A good long term hedge against higher gasoline prices? But I sure wish it was easier to sell the Civic hybrid “Get with the program.” That’s what an advertising agency friend told me once regarding Hybridcarblog. I’m too critical, he rightly pointed out. Instead, he suggested that I sell every hybrid and plug-in that I [...]
The fun to drive "non-Prius-like" Toyota Prius At least according to some early Prius C reviews After more than 10 years on the market, hybrid cars have sadly achieved very little in terms of real world impact. At less than 3 percent marketshare of total US auto sales, hybrids are still just scratching the surface [...]
Pistons are so last century An easy hybrid revolution In a few months Toyota promises to offer a new smaller Prius that will achieve 50 mpg and cost just under $19,000, a pretty compelling offering, right. Well, imagine if that new Prius instead cost $14,000 and achieved 65 mpg. That’s the potential of the wave [...]
Environmental Science students Jed and Layne check data on their spreadsheets using the Energy display on the Volt. These two guys are great examples of how the real-life application involved in the project increases interest. As we have more information to share students in these classes will be involved in giving presentations to various organizations [...]
OsCAR eO extended-range electric vehicle entered record books by completing grueling 2012 Dakar Rally. The grueling 2012 Dakar Rally crossed 5,500 miles of rough terrain through the harshest conditions of South America. It’s hell on machines and drivers. The terrain is torturous and can strand even the most capable of vehicles. Since its inception in [...]
V – Best new wagon and best resale value in class They weren’t tops in their class, but these hybrids still scored While only 1 hybrid car, the Lexus RX 450h, took best in class according to Kipplinger’s 2012 ratings, a few hybrid cars were picked as best new models in their class. Likewise, many [...]
Top Dog in the Midsize/Large Crossover segment Only hybrid or plug-in to make the list Kipplingers has released its Best New Car Values list for 2012 and one hybrid made the list, the Lexus RX 450h, a regular favorite of Kipplingers according to the magazine. With “top notch safety” and “luxury”, the RX450h took the [...]
Another plug-in from BMW. Reliance upon batteries critical to luxury maker survival? Most luxury automakers rarely cause me much excitement. Tesla pumps up my heart rate a bit, and I really like the Lexus CT 200h — if only the Prius C could have borrowed that body. Overall, however, it’s doubtful that luxury auto companies [...]
With features like standard 4-pole motors, Mid-Wheel 6® drive design and ATX Suspension, the Q6 EdgeTM is engineered to meet the performance needs of the most active user. The Q6 Edge accepts a complete range of seating and electronics options to deliver exceptional rehab capability at an excellent value.
Cheaper hybrid price + gov incentives = Japanese Prius success Tax incentives and cheaper hybrid costs working in the land of the rising sun As the American press continues to sell the decline of hybrid sales in 2011, apparently unable to deduce that a massive earthquake and tsunami almost wiped out hybrid supplies coming out [...]
Leaving a lot of foreign oil fighting potential on the table It’s time to get real about the costs of US foreign oil dependence In my opinion, ending foreign oil dependence — at least achieving North American independence — is far easier than many might imagine. Ironically, today independence appears even significantly more within reach [...]
A Nissan LEAF owner has averaged 2,000 miles of driving per month since taking delivery of his electric hatchback in August 2011. One man’s story of using the all-electric Nissan LEAF for long-distance driving was recently posted at Torquenews.com. His tale defies the stereotypes of electric car range and charging. How did Brian Keez of [...]
Fiat 500 converted to an electric drive by German specialist Karabag Long ignored by large automakers, electric cars used to strictly be the domain of an EV cottage industry. Many people thought small electric car makers and converters were doomed now that large car companies like Nissan have moved into the electric car segment, but [...]
C-Max: Two hybrid steps forward? C-Max hybrid versus the Prius and the Ford Escape hybrid For many years now, Ford has done quite a bit of hybrid talking, but Ford’s hybrid results have never matched up to the rhetoric. Even when the Ford Fusion hybrid topped Toyota Camry hybrid fuel economy, the buzz fell short. [...]
Chevy Volt sales will spike in 2012. HOV lane access will trump non-existent fire worries Everyone that follows Chevy Volt and plug-in news closely knows that the fire concerns around the Volt’s battery pack have been blown out of proportion. I think even the politicians leading the charge in the Congressional investigation into the Volt [...]
