hybrid cars testimonials? What kind of gas mileage are you achieving with your hybrid? What else would you tell others that are interested in buying a hybrid?

Click on one of the links below to add your hybrid experiences.

Ford Escape Hybrid Testimonials
Honda Accord Hybrid Testimonials
Honda Civic Hybrid Testimonials
Honda Insight Hybrid Testimonials
Lexus RX 400h Hybrid Testimonials
Toyota Prius Testimonials
Toyota Highlander Hybrid Testimonials

The Toyota Prius New Year's Rush; Deduction Bias?

Are you planning to buy a new Toyota Prius hybrid car in 2006?

If you have been waiting for the New Year because the hybrid tax deduction for the Prius is bigger than in 2005, then you are not alone. There have been numerous reports of Prius buyers telling dealers to wait until 2006.

So, will this make it hard to buy a Prius in 2006?

Sometimes the beginning of the year can be a slow time for car sales, and this might have an effect on hybrid cars as well. Nonetheless, demand for the Prius has been, and continues to be, far greater than supply. Since the tax deduction for the Prius is both bigger in 2006 and capped, some Prius buyers will not qualify for the hybrid car tax deduction.

All this makes me wonder whether some hybrid vehicle buyers will look at other hybrids such as the Civic hybrid or the Accord hybrid, instead of the Prius, after the Prius deductions meet their cap.

Additionally, since hybrid deductions are capped by manufacturer, the Toyota Highlander hybrid will also be affected by Prius demand. Consequently, the Ford Escape hybrid or the Mariner hybrid could become a better deal simply because they will continue to qualify for the tax deduction longer than the Highlander hybrid.

If you are in the market for a Toyota Prius and the new deduction is a primary concern, you better buy your new hybrid as soon as possible to ensure that you will qualify for the deduction. Unfortunately, many hybrid buyers will already have this in mind, which could make finding a Prius more difficult than ever.

If the hybrid tax deduction won't have a big effect on your return, it might not be a bad idea to shop for a hybrid in these last few days of the year.

It's kind of ironic that Toyota's hybrid success could be to Honda and Ford's gain. The caps for hybrid vehicles are both far too few and too biased. If the government wants to get hybrids on the road as quickly as possible, then the free market approach to caps would have been to cap the total number of hybrids eligible per year, not to cap them by manufacturer.

Now Toyota hybrids will probably meet their cap before GM even starts selling real hybrids. That's a shame.

Are you waiting until January to buy a new Prius?

Are you going to buy a Toyota Prius, but you want to wait until January 1st so that you can get a higher tax credit?

According to a USA Today article, many hybrid buyers are doing the same.

Because the new tax credits for hybrid cars begin next year, many hybrid buyers are waiting because the tax credit is larger next year than this year. For example, the credit for a Prius now stands around $2000.00; however, next year that credit for the Prius could rise to $3150.00

This buying pattern has not been noticed in other hybrid vehicles, such as the Honda Civic hybrid, or even Toyota's Highlander hybrid.

Unforunately, the tax credit for hybrids like this vehicle are capped, so the new credit won't be around all of 2006 for the Prius.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid Testimonials

Hi,

We have a 2006 Toyota Highlander 2 Wheel Drive. We live at 3,500 foot elevation on the slopes of Haleakala, on Maui. Anytime we go anywhere, we almost always have to drive down to sea level and back. By far, most of our driving is highway driving and we are averaging just over 24 mpg.

I'm curious what others are getting in this vehicle.

Aloha,
Bill

Are you the owner of a Toyota Highlander hybrid? Tell us about your experiences with the Highlander hybrid. What kind of gas mileage do you get in your hybrid Highlander and in what kind of driving?

Add your Toyota Highlander hybrid testimonial.

More on the Highlander hybrid.

Is December the best month to buy a hybrid vehicle?

According to a MSNBC article, December is the best month to buy a car.

"Several factors make December an advantageous time get a great deal on a car, he said, including the fact that most dealerships and salespeople have end-of-month and end-of-year goals and quotas to meet. And an “inventory tax” on all unsold vehicles remaining on dealer lots Jan. 1 provides an added incentive to move vehicles," notes the article.

Because of the demand for hybrid cars, it might be assumed that such deals wouldn't exist for hybrid vehicles such as the Toyota Highlander hybrid, or the Ford Escape hybrid. The analysts cited in the article; however, note that "a slow December means dealers will offer good prices on some of their hottest models, including hybrids, so shoppers could bag a popular car like the Toyota Prius at close to its manufacturer’s suggested retail price."

So if you have been thinking about buying a hybrid, it might be worth checking out your local dealer in December to see if you can't find a deal.

Hybrid car tax estimates for the 2006 Clean Vehicle Tax Credit

While the tax credits for hybrid cars have not been officially calculated by the IRS, ACEE has estimated what those credits should be by vehicle.

Ford Escape Hybrid = 2wd=$2600.00; 4wd=$1950.00
Honda Accord Hybrid = $650.00
Honda Civic Hybrid = Auto=$2100.00; Man=$1700.00
Honda Insight Hybrid = Auto=$1450.00
Lexus RX400h Hybrid = $2,200.00
Mercury Mariner Hybrid = $1950.00
Toyota Highlander Hybrid = 2wd=$2,600.00; 4wd=$2,200.00
Toyota Prius Hybrid = $3150.00

Sick of narrow-minded hybrid car critics

I was reading some AutoWeek forum entries this morning about hybrid cars when I realized that most hybrid critics are not only narrow-minded, but they have a complete lack of vision.

How does the quote go, "There is only one constant in the universe, change." I guess the Buddhists call it impermanence, or the idea that in 100 years, everyone that exists today will be gone, yet the world will go on, it will just be different because change is constant.

If hybrid critics were leading the world for the last 100 years, the world would still be riding horse and buggy. Fortunately, change is inevitable.

But back to the point. The two main criticisms of hybrids are 1.) They aren't as fuel efficient as the EPA rates them, and 2.) They don't save money.

It is true that hybrid vehicles aren't as efficient as the EPA rates them. All vehicles aren't as efficient as the EPA rates them. So what's the point?

Additionally, individual driving habits have a HUGE affect on fuel efficiency - in both hybrids and conventional vehicles. Even a standard Toyota Highlander can achieve better than average fuel efficiency by adjusting driving habits. Nonetheless, the Highlander hybrid or Escape hybrid can achieve much larger increases in fuel efficiency by adjusting driving habits compared to their conventional versions.

Shouldn't hybrids just be more fuel efficient?

Well, they are. For the average driver, hybrid technology will achieve better fuel efficiency than a standard vehicle, especially in city driving. And if you adjust your driving habits, you can significantly increase a hybrid's fuel efficiency performance.

Since most drivers of hybrids are concerned with saving fuel, hybrid technology offers an excellent tool for them to meet their goals.

Testers from AutoWeek, etc., aren't concerned with the fuel efficiency capabilities of hybrids, they are concerned with proving that hybrids don't achieve EPA predictions.

If you don't care about fuel efficiency, well, then a hybrid isn't for you. If you aren't going to use a tool correctly, then it probably is best not to use it. If you want to put a screw in the wall, a hammer can do the job, but it won't do it as well as a screwdriver because the screwdriver is a better tool for the job.

For those drivers seeking to achieve the greatest fuel efficiency, many hybrid vehicles are by far the best tools available, but you still have to use the tool correctly to achieve maximum performance.

Why is that so hard for critics to get? Not everyone has to stroke their ego by driving the biggest or the fastest vehicle.

Additionally, why are critics so concerned with hybrid performance anyway? If they are so concerned with fuel efficiency, why are they worried that a Prius might achieve 45 mpg, rather than 60 mpg? Shouldn't they be more concerned with why a Dodge Durango is only getting 10 mpg instead of 14 mpg? I mean, lets get real.

Regarding the costs of hybrid technology, critics have a point, but so what?

People pay more for the right gas-guzzle obscene amounts of foreign oil but somehow that's cost effective in the eyes of these critics - that's worth the extra money?

Yet, choosing to spend extra money to help reduce foreign oil dependency and to help save the environment isn't justified. Please!

Well, America better wake up. Global warming is real - whether it is caused by man or by nature - and the majority of the world is beginning to take this threat quite seriously. Well, except for America, and the world is becoming much angrier with America for this position. We can continue to pretend like the opinions of the rest of the world don't matter in our ever-more-interconnected world, but we'll do so at our peril, but I digress.

Ultimately, many hybrid owners can recover the costs of their vehicle with intelligent driving. And if not, how do you put a cost on clean air and a cleaner environment?

If you don't care about clean air and a healthy environment, then quite frankly, you are the problem, not the driver of a hybrid car. Any help is still help and changing direction always requires leaders.

Still, many hybrid vehicle drivers aren't just buying a hybrid to save money, or just to reduce foreign oil dependency, or just to clean the environment. Many are making an investment in the future.

While many hybrid vehicle drivers could drive any vehicle they want, they choose to buy a hybrid to help fund the development of new, cheaper generations of hybrids.

Already, experimental hybrid vehicles demonstrate that the potential of hybrid technology is barely being tapped. Plug-in Prius hybrids can easily achieve more than 80 mpg, the Enigma diesel hybrid achieves 80 mpg, yet can go from 0 to 60 in 4.3 seconds, and other experimental hybrids have achieved more than 100 - even 200 - miles per gallon.

Today's hybrid buyers are helping to make tomorrow's hybrid technology more fuel efficient, more powerful, and cheaper.

Perhaps another technology will come along and hybrid technology won't be needed. Or, perhaps it will be hybrid technology that finally makes fuel cell vehicles realistic. Rather than waiting and continuing to gas-guzzle, however, hybrid buyers are taking action because they believe a better tomorrow starts today.

Apparently, hybrid critics would rather just keep talking and hammering screws into the wall as they wait for tomorrow.

Leasing hybrid cars

I've received several e-mails regarding leasing hybrid cars, or more precisely, the inability to lease hybrids. Even when a lease is offered, the terms of the lease are simply ridiculous.

Yesterday, Scott e-mailed me and told me that he tried to lease a Mercury Mariner hybrid, after putting a downpayment on the next Mariner hybrid to arrive at his dealer. When it arrived, the dealer would only lease it at an extremely high rate.

When I've shopped for hybrids in the Los Angeles area, my dealers wouldn't offer a lease on either the Toyota Highlander hybrid or the Toyota Prius if they had any available on the lot. I've also encountered hints that greasing the hands of the salesperson could get me into a Prius quicker.

I'll be test driving the new Civic hybrid soon and will check into a lease on that vehicle.

Have you had a similar experience?

AutoWeek and Hybrids: Makes me wanna laugh

I know that AutoWeek is a horsepower magazine and that many of their fans are the American-made, period, type of crowd. Still, sometimes the magazine is just plain silly.

I've noted in the past that any time a hybrid graces the cover of their website, it also includes some sort of negative caveat. Currently, things are slightly different this time on the home page of their website which includes a story about the Honda Accord hybrid.

"At $1.50 a gallon for gas, few Americans seemed to care about fuel economy, but how quickly apathy turns into concern when prices reach $3 per gallon. Suddenly, the word "hybrid" is on every lip. So the funny thing is, actual owners of hybrids - those who responded to our AutoFile survey on the Honda Accord Hybrid - seem to defy any real monetary motivation in their purchase decisions."

No, actually it isn't that funny. The funny thing is the way that AutoWeek plays dumb.

There are different kinds of hybrids vehicles. For example, Toyota hybrids, such as the Prius and Highlander hybrid, and Ford's hybrids, such as the Escape hybrid, are quite different than either Honda or Lexus hybrids.

Honda's hybrid technology increases fuel efficiency on the highway, where as Ford and Toyota achieve their best performance in the city. Ford and Toyota hybrids have the ability to function on just electric power during congestion and stop-and-go traffic, the same conditions that make conventional vehicles - even Honda hybrids - perform their worse. This is set to change with the upcoming second generation Civic hybrid, which will act more like Toyota and Ford hybrids. Still, there is a vast difference between Toyota and Honda hybrids.

The Accord hybrid, like the Lexus RX400h hybrid, is a performance hybrid. Sure the Lexus hybrid still offers excellent fuel efficiency in congestion compared to the conventional version, but it was not built for fuel efficiency, it was built for performance.

Both the RX400h hybrid and the Accord hybrid are about a second faster from 0 to 60 than their conventional counterparts, yet they achieve this performance while also achieving better fuel efficiency than their conventional counterparts. Of course, the RX400h excels at urban driving, while the Accord hybrid excels at highway driving. Nonetheless, you don't buy either one of these vehicles because you are on a budget trying to save money on gas.

Thus, contrary to AutoWeek, classifying the owners of the Accord hybrid with owners of the Prius hybrid, for example, is just plain silly. They are not hybrid owners from the same tree. So, why does AutoWeek do it? Is it because Forum members of AutoWeek are offended that some hybrid owners question their gas guzzling, so this article makes hybrid owners seem confused and silly?

I don't have the answer, but I know that AutoWeek knows fully well that comparing the Accord hybrid to the Prius hybrid is about as effective as comparing apples to oranges - they are fundamentally different. So, I can only guess that this appeals to their core audience - the hybrids just don't really makes sense audience.

Ultimately, there are different kinds of hybrids and consumers buy for them for many different reasons. Perhaps, one common thread of hybrid buyers is that hybrid consumers believe that buying hybrids sends a message to the auto industry that fuel efficiency is important, especially in light of the problems that foreign oil dependency so obviously has caused and continues to cause to America.

Let's be real, even Bill Ford believes that foreign oil dependency is important for America.

Hybrid vehicles, such as the Engima, and other experimental hybrids demonstrate that hybrid technology can lead to unbelievable gains in fuel efficiency and performance - something to which AutoWeek should be able to relate.

Until then, sometimes when I read AutoWeek, I guess all I can do is laugh.

My Toyota Highlander hybrid test review

A couple of weeks ago, on one of my routine hybrid vehicle shopping trips, I noted how hard it was to find not only the Toyota Prius hybrid, but the Highlander hybrid as well. Thus, I put my name on a second list to be contacted when a Highlander hybrid arrived, as the first list hadn't provided any results. Yesterday morning I was finally contacted.

Now I'm not much of an SUV fan because I just don't see them as very efficient, but my wife is more open-minded. While a Prius serves the needs of our family of four just fine, my wife is interested in something that can seat a few cousins to join us on our weekend excursions. Since I will only buy hybrid vehicles, the Highlander hybrid seemed like a good choice. Besides I needed to review the Highlander hybrid for the Soultek Hybrid Car Club.

Well, the Highlander hybrid not only exceeded my expectations, but my needs as well.

Since the hybrid Highlander is a hot seller, dealers just take whatever they are given, but I am only interested in the base model, which runs around $34,000. The only available model at my dealer; however, was a fully loaded Hybrid Highlander, minus the navigation system. Thus, I was looking at a sticker price of $41,000 and some change.

This loaded 4WD hybrid SUV was beautiful inside and out, but $30,000 is more than I want to pay for any vehicle, and over $40,000, that's just not going to happen. Still, if you are looking for a loaded hybrid, or a luxury hybrid, don't limit yourself to just the Lexus RX400h, a loaded Highlander hybrid is a worthy competitor.

Like the Ford Escape hybrid and unlike the Prius hybrid, starting and shifting the Highlander hybrid is pretty much the same as a conventional vehicle, except for the beautiful silence.

Anyway, I only took the Highlander out for a short 3 mile test drive that included a stretch of freeway and this hybrid zoomed along and was much quieter than I anticipated - some have complained about the loudness of the hybrid drive. Perhaps I'm not as critical, but I had no such complaints and I thought the vehicle performed very well.

This Highlander came with a towing package, which made me wonder about its performance when towing. Rumor has it that the Highlander will loose both power and fuel efficiency when towing long distances.

Ultimately, if you are looking for a hybrid SUV, the Highlander hybrid is an absolutely fantastic vehicle, but it might cause a little sticker shock. Additionally,the Highlander hybrid offers 3rd row seating, unlike the Escape hybrid, which puts the Highlander hybrid in a class of its own.

As for me; however, the cousins are going to have to find their own ride - at least for now.

Ford, Brazil & Europe: A few of today's hybrid tidbits

She speaks! Finally, Mrs. Nancy Gioia, the new head of Ford's hybrid cars program speaks.

"Hybrids are no longer a side project," she said. "I say, make it prime time." Beyond her enthusiasm, Mrs. Gioia didn't offer much new information in this DetroitNews article regarding Ford's hybrids. However, Mrs. Gioia did mention that she would like to make hybrids stand out more. "I'd like it to visually look a little different so that you know you're looking at a hybrid," she said.

I say forget about making it look different. If you want a different looking hybrid, design a unique hybrid, such as the Toyota Prius. The average buyer - the future of hybrid success - cares about value more than looking different.

Speaking of the Prius, Toyota will offer a slightly different Prius for Japan and Europe - where Toyota is expecting sell 15,000 units this year, according to Motortrend. While some have questioned the success of hybrids in Europe, European Prius sales aren't far off that of U.S. Ford Escape hybrid sales - not too bad.

As a final hybrid tidbit, PSA Peugeot Citroën is going to develop a diesel hybrid prototype that will be unveiled in 2006 (more).

On a side note, I am scheduled to take a Toyota Highlander hybrid test drive this afternoon, which I'll be writing about tomorrow.

Third generation Toyota Prius in 2008?

Editor's Note - This article was written in 2005, click here for updates on the Third Generation Toyota Prius.

The king of hybrid cars, the Toyota Prius, will offer a third generation hybrid drive for the 2008 model according to reports from Japan. Additionally, the new drive will also be included in the rest of Toyota's hybrids as well, such as the Highlander hybrid, Lexus RX400h, and the soon-to-be-released Camry hybrid.

According to one report, the new hybrid drive will offer new batteries that will be lighter than the current generation and will offer greater performance. The second generation Prius provided a significant increase in performance compared to the first generation, increasing battery power by 1.5 times. Thus far it has been stated that the new drive, "will cut prices for eco-friendly vehicles, reduce fuel costs and slash production expenses, company sources said."

Many analysts have noted that soon hybrid batteries will move from NiMH batteries to lithium-ion, but it has not been reported if this change will occur in time for the third generation Toyota hybrid drive.

Nonetheless, this could put Toyota far above the hybrid pack. By the time GM's hybrid program kicks into gear, Toyota will increase the fuel efficiency of their hybrids, while also offering better performance, and cheaper prices. Preliminary reports note that Toyota hybrid costs could be halved by this development.

At that pace, the fourth generation hybrid could possibly achieve prices in the same range as conventional vehicles, but offering significant gains in fuel efficiency. Imagine being able to buy either buy a 30 mpg conventional vehicle or a 60 mpg hybrid version for the same price.

Which would you buy?

GM dealers in mad hybrid push with Sierra / Silverado

According to AutoWeek GM dealers are trying hard to push the green factor of the Sierra / Silverado hybrid truck. While GM has been one of the industry's staunchest hybrid critics, its dealers are trying hard to utilize the frenzied interest in hybrid cars. And who can blame them when they are in the midst of a horrific sales slump?

Unfortunately, the Silverado hybrid barely qualifies as a hybrid. In fact, 'mild' hybrid is almost too strong of a word for this vehicle.

I would almost argue that the first generation Honda Civic hybrid and the Honda Accord hybrid are 'mild' hybrids because these Honda hybrids cannot function on primarily electric power, as do Ford and Toyota hybrids in certain driving conditions (fortunately, the 2006 Civic hybrid will offer more hybrid performance). This ability makes the Toyota Highlander hybrid and the Ford Escape hybrid extremely efficient in city driving.

The Silverado hybrid, on the other hand, lags far behind Honda hybrid performance.

As AutoWeek notes, "The trucks' big selling point is not the hybrid powertrain, but their capability as mobile power generators."

Ultimately, the GM Silverado hybrid is a baby hybrid and isn't scheduled to join the hybrid big leagues until 2008. That's too bad, because a full hybrid truck would sure be a great product right now.

Ford hybrid taxis; GM's Chinese hybrids: Hype or the winds of change?

Yesterday, Ford CEO Bill Ford introduced a mini-fleet of hybrid taxis that will serve New York City. Considering that the fleet will only consist of 6 Escape hybrids, it is a bit interesting that Mr. Ford chose to make the presentation.

Or is it?

With Ford's hybrid head resigning just weeks ago, there was much speculation about the future of Ford hybrids, but now Mr. Ford appears to be taking the lead on hybrids. While fuel cells might be the distant future, hybrid cars represent the near future and they are proof that the auto industry CAN and MUST change.

Isn't it ironic that on the same day that New York announced that it will begin forcing automakers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, joining California, Mr. Ford was in New York promoting his company's hybrids?

Still, the drive to hybrid technology isn't just being driven by treehuggers from both coasts.

GM is now banging the hybrid drum in China, joining at least 3 other automakers that will soon begin developing and producing hybrid vehicles in that country.

Many auto analysts have long speculated that China will be the key market for major automakers as we head into the future. And according to a recent AutoWeek article, "The Chinese government is keen to develop more fuel-efficient engines to curb its growing appetite for imported oil and reduce pollution. An automotive policy released last year suggests preferential treatment for developers of fuel-efficient technologies."

Hmmm, does "preferential treatment" have anything to do with GM's new hybrid focus?

Global forces, including global warming, terrorism, hurricanes, global petroleum demand, and consumer interests are requiring - even DEMANDING - that automakers change. The hybrid battleground is no longer just about hype, it's about business survival. With China entering the fray, the prospect of much cheaper hybrid parts becomes not just a possibility, but an obvious reality.

Ultimately, a technological revolution is hitting the world's auto industry and it isn't being driven only by speed and horsepower, but also by fuel efficiency and environmental impact. Experimental hybrids demonstrate that hybrid technology has significantly more potential than is currently being exhibited in the Prius, the Highlander hybrid, or the Civic hybrid. Huge, monumental gains are yet to be made in this emerging automotive technology.

While fuel cell vehicles might be the inevitable future, that future might not be a reality for decades. Hybrids demonstrate significant, dramatic change can be accomplished now, without fuel cells, without hydrogen. Nonetheless, today's hybrids could quite easily become tomorrow's fuel cell hybrids, as both Ford and Toyota are currently displaying (more).

The hybrids ARE coming, and they are going to come in a big way during the next decade. In 5 years, J.D. Power's prediction of hybrids achieving just 5% of the market will seem like the silliest analysis ever made by an automotive expert.

Hybrid hype is over and the winds of change are blowing. The real battle is just beginning.

Ford answers hybrid concerns

Just a couple of weeks ago, Ford's head of hybrid vehicles program resigned (more). Amidst the financial restructuring that Ford is exploring, many wondered whether the axe was coming down on Ford's hybrids, thus resulting in this resignation.

Today, Ford, which makes the Ford Escape hybrid and the Mercury Mariner hybrid, announced that its hybrid plans had not changed and that Ford was moving forward with its plan to make 250,000 hybrids by 2010.

Still, it isn't hard to speculate as to whether Ford is really serious about hybrids. By 2010, there is a very good chance that Toyota will sell as many, or even more, than a million hybrids.

Currently, Toyota is selling 3 hybrids, the Toyota Prius, the Highlander Hybrid, and the Lexus RX400h. Soon, Toyota will add the Camry hybrid and a Lexus GS model won't be far behind. Additionally, work on the Toyota Tundra hybrid has already begun and who knows what else Toyota has up its sleeve, such as a hybrid minivan.

In terms of production capability, Toyota could climb several years ahead of Ford by 2010. Then, Ford won't be just competing with Toyota and Honda, but GM, Nissan, Volkswagen, Hyundai, and more.

Ford's hybrid plan will enable them to compete in the hybrid market in 2010, but their current plan won't let them keep the leadership role they currently maintain into 2010.

Hybrid vehicle shopping, again

Every couple months I go out and do some hybrid vehicle shopping to check out demand, availability on the lot, and to take an extra test drive or two. Thus, I hit the dealers in my neighborhood over the weekend for the first time since early August, and the results were not good.

My first stop is always Toyota, home of the Toyota Prius. While I did go there to check out the lot's selection of available new and used Prii, I was more interested in scheduling a time to test drive the Highlander hybrid.

Back in August, the selection of Prii was fantastic on this lot. There were 5 new Prii hybrids found in various packages and colors and there were even 2 used Prii, but there were not any Highlander hybrids. So, I added my name to the waiting list.

This time around; however, there weren't any hybrids on the lot and my saleswoman told me that every hybrid they receive immediately sells. This didn't really surprise me as I know that high gas prices have really driven hybrid demand since I last visited this dealer. Nonetheless, I wanted to know what it would take to get into a Highlander hybrid.

"In two to four weeks," my saleswoman told me, "2 new Highlander hybrids are scheduled to arrive, but we d0n't know the color, options, etc."

So I asked if there was a waiting list and I was told there was not - it was first come first serve.

Now I have several phone numbers and I use different names and numbers so that when I visit the same dealer on multiple occasions, their contact management system finds me as a new customer, rather than a repeat prospect that isn't buying.

So, if there isn't a waiting list, what had I signed two months ago? My guess is that there is no 'official' waiting list at many dealerships, and that different salespeople have their own lists and make calls as hybrids become available.

The last two Highlander hybrids, I was told, were delivered the morning of the previous Saturday and were gone by lunch. Thus, it probably doesn't take too many phone calls - if they are even calling. Maybe there is enough foot traffic that they don't even have to make calls, saving those numbers for when demand cools. Now, it's a salesman's free-for-all when a hybrid hits the lot.

Somewhat disappointed, I left my contact info and headed to Honda to check out the new Civic hybrid. Yet again, however, I was disappointed. I was told there wouldn't be any new Civic hybrids until December - the first two had been pre-sold. The only hybrids on the lot were the Accord hybrids - a vehicle I've already test-driven more than once (So no deals to be had on the first generation Civic hybrid - yet).

At this point, I was ready to call it day, but as two Ford dealers still stood between me and my home, I thought I'd give it a shot. While each did have at least one Escape hybrid on the lot, only fully loaded versions of the hybrid Escape were available, and I asked whether base models are ever available. Sometimes, I was told, but I find that hard to believe, since I haven't seen one in all my visits.

My day still could have been salvaged had I had the opportunity to compare and contrast the Mercury Mariner hybrid to the Escape hybrid, but I'm sure you already know that didn't happen.

If you are in the market for a hybrid, I'd suggest calling before visiting any dealers, especially if you are seeking a particular color, or option's package, as such requests will probably take months to fulfill. If you are looking for a deal on a hybrid....you might want to check back in a year or two.

When it comes to shopping for hybrid cars, unless money is no object, expect to be disappointed. Car-salespeople typically aren't the best salespeople to deal with any way, but when demand overwhelms supply, your salesperson is in complete control.

Lithium-ion battery maker making major hybrid vehicle breakthrough?

I received an e-mail from A123Systems regarding their new line of Lithium-ion batteries. According to the e-mail, the new batteries will offer as much as 5 times the power, 10 times the life, and significant improvements in safety compared to current lithium-ion batteries. Additionally, A123Systems is currently working with the government to provide batteries for the government's hybrid vehicles program.

Currently, hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius, Toyota Highlander hybrid, and the Ford Escape hybrid use NiMH batteries to power their electric motors. Recently, I wrote that in a few years all hybrids will use Lithium-ion batteries, rather than NiMH batteries. The kinds of innovations that A123Systems and other battery developers make will have a profound effect on the performance of hybrid cars and they demonstrate the barely tapped, emerging potential of hybrid technology.

Why did you, or why would you, buy a hybrid vehicle?

Did you buy a hybrid? Are you thinking about buying a hybrid? Why?

Did you buy a hybrid solely to save money on gasoline? In reality, the only hybrid that might save you money is the Toyota Prius, but only if you live in a city.

Did you buy a hybrid for carpool lane privileges, or perhaps your city offers free parking?

Maybe you bought a Ford Escape hybrid or a Toyota Highlander hybrid because you want an SUV, but you want the industry to focus on fuel efficient technologies.

There are many reasons to buy hybrid cars, and for many buying hybrids is about far more than gasoline costs or a fight against global warming, it is a revolution against the status quo.

What does buying a hybrid vehicle mean to you?

Hybrid technology poised for major evolution?

AutoWeek has posted a couple of intriguing articles regarding the future of the technology behind hybrid cars. First, Drive-by-wire braking technology could find a home on hybrid vehicles points to the possibility that one of the hybrid powertrain's key functions, regenerative braking, could possibly be significantly improved with drive-by-wire braking. Steve Brown, director of North America programs for SKF Automotive Division stated that such a "brake system would offer better regeneration of the vehicle's battery than a conventional hydraulic system because it is electronic."

Second, and even more significant, Japan's largest battery maker says lithium-ion will be hybrid battery standard of the future notes that one of the most critical hybrid components is about to be replaced. Currently, hybrid vehicles, such as the Toyota Prius or the Ford Escape hybrid, utilize NiMH, or Nickel-Metal Hydride, batteries to help power and store energy for their electric motors.

In the future; however, Lithium-ion batteries will be the standard and once those batteries become standardized the potential for significant gains in the fuel economy of hybrids will truly emerge. Each new generation of battery technology will become lighter, yet capacity will increase. This would enable a Toyota Highlander hybrid, for example, to make the daily commute of many city drivers utilizing mostly electric power.

Combined with more efficient regenerative braking, such as could be offered by drive-by-wire braking, the potential of what hybrid technology could achieve truly begins to emerge.

While today's hybrid vehicles can be very fuel efficient, critics counter that clean diesel can be just as efficient. While that might be true on the highway, it isn't true in the city, where a hybrid can simply shut off its gasoline engine and run on electric power only. Diesel vehicles must continue to burn fuel.

Still, as clean diesels become more popular, especially in Europe, the costs of that technology will become cheaper and that technology could then be utilized to make clean diesel hybrid vehicles. Such vehicles, combined with better and better hybrid batteries and other innovations, such as drive-by-wire breaking, demonstrate that amazingly efficient automobiles are within grasp as long as consumers demand them.

Imagine a flex-fuel-clean-diesel-plug-in hybrid vehicle. A highly fuel efficient vehicle that could use diesel, biodiesel, or even solar power as its fuel. A vehicle that could achieve 100 mpg, or even more, at a tiny fraction of the cost of fuel cells. A vehicle that could be a reality with just today's technology, while offering even better performance with tomorrow's technology.

Updated

I was sent an e-mail from A123Systems, a lithium battery maker that is also working with the government on hybrid vehicles. According to their representative, they have developed a lithium-ion battery that will offer 5 times the power of current batteries and 10 times the the life. Obviously, such increases could DRASTICALLY improve the performance of hybrids.

Exxon oil profits, Saudi oil supply questions: More reasons for hybrids

Hybrid cars are not the answer to today's oil problems. Sure, everyone could drive a Toyota Prius and America could end foreign oil dependency, but one vehicle isn't going to save America from foreign oil. Even if everyone wanted to drive a Prius it would still take years before that many hybrids could even be produced.

Thus, critics dismiss hybrids as hype, noting that today's hybrid technology costs do not justify the savings in fuel economy. As if investment never leads to cheaper costs and better technology - I mean look at computers, what a wasted investment!

Instead, America would rather rely on big energy, such as Exxon Mobil. That's right, the same Exxon Mobil that "said Thursday high oil and natural-gas prices helped its third-quarter profit surge almost 75 percent to $9.92 billion" according to the AP. The same Exxon Mobil that is going to be given tax payer money to help alleviate the oil shortage in America.

Now, that's a plan!

And we're going to need more oil, a lot more oil, not only in the U.S., but worldwide. Unfortunately, that oil might not exist. According to an extremely interesting NYTIMES article, Doubts Raised on Saudi Vow for More Oil, Saudi Arabia might have far less oil than they have been proclaiming to the world, and a serious oil crunch could be just around the corner.

Don't worry, I'm sure Exxon will use some of its profits and tax payer incentives to help out the average American!

If oil supplies do stagnate, where is the oil going to come from to run all the diesels that are going to save America according to the Detroit News? Nothing like putting all your eggs in one basket.

Why not invest in technology?

Experimental hybrid vehicles have already been built that can achieve more than 100 mpg, some even achieve as much as 250 mpg, and others have claimed that a flex-fuel plug-in hybrid could achieve as much as 500 mpg. Additionally, flex fuel plug-in hybrids could utilize gasoline, diesel, biodiesel, electricity or even hydrogen. Is that too many options?

What the hell are we waiting for? Why does America continue to provide tax dollars to the oil industry? Why do we allow automakers, including Toyota, to continue to sell gas-guzzlers? Why not subsidize the cost of a fleet of Ford Escape hybrids and Toyota Highlander hybrids that achieve at least 50 mpg? That technology exists right now, yet instead we give billions to oil companies?

Oil, not technology, is the solution to America's problems, at least if you ask Congress. I guess almost 10 billion in profits provides a lot of favors.

So yeah, 100 mpg hybrids are too expensive and hybrids are just hype, but spending billions and billions on oil companies, oil refineries, the hydrogen highway, and fuel cells is a bargain - at least for Exxon Mobil it is.

Are Toyota hybrid truck plans an opportunity for GM hybrids?

Sure GM offers a mild hybrid, but the Silverado hybrid truck barely offers any gains in fuel economy. Really, the best thing about the Chevy hybrid is the ability to plug some tools into the standard electric outlets it offers.

By 2007; however, GM should offer much better hybrid trucks - in terms of fuel efficiency. Of course, so to will the king of hybrid vehicles, Toyota.

Offering the best selling Prius, Toyota sells far more hybrids than any other automaker, but Toyota also sells two hybrid SUVs, the Highlander hybrid and the Lexus RX400h, but what about hybrid trucks?

Currently, Toyota is working on a feasibility study to determine if a Toyota Tundra hybrid can meet consumer demands. According to AutoWeek, because "many truck owners require their vehicles to tow or haul heavy loads over long distances. Hybrid battery power is nearly useless in that aspect. As a result, a pickup cannot scrimp on engine displacement without sacrificing towing performance. That hurts fuel economy, the main benefit of a hybrid."

Only time will tell if Toyota can overcome this issue. For many hybrid truck consumers, towing might be a non-issue, but this could be an area for GM to capitalize. GM's dual-mode hybrid will not rely as much on batteries as much as Toyota hybrids. Thus, GM trucks will not face these towing problems; however, GM trucks might not be as fuel efficient as Toyota trucks. Nonetheless, the hybrid truck segment could offer GM a real window of opportunity.

In addition to Toyota, Ford hybrids, such as the Escape hybrid, or the Mercury Mariner hybrid, also use a powertrain very similar to Toyota, which means that Ford will also face many of the same towing issues as Toyota with Ford hybrid trucks.

Trucks are a huge market in the U.S. and a top selling hybrid truck could be a real winner for GM. I expect the marketing hype to really begin to heat up around this market segment towards the end of 2006, early 2007.

Hybrids and driving in the Midwest

I'm about to head to the airport and return home to Los Angeles. I've been in and around Madison, WI the past few days for a wedding. Since I was in a different area, I paid close attention to what people were driving in this area of the U.S.. While Buicks were far more common than the Camrys and Accords that I see during my daily commutes in Southern California, I still saw a number of hybrid cars.

Granted, I didn't do much driving and Madison is somewhat of a liberal town, but I saw at least one Toyota Prius every time I drove somewhere. In addition the Honda dealership next to my hotel boasted that more than 30 hybrids were in stock according to television commercials. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to stop in so that I could test drive the new Civic hybrid.

I was also surprised that more people didn't drive SUVs. These people definitely have more reasons to need the vehicles, considering their weather. Yet I think SUVs, especially the big ones, are actually more common in Southern California than in Madison, WI - something which I found very surprising. Heading to Madison, I thought I would be more likely to see a Ford Escape hybrid, or a Toyota Highlander hybrid rather than a Prius, but I was wrong.

Interesting trip and I guess I learned that SUVs were made for freeways, not rough driving conditions.

New Honda Civic hybrid goes on sale tomorrow.

Tomorrow the new Honda Civic Hybrid will go on sale. Featuring more horsepower, better fuel efficiency, and more elegant styling, the Civic hybrid is sure to cause a few potential Toyota Prius consumers to give the Civic a serious look.

Still, when it comes to hybrid cars, Toyota is still king. Honda is hoping to boost hybrid production to 50,000 cars, while Toyota will sell more than 100,000 Prii. Additionally, the Highlander hybrid is also an extremely hot seller.

Nonetheless, hybrids still aren't taking over the world yet, and price is the big factor. According to Honda Motor CEO Takeo Fukui, "We do still understand the price difference is rather significant for ordinary consumers."(USAToday via Yahoo)

The 2006 Civic hybrid will be priced at $21,850.

Hollywood's so-called obsession with the Prius

When I saw the AutoWeek headline, Starring Role: Hollywood's love affair with Toyota's Prius continues, I thought why are the autorags so against hybrids? I'm pretty confident that every time a hybrid has been the lead story on AutoWeek's home page, it has always included a negative headline, yet some gas-guzzler can always take the cover guilt free.

So what if some members of Hollywood promote the Toyota Prius hybrid car - it's an awesome car if you believe in ending foreign oil dependency. It's an awesome vehicle if you are trying to help the environment. Yet, what percentage of automobile spots in Hollywood productions are reserved for the Prius, or any hybrid cars, for that matter? Not many.

Fortunately, the article wasn't really negative and I guess it is about the most positive press that can be expected from AutoWeek, whose editors seem to hate hybrids.

Sports cars and big gas-guzzling vehicles are the normal Hollywood prop, and what message do they send? That Americans are above the rest of the world? That America doesn't have to worry about the environment? That America is so great we can act stupid just to show the rest of the world how omnipotent America is?

Well America's materialistic greed has had consequences and it will continue to have consequences. Actions cannot continue to be judged only by how cool one looks, or at least how cool one thinks they look, but by the consequences of their actions.

Oil put America in Saudi Arabia and Bin Laden attacked because of it. Oil put America in Iraq and thousands of Americans have died because of it. Oil has made America Enemy Number 1 in the eyes of much of the world.

Hybrids, such as the Prius, the Toyota Highlander hybrid, or the Ford Escape hybrid might not be cost-effective for the average American yet. Still, somehow, they seem more cost effective than risking GM and Ford bankruptcy, energy shortages, oil wars, funding terrorism and the war on terror.

A recent study claimed that America could save as much as a trillion dollars by ending foreign oil dependency. So are hybrids really that expensive? Yet the government puts limits on hybrid vehicle tax deductions as it gives billions of tax payer dollars to the oil industry.

Ultimately, buying a hybrid means you are willing to fund a change and that's a statement that should cause pride. What kind of a statement does buying a Hummer or gas guzzler really make?

Toyota hybrid vehicle supply running on empty

According to Reuters, Toyota is now buying additional electric motors from Hitachi to meet the increasing demand for its hybrid cars. Recently, it was announced that the supply of Toyota's Prius hybrid car is now down to hours, and the situation isn't much better for the Highlander hybrid. Everything seems to indicate that Toyota will still not be able to catch up to demand even with this new deal.

As Ford has also had problems finding hybrid parts for its Escape hybrid and Mariner hybrid, the problem of hybrids parts - or the lack of - is becoming a serious problem that will require massive restructuring of auto suppliers.

Still, despite the hybrid critics, hybrids are hot and only getting hotter.

Top 3 Reasons to buy a hybrid car

To save money

O.K. this isn't the best reason to buy a hybrid, but it isn't as impossible as many critics would have you believe. If you live in a city, hybrid cars offer the best ability to save money on gasoline; however, not all hybrids are equal in city driving.

Honda hybrids are not the best for city conditions. Unlike Ford and Toyota hybrids, Honda hybrids do not function on electric power only at low speeds.

In city driving, the Toyota Prius can easily achieve 45 mpg or more. Something like the Ford Focus, achieves just 17 mpg. In fact, in the city, the far majority of ALL conventional vehicles are going to achieve less than 20 mpg. Even worse, many trucks and SUVs will achieve less than 10 mpg in the city. Here again, the Toyota Highlander hybrid or the Ford Escape hybrid offer their best gasoline savings. The Lexus RX400h does its best here as well, but who buys a Lexus to save money?

To reduce pollution

Pollution, like fuel economy, is a tricky subject. For example, why does smog develop in cities? Is it just because of the large number of cars, or are driving conditions an important factor?

Congestion, stop-and-go, and idling bring out the worst in our vehicles, except for hybrids. A Prius or Escape hybrid will function on mostly electric power in these conditions, and in these conditions, conventional vehicles simply offer no competition. Overall, hybrids produce far less pollution than conventional vehicles, and in the conditions that produce the most pollution, hybrids perform their best.

To help end foreign oil dependency

Why do people buy Hummers, Cadillacs, and BMWs? Why do people put rims on their cars? Don't they want to make a statement?

For many hybrid buyers, buying a hybrid is a message that says, 'I am willing to fund fuel efficient technology.' This message is especially aimed at automakers whom have contributed to America's yearly increase in foreign oil consumption - automakers that have for decades successfully lobbied Congress not to raise fuel efficiency standards nor to make the EPA accurate.

How do you put a cost on foreign oil consumption? How much does it cost to maintain a military presence in the Middle East to protect America's oil addiction? How much money does it cost to influence the politics of the Middle East? How much money does it cost to try to stop the flow of money that moves from oil into the hands of terrorists?

How much? How many lives?

If the real costs of foreign oil dependency were added into the price of gasoline, the question of hybrid costs would immediately be over. Since oil wealth largely runs America, should we be surprised those costs are separated?

Only in America can Hummer ads fill the advertising slots of articles criticizing the costs of hybrid cars. Only in America is materialistic ignorance more acceptable than intelligence.

American hybrids: A lack of leadership

Yes, Ford has the Escape hybrid, but it isn't nearly as coveted as the Toyota Highlander hybrid, and neither are nearly as coveted as the Prius.

So what's the problem? Leadership.

Lately Ford has blamed the "predatory" practices of Japanese automakers for their lack of hybrid production. (more)

Excuse me? As soon as a Toyota hybrid hits a dealership it is almost sold. The Escape hybrid can last for weeks, even longer. More important, if not for Toyota the hybrid supplies Ford needs wouldn't even be available. Ford is using the supply channels that Toyota created.

GM, well, GM just keeps talking. A few years ago GM thought hybrids were nonsense, then they were a good marketing story, but a poor business story. Now GM is trying to bolster it's hybrid efforts. "Right now, we're not where we ought to be (on hybrids)," said Bob Lutz, GM's vice chairman and product development chief, acknowledging that it's hurting consumer perceptions of the company.(more)

Not long ago Mr. Lutz even admitted that GM could have used a sliver of its yearly marketing budget to finance the development of hybrid cars. Instead, GM chose to market the Hummer and Tahoe.

How could American automakers have been so blind to the importance of foreign oil dependency, to fuel efficiency? Is doing the right thing impossible for American corporations? Is money more important than the safety of the people?

Leadership requires vision and tough choices. The lack of American hybrids reprints a void in American corporate leadership, and if it doesn't change, it will represent the downfall of America as well.

Re: Hybrids: Don't buy the hype

My boys love the movie Napoleon Dynamite, and it was Napoleon that I thought of when I read the article Hybrids: Don't buy the hype.

"Idiots."

"There may be reasons to buy a hybrid vehicle right now, but they aren't financial reasons," says Peter Valdes-Dapena .

Really, Peter?

"A hybrid Honda Accord costs about $3,800 more than the comparable non-hybrid version. Over five years, you'll make up that cost in gasoline money if the price of gas goes up immediately to $9.20 a gallon."

Nice one, Peter, the Accord hybrid? First, the Accord hybrid isn't a top selling hybrid. Second, it's a performance hybrid, not a hybrid built for fuel efficiency. Third, there is a huge difference between Honda hybrids and Toyota hybrids. In city driving, Toyota hybrids offer far more fuel efficiency because of their ability to function on electric power only.

"For the Ford Escape hybrid, the difference is less stark. To make up the difference between the Escape hybrid and a Ford Escape SLD, gas prices would have to rise to $5.60 immediately after you purchase the vehicle or you would have to drive 37,000 miles a year. Still an unlikely scenario." At least based on Edmunds.com data, Peter notes.

How about some investigative journalism, Peter?

The Edmund's study was largely based on EPA data, and is therefore unreliable and over-generalized. For example, in city driving, the EPA is off by as much as 50 percent in its fuel economy ratings according to Consumer Reports (more on this). Additionally, Edmunds, like the EPA, assumes that most drivers drive mostly on the highway.

Not me, Peter, and not millions and millions of other Americans that live in cities and suburbs.

Then you mention diesel as a more viable option. Peter, did you know that according to CR, the Jeep Liberty Diesel, estimated to achieve 22 MPG in the city, actually only achieves 11 MPG. Is that the kind of real money savings you are talking about Peter?

Then you state that "driving more gently" can save up to the 30 percent.

C'mon, Peter, driving more gently can also make the Ford Escape hybrid more fuel efficient as well as the Toyota Highlander hybrid and the Toyota Prius - of course that wasn't how Edmunds tested their hybrids, was it Peter?

And why didn't you cover the Toyota Prius in your article, since it is by far the best selling hybrid vehicle? Instead, you chose the least 'hybrid' of the hybrids to make your argument. Nice objectivity.

Since the Department of Transportation and numerous University studies claim that city driving, or congestion, is not only the new American norm, but a major American problem, shouldn't that be the standard for testing fuel efficiency?

According to Consumer Reports, not only are 3 hybrids the most fuel efficient vehicles available, but in city driving - the new American norm - the Prius is without rival. For example, the Prius is more than 150% more fuel efficient than the Ford Focus in congestion.

Hmm, Peter. So 45 MPG versus 17 MPG isn't good enough? And if I drive "gently" in the city, my Prius can achieve even 50 or 60 MPG. Still, not worth it, huh, Peter?

More important, hybrid vehicles are an emerging technology and the best is yet to come. Plug-in hybrids and experimental hybrids have been demonstrated to achieve as much as 250 MPG.

Not worth the investment Peter? Instead, we should drive more "gently"?

Buying a hybrid can save money, more important; however, it can help fund a technological revolution that can significantly help the environment and end foreign oil dependency - without finding some miracle to make million dollar fuel cell vehicles more cost effective.

Of course I guess we could just drive more "gently" to fix these problems, huh, Peter?

Prius supply down to hours

Interested in a Toyota Prius? Good luck, the supply of the Prius used to be measured in days, now it's down to a couple of hours according to a Reuter's article.

"Toyota sold 72,849 Prius hybrids in the first eight months of 2005. That was a 132.0 percent increase over the same period of 2004." And Highlander hybrids are hot as well. In just a few months, Toyota has sold over 8,000 hybrids - as many it could make.(AutoWeek)

For those interested in hybrid cars it is; unfortunately, a seller's market. Hopefully the new, redesigned Honda Civic hybrid can help with the shortage of hybrids. Still, Katrina, Rita, and $3.00+ gasoline has created a lot of interest in hybrid vehicles and in fuel efficiency. So much so, that CAFE has become a hot topic for the constituents of many members of Congress (more).

In the short term, hybrids simply won't have enough inventory.

Ford not interested in hybrid trucks?

Ford's green push into hybrid cars is not going to include F-Series trucks according to the Detroit News. Already Ford offers the Escape hybrid and a few Mariner hybrids, but hybrid SUVS are the easiest hybrids to find.

Toyota offers the Lexus RX400h and the Highlander hybrid.

While I am happy that Ford is also going to focus its hybrid efforts on sedans and other cars, why not trucks? Giving that product segment to Toyota seems to be the dumbest move Ford could make.

Today's Top Hybrid News Stories

For a few months, Ford has been making two announcements about hybrid cars. First, that it is going to boost hybrid car production. A new report states that Ford will offer hybrid versions in half of its Ford, Mercury and Lincoln vehicles. Still, the total production will total only 250,000 vehicles by 2010 - less hybrids vehicles than Toyota will sell this year alone. (More)

Second, Ford executives are again blaming Toyota for a shortage in hybrid vehicle parts due to "predatory" activities by some Japanese automakers. (More)

I really wish Ford would shut up regarding the lack of hybrid parts. Every Prius, Highlander hybrid, and Lexus RX400h consumer has been affected by this lack of parts. This is a struggle for all hybrid manufacturers.

Had Ford been more bullish regarding hybrid technology several years ago - as bullish as Toyota - this would be a non-issue. The Ford Escape hybrid is a great vehicle, but Ford is still years behind Toyota.

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If you didn't follow the Frankfurt autoshow, AutoWeek has put together a "smattering of hybrids shown at the Frankfurt motor show." (more)

Hybrid Cars and Fuel Efficiency: The most important point

Hybrid cars are leading an automotive revolution. Yet, critics are everywhere. Hybrids cost too much, they don't achieve EPA estimates, diesel and biodiesel are better, fuel cells are the future and on and on.

On Friday Consumers Reports sent out a press release regarding the inaccuracy and inefficiency of the EPA's fuel economy ratings. Of course, even Consumer Reports had to take a stab at hybrid cars, noting that the Honda Civic hybrid missed its EPA estimated city fuel economy - utilizing CR's testing methodology - by a whopping 46 percent.

Of course CR did have to admit that hybrids still fill the top 3 most fuel efficient vehicles slot - not bad considering only a handful of hybrids are available.

In city driving, according to CR, 9 out of 10 vehicles - not just hybrids - miss their EPA estimates by as much as 50 percent. 9 out of 10 of the worse offenders were NOT hybrids. The Jeep Liberty Diesel estimated at 22 mpg city, actually achieves only 11 mpg. Chrysler's top selling 300C estimated at 17 mpg, actually achieves 10 mpg. A couple of Dodges only achieve 8 mpg in the city.

That's right just 8 mpg, yet we're worried that the Civic hybrid only achieves 24 mpg? Of course on the highway, the Civic hybrid does much better, as do all vehicles.

Still, this is an important point, especially when it comes to hybrids. Hybrids are not all the same. The Honda Accord hybrid and the Civic hybrid are built upon the same hybrid technology, but not the same hybrid technology as the Toyota Prius hybrid. Toyota hybrids, such as the Prius or Highlander hybrid, can actually function on electric power only at low speeds. This means that in city driving, where congestion creates stop-and-go traffic, Toyota hybrids can use much less gasoline, as can the Ford Escape hybrid.

Honda hybrids do not benefit from this gain. The second generation Civic hybrid, due out in October; however, will offer this capability, but its electronic component will still not equal that of Toyota hybrids.

Thus, all hybrids are not created equal and viewing hybrids as one class is as inaccurate and misleading as utilizing EPA fuel economy data. While the Civic hybrid only achieves 26 mpg in the city according to CR, the Prius achieves 45 mpg. The Ford Focus, for a conventional comparison, only achieves 17 mpg.

At today's gas prices, driving 15,000 miles per year, the Civic hybrid would save you $1500.00 in gas versus the Focus, the Prius would save $4500.00 per year in gas savings versus the Focus. Of course, not everyone drives in these conditions all the time, but for those that live in large cities, the cost-benefit of hybrids like the Prius is pretty dramatic.

Additionally, if you HAVE to drive an SUV and you drive mostly in the city, driving a Highlander hybrid or Escape hybrid will probably save close to $700 - $1000 per year. For many hybrid drivers, gasoline savings in the real world ARE enough to cover the cost of hybrid components, plus you are helping to clean the environment - can you really put a cost on that?

Ultimately, hybrids are not all the same. Currently, the Prius is best in class - at least until the second generation Civic hybrid. Still, it isn't the fuel economy of hybrids that should be in focus, rather is should be the incredible fuel inefficiency of conventional vehicles.

Is Frankfurt hybrid car talk just hype?

Hybrid cars have taken over the Frankfurt Auto Show, but is all this hybrid talk just marketing hype?

According to a BBC article, yes, "But despite the loud and confusing displays of hybrid concepts at the Frankfurt motor show, the efforts by the big car groups seem less than ambitious." Additionally, the BBC notes, "BMW's Mr Panke is even more blunt. He predicts that hybrid car sales will never rise above more than 1%-2% of the total market, and PSA Peugeot Citroen's chief executive Jean-Martin Folz agrees."

On the other side of the pond, the NYTimes article, At Frankfurt Auto Show, a Reluctant Embrace of Hybrids the Times notes, "But backstage at the Frankfurt International Motor Show, a different picture is emerging: Europe's auto executives remain privately skeptical, even dismissive, about the merits of hybrid technology."

It isn't hype if you ask Toyota, however. More important, the European auto industry and the American auto industry simply are not the dominant corporations they once were. Times are a changing and new leaders are emerging.

Still, in Europe, the common belief is that advanced diesel is just as effective as hybrids, and that assumption is correct.

But what about the future?

Hybrid vehicles are an emerging technology. When computers first emerged, it was thought only the Pentagon or huge corporations could ever utilize, or even afford one. Then came desktops, laptops, and now PDA's and more.

Already, plug-in hybrid cars and other experimental hybrid vehicles demonstrate that current hybrid technology can be adjusted to achieve as much as 100 or even 250 mpg. Others speculate that a new generation of biodiesel hybrids could achieve as much as 500 mpg.

Ultimately, the auto industry is entering a technological revolution and those companies that choose to follow the status quo will ultimately disappear.

Ten years ago, a laptop with 1000 Gig of RAM and 3 hour battery life wasn't just expensive, it was pure fantasy. Today, it costs little more than $1000.00.

Hybrid technology is not going away and it will continually get more powerful and cheaper. Within 10 years the Toyota Highlander hybrid, Toyota Prius hybrid, and the Ford Escape hybrid will be more than twice as fuel efficient as they are today, yet the cost difference between hybrid and conventional vehicles will be much less.

That isn't hype it's the reality of technology.

Hybrid Car Price Wars Coming Soon

When it comes to humans, change is the most constant force in the Universe. 100 years ago humans traversed the planet on horses, camels, and donkeys. Today, we use automobiles and airplanes.

As automobiles have evolved, they have changed greatly, but the internal combustion engine has always ruled. That is; however, beginning to change.

Electric cars, hybrid cars and fuel cell cars are already on the road today. While electric vehicles still fall a bit short of consumer expectations, and fuel cell vehicles are ridiculously expensive, hybrid vehicles are just right.

Just five years ago, most Americans knew very little, if anything, about hybrids. Today, the far majority of Americans are not only aware of hybrid automobiles, they believe that hybrids are the future, and they are willing to buy a hybrid, if not for the costs, according to a recent Polk Study.

While I agree that there are issues with hybrid vehicle costs, I think the Toyota Prius hybrid is a vehicle well worth the money. In fact, I think ALL hybrids are worth the price. Sure the costs of knowing that you are helping develop a new technology, that you are helping clean the environment, that you are helping reduce foreign oil dependency, are not easily measured. Still, for those that are deeply concerned about such issues, the additional costs of hybrid technology are well worth the price.

Still, the average American is mostly focused on price, which means that costs must go down for hybrids to successfully compete with conventional vehicles. This is on the verge of happening.

Already, Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe has ordered engineers to reduce the costs of hybrid technology by 50 percent according to USA Today. Such a move would make buying a Toyota Highlander hybrid, instead of a conventional Highlander, much easier for the average buyer. With the Camry hybrid and as many as 10 new Toyota hybrids soon reaching market, hybrid costs will be extremely important.

But it isn't just comparing Toyota hybrids to conventional Toyota vehicles that will be important. The new Honda Civic hybrid, for example, is set to provide a real challenge to the most popular hybrid, the Prius. According to early reports, the second generation Civic hybrid will be more powerful, more fuel efficient, and better styled than the previous Civic hybrid.

Honda hybrids are not Toyota's only challenge either. Essentially every major automaker is now developing hybrid technology. This will eventually lead to better and cheaper hybrid parts, such as batteries, as more and more automobile suppliers begin developing this technology.

Additionally, hybrid technology will evolve. Already Honda anticipates that it will be able to challenge Toyota hybrid pricing because its hybrid system is simpler than Toyota's. Thus Toyota will strive to simplify its hybrid powertrain, or to make it more powerful and more fuel efficient than Honda's to justify the price difference. Or, perhaps, the next Prius will be a plugin-biodiesel-electric hybrid vehicle.

Inevitably, hybrid vehicle competition will lead to price wars, and it will help end foreign oil dependency while protecting the environment. What more could consumers ask for?

GM's skewed vision of Saturn Vue hybrid, Volkswagen hybrids in 2008

I laughed as soon as I read the title of AutoWeek's article, Saturn says its upcoming Vue hybrid will be less-expensive than competition.

While any drive towards fuel efficiency is a welcome one, let's get real for a second. The Saturn Vue really won't have much competition, as it will mostly be in its own class. The Saturn Vue will be a 'mild' hybrid, meaning that it cannot be powered only by its electric motor.

The Vue hybrid's "competition", on the other hand, such as the Ford Escape hybrid, or the Toyota Highlander hybrid can be powered by just the electric motor at low speeds. It is this feature which makes these hybrid suvs so fuel efficient in urban and stop-and-go traffic.

Thus, the Saturn Vue Hybrid will be less expensive than the "competition" because it offers less than the "competition". Boy, you'd think GM could be a little more innovative with its $3 billion advertising budget.

Volkswagen hybrids in 2008

Volkswagen will begin developing hybrid cars with its Chinese partner in 2008, with full-scale production set for 2010. The Volkswagen hybrids will be built upon a proprietary hybrid powertrain that Volkswagen will work alone to develop. (More)

RE: Challenges ahead for Toyota hybrids

Challenges in the hybrid space are not for Toyota, the real challenges belong to Toyota's hybrid competitors

The coolest thing about the article Challenges ahead for Toyota hybrids was the statement, "With Hurricane Katrina pushing American gas pump prices above $3 a gallon, Toyota Motor may find itself yet again in the right place at the right time, with a new, half-mile-long assembly line capable of producing gasoline-electric hybrid Prius cars at the rate of one a minute."

The rest of the article isn't bad, but the title is just wrong. What challenges, exactly, is Toyota facing?

First, an "increasingly competitive marketplace may prove to be the biggest for Toyota." The article argues that it isn't necessarily the competition, but the nature of tax credits that will cause the headache for Toyota by helping the competition. Ultimately, each manufacturer is only allowed 60,000 tax credits. Obviously, Toyota will run out of credits almost immediately, and this is seen a challenge to Toyota and a benefit to the competition.

Still, while the tax credits are a bit unfair, is this really a problem?

If each automaker, aside from Toyota, is only interested in selling 60,000 hybrid cars, then hybrids are already dead. Quite simply, this is a non-issue. With or without tax incentives, the Toyota Prius hybrid, for example, is a great vehicle at a reasonable price. The same should be true for the soon-to-be-released second generation Honda Civic hybrid. These vehicles will sell, regardless of tax credits, and the challenge will be for Ford, GM and Chrysler to compete against these products.

Hybrid SUVs, on the other hand, such as the Ford Escape hybrid or the Toyota Highlander hybrid, are questionable buys in terms of cost. Tax credits definitely help close the deal on these first generation, expensive hybrid vehicles. Nonetheless, it is the cost of hybrid components that elevates the price of these hybrids. As more and more hybrid vehicles are developed - by all manufacturers - the costs of these components will be reduced. More important, hybrid components will become more fuel efficient and powerful, offsetting more and more the price of hybrids.

Second, the Times questions consumers' willingness to buy hybrid vehicles that aren't as fuel efficient as expected and that fall "short of federal economy ratings".

HMMMM. Yesterday, AAA lobbied Congress to make EPA fuel economy ratings more accurate (more). Was this because the EPA does such a bad job of predicting hybrid car fuel efficiency?

NOOOOOOO!!!!!

This was because, ALL VEHICLES DO NOT MEET EPA FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS, which is a big problem in terms of foreign oil dependency. Consumers need to know the truth.

One of the biggest problems with the EPA is that it assumes that most drivers do the majority of their driving at 55 mpg on wide open highways. Anyone that lives near LA, San Francisco, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Boston, etc, knows that 55 mph driving is a rare luxury, not the norm.

Conventional vehicles not only achieve far less than their EPA fuel economy ratings, they also pollute far more in the conditions of day to day urban driving. On the contrary, hybrids - even the much criticized Lexus RX400h - achieve their best fuel economy while emitting the fewest pollutants in these same conditions. In actuality, studies have shown that most vehicles - NOT HYBRIDS - achieve about 20 to 30 percent less fuel efficiency than the EPA estimates.

In real world driving for a majority of Americans, hybrids are much more fuel efficient than conventional automobiles, PERIOD.

I'd say Toyota is facing the fewest challenges when it comes to hybrids. If Toyota hybrids aren't successful, then hybrids - by all manufacturers - will not be successful. Toyota has already faced the toughest challenges, challenges which GM, Chrysler, and BMW have yet to face.

Honda Civic Hybrid Expectations

Honda. Honda is the most fuel efficient and green automaker in the world. PERIOD.

Yes, Toyota has the best selling Prius hybrid car, but Toyota also offers a number of very fuel inefficient automobiles. Nonetheless, Toyota is the second greenest automaker and is taking the automotive world by storm with its Hybrid Synergy Drive, which Toyota has added to the Highlander hybrid, the Lexus RX400h, and is about to add to the Camry hybrid.

So what has happened to Honda hybrid cars?

While Honda was a hybrid car leader, Honda Corporation did not accurately assess the importance of the hybrid car market.

For example, the Honda Insight Hybrid is and always will be a niche vehicle. The Honda Accord hybrid is a performance hybrid, not a hybrid designed for fuel efficiency. The Honda Civic, on the other hand, has always been a fuel efficient automobile. Still, in terms of hybrid efficiency, the Civic hybrid just isn't up to the same level as the Prius hybrid.

Well, all that could change with the new Civic hybrid.

According to MotorTrend the new Civic hybrid "features a 1.3 litre inline-four engine that employees Honda's intelligent Variable Valve Time and Life Electronic Control (VTEC) system to provide three stages of valve timing (low-rpm, highrpm and cylinder-idle mode) combined with a significantly more compact and efficient Honda Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system."

So what you might ask? Well, according to Honda, the 2006 Civic hybrid should offer "significant improvements in both performance and fuel economy over a similarly equipped 2005 Civic hybrid." Thus, the Civic hybrid could become a serious competitor of the Prius hybrid.

As for me, I can't wait to test drive the Civic hybrid. Hopefully, it will spring Honda back into the role of a hybrid vehicle leader, while creating real competition for the role of hybrid leader.

Fuel cell vehicles versus hybrids, Part 1

The'Hydrogen Highway' has been touted by American automakers, especially GM, as the answer to America's energy problems. Unfortunately, the hum of hydrogen and fuel cells has been in the air for decades, yet the reality of the hydrogen highway might still be decades away.

Even worse, lobbyists from GM, on numerous occasions, have coaxed American Congresspeople not to enact stricter fuel economy regulations because such actions would interfere with the development of fuel cell vehicles. Essentially, the huge profits margins that GM makes on foreign-oil guzzling SUVs would be reduced and this would cut into fuel cell development.

Thus, America's national fuel economy is no better now that it was in the 1980s, and with more and more Americans driving, our need for foreign oil regularly increases.

When Toyota and Honda began developing hybrid cars, American automakers laughed and ridiculed them. Only about a year ago, GM's Bob Lutz joked that hybrids make a nice marketing story, but a poor business story. Since, GM spends almost $3 billion per year on marketing, I'll assume Mr. Lutz knows a lot about marketing.

Yet, I wonder if Mr. Lutz still thinks hybrids are a poor business story? Toyota continues to rack up month after month of great sales - without incentives - as the Toyota Prius hybrid and Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive rack up 100,000's of sales. GM, on the other hand, loses more than $1000.00 per vehicle when averaged across its fleet.

Don't worry, GM tells us, fuel cell vehicles are just around the corner to the save the day. Never mind the fact that fuel cell vehicles cost almost $1,000,000 per vehicle, that they won't work in cold climates, that there isn't any place to fuel them, and numerous other issues.

Still, GM says don't worry.

The hybrid leader, Toyota, also believes very heavily in fuel cells, but Toyota believes hybrid vehicles are a natural transition to fuel cells. In fact, Toyota hopes that much of its current hybrid powertrain will be the foundation of its fuel cell vehicles.

Still, lately, I find myself wondering, are fuel cell vehicles even that important?

While current hybrid technology isn't enough to solve America's oil crisis, what about the next generation of hybrid technology? Plug-in hybrids, for example, can make current hybrids, such as the Ford Escape hybrid or the Toyota Highlander hybrid, significantly more fuel efficient. Moreover, other experimental hybrids have been demonstrated to achieve as much as 250 mpg, at a cost that is significantly less than fuel cell vehicles.

This has prompted cities such as Austin, Texas and states, such as Pennsylvania, to seek ways to help fund experimental hybrid vehicle development.

Yet, GM is still at least a couple of years away from hybrid passenger vehicles. While GM still has time to get into the hybrid race, I cannot help but wonder if they are even serious about the move. Rather, it seems that GM has risked its entire future on proprietary fuel cell technology.

Hopefully, GM will succeed, but what if they fail? GM is not just risking the failure of GM Corporation, but of an important source of American jobs, and an incredibly important part of the American economy.

Katrina, the strong likelihood of future hurricanes, and the threat terrorism - let alone rising global demand for oil - demonstrate the extreme vulnerability of America's energy sector and the dangers of gas-guzzling.

Can fuel cell vehicles really be developed quickly enough to solve this vulnerability, or must America - in the short term - focus on second generation hybrid technology, plug-in's and other experimental hybrid vehicles?

This will be the focus of Part II.

Katrina sparks hybrid car demand

If you have already been in the market for a hybrid car, then you know that finding what you want isn't easy - you pretty much have to take whatever is available.

Well, things are getting worse.

While I was watching CNBC today it was reported by Phil Le Beau, that SUV sales were down almost 10 percent last month as more car buyers moved into crossovers and cars. Additionally, more and more consumers expressed interest in fuel efficient cars. In particular, CNBC noted that interest in both the Ford Escape hybrid and the Toyota Prius hybrid has been increasing significantly as oil prices have risen, and especially since Katrina.

For prospective buyers, the news isn't great. Longer waits and less choices are sure to become even more common in the months ahead, and even in the years ahead. Unfortunately, there simply are not enough hybrid components to make enough hybrid vehicles to meet hybrid demand.

Even newer hybrids, such as the Toyota Highlander hybrid, are essentially sold out, and the same can be expected when the Camry hybrid is released.

Even worse, the first full hybrid from GM is still years away. Why is it so hard to do the right thing?

Katrina demands hybrid vehicles

Oil has become America's Achilles Heal

Fortunately, the worst of Katrina slipped by New Orleans, but it will take days to estimate the catastrophic damage the hurricane has caused and will yet cause.

Aside from damage to property, Katrina could have widespread effects upon the energy industry. It is possible that oil rigs have been destroyed, that oil refineries have been significantly damaged, and that major ports could be closed for weeks. Thus, oil and gas prices will go up and they will stay up for some time.

While this will probably be only a temporary spike, the keyword is 'probably', and we are still early in the hurricane season.

American demand for oil has pushed refinement capacity to its limits, not to mention requiring the need for ever more foreign oil.

Oil has become America's Achilles heal. If hurricanes can wreak so much havoc on America's Energy sector, what could terrorists do? While the U.S. can recover from a hurricane, what if Hugo Chavez stopped shipping oil to the U.S. for just a week in some sort of protest? What if terrorists took a out a few oil refineries?

Decades ago, America became the world's major super power via technology. Today, in terms of fuel efficiency, Japan leads the way for automotive technology, as American automakers focus on marketing budgets and profit margins.

Perhaps this was acceptable in the past, but shouldn't 9/11 have changed this? Instead, America is increasing its foreign oil dependency from places like Saudi Arabia, the same country where almost all of the 9/11 terrorists came from.

Who financed those terrorists? Where did the money come from?

Hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius hybrid, are a revolution. If every American drove a Prius, the need for foreign oil would be over.

While critics might argue that if every American drove a Honda Civic, a cheaper alternative to the Prius, foreign oil dependency could also end, every American isn't going to drive a Civic, nor a Prius. Moreover, neither GM nor Ford would survive if every American drove compact vehicles. The loss of those jobs would be devasting, but only advanced technology, such as hybrid technology, will save those jobs.

Thus, hybrid vehicles are TODAY's solution. Hybrid technology can move far beyond the Prius, into SUVs, such as the Ford Escape hybrid and the Toyota Highlander hybrid, plus it can move into larger sedans, such as the Toyota Camry hybrid.

More important, plug-in hybrids and other experimental hybrids demonstrate that the potential of hybrid technology is only just being tapped. These experimental hybrids are technologically feasible today, at a cost that is significantly less than fuel cell vehicles, which are not technologically feasible today. Oh yeah, and they could achieve 250 mpg.

Without technological leadership, the American economy will be severely damaged. Hybrid vehicles are not just about protecting America's national security from terrorists, but about protecting America's national security from economic recession or even collapse.

The American economy is led by consumers. While energy costs for the average American have dropped since the '80's, much consumer spending has been sustained by the housing boom. If oil prices push the economy into a recession, with slowed spending, and the real estate bubble begins to deflate, the U.S. could get caught in a vicious downward cycle.

If that happens, most Americans won't have any choice but to drive a cheap compact, if they can even afford to drive, and neither GM nor Ford would survive.

Is that risk really worth flossing and bling, blinging in a gas-guzzler? Are Americans really that selfish and ignorant? Let's hope not.

Do high gas prices affect hybrid car sales?

Earlier today I argued that market incentives are not enough to drive consumers to purchase fuel efficient vehicles and technologies. As I've sat back and thought about that, I'm reminded of Toyota Prius demand.

Long before this spike in gas prices, the Toyota Prius had been very difficult to find. Even when one was found, there were very few choices. Demand was simply far beyond supply.

Perhaps gas prices are driving this demand even higher, but the increased demand will, ultimately, have little affect on overall sales. However many Prius hybrids Toyota can produce, they will sell - even if gas prices drop.

Recently, I have gone to Toyota dealers in the Los Angeles area numerous times and have had a very hard time finding a Highlander hybrid. I've been told that each dealer gets only a few hybrid Highlanders per month, but they are sold almost as soon as they hit the dealership.

I've had a little better luck finding the Ford Escape hybrid, but Ford maintains they will easily sell all the hybrids they can make - only about 25,000 this year.

There has been a good supply of Honda Accord hybrids and Honda Civic hybrids, but these vehicles aren't as 'hybrid' as either Ford or Toyota hybrids. While I think both vehicles are excellent vehicles, they do carry some issues. On the one hand, the Accord Hybrid is a performance hybrid, not a hybrid derived solely for fuel efficiency.

On the other hand, the Civic hybrid is a fuel efficient vehicle, but so is the standard Civic. Yes, the Civic hybrid is more fuel efficient, but it just doesn't carry the glamour of the Prius hybrid. (Something I hope Honda's next generation of hybrids will address - which are coming soon!)

The point is, market forces can't have much impact on hybrid car technology this year. Yet, Hugo Chavez could have a huge impact on the American economy this year. Perhaps he won't or maybe he'll suffer an unexpected heart attack. Who knows? Still, market forces cannot meet consumer expectations fast enough, or many more hybrid cars would now be available.

While rich Americans can walk away from very high oil prices, even gas lines, the average American; however, could be affected for years by these issues.

Are those 'free' market conditions really worth the costs? And are 'free markets' really free?

Do American Automakers suck?

Did 9/11 change everything?

It didn't change American automakers. It didn't change gas-guzzling auto consumers.

Why is there such a disconnect?

Why is America in the Middle East - the root of Bin Laden's American angst? Do we love the sand? Do we just like Arabs better than Africans?

Obviously terrorism and Iraq have nothing to do with oil.

Thus, GM will spend almost $3 billion - $3 BILLION - marketing gas guzzlers because foreign oil dependency is a good thing.

Hybrid cars, electric cars, and fuel efficiency, on the other hand, are too expensive - they are bad things.

American automakers and their Unions have told Americans for decades that buying foreign cars is bad for America, yet buying more and more foreign oil is good for America?

That sucks.

What will it take for GM to make foreign oil dependency their top priority? A WMD terrorist attack? WWIII? When will they take all their eggs out of the cheap foreign oil basket and put them into the stronger America basket?

Ultimately, 9/11 changed almost everything, except American automakers and America's dependence on foreign oil. Oooops, that's not exactly correct. America has changed its dependence on foreign oil - we've increased it.

That really sucks.

American automakers owe Americans the most fuel efficient automobiles. While I think they should focus on smaller cars, the Toyota Highlander hybrid and the Ford Escape hybrid prove that even SUVs can be made significantly more fuel efficient.

Can't GM just take a billion out of their marketing budget for a few years to help make a more secure America? Isn't that a better investment than marketing gas-guzzling Hummers?

I guess not, and that really, really sucks.

Ford gets bullish on hybrids

"Building hybrids is the right thing to do"

I am very critical of American automakers. While technology has created fuel efficient capabilities, that technology has been combined with larger, heavier vehicles with more horsepower. This has led to ever decreasing fuel economy from American car manufacturers.

The result is average fuel economy that is no different now than it was 20 years ago, which means America has to import more and more oil from foreign countries where the average citizen thinks that America loves Israel and hates all Muslims.

Thus, when I read that Phil Martens, Ford Motor Co.'s group vice president for product creation, not only said that hybrid vehicles were the "right thing to do", but also that Ford would build hybrids focused on fuel efficiency, not performance, a huge smile spread across my face.

Of course Ford already offers two hybrid vehicles, the Escape hybrid and the Mariner hybrid, but those vehicles are only available in very limited numbers, especially the Mariner. In fact, the Toyota Highlander hybrid will probably easily outsell both vehicles combined. While this could be just hype, I believe that Ford is being sincere.

While GM can continue to hype its fuel cell program, cost effective fuel cell vehicles are still more than a decade away. America cannot wait a decade to start addressing its ever increasing foreign oil dependency. Additionally, are fuel cell vehicles even needed?

According to Martens, turbo-charged diesel hybrid vehicles could approach "what a fuel cell does at a fraction of the cost." Additionally, they wouldn't require a brand new energy infrastructure.

The other exciting development is Ford's drive to put hybrid technology into sedans, and not just large SUVs, such as GM. By 2008, Ford wants to release the Ford Fusion hybrid, which will be built on a second generation hybrid powertrain. This should provide a solid vehicle to challenge both the Toyota Camry hybrid and the Prius hybrid.

Overall, I hope that Ford Corporation is as serious about hybrids as Mr. Martens. If so, it gives me real hope that Ford can bring pride back to American automaking.