Hybrid News

Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota, LA Auto Show, Natural Gas

All that’s missing is an airbrushed portrait of T. Boone Pickens on the hood. Of what, you ask? Of the Toyota Camry CNG Hybrid concept, which explores the idea of combining Hybrid Synergy Drive with natural gas power. It debuts this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and is easily identifiable thanks to its grille-free schnoz. With a pair of tanks stowed in the trunk’s spare tire well (the car rolls on run-flats), the CNG-fueled Camry Hybrid reportedly has a range of “more than 250 miles″ according to the Open Road Blog. Upsides? Compressed natural gas burns cleaner, emitting fewer particulate emissions than gasoline, and even with the lower pump prices we’re currently experiencing, CNG is still a little cheaper per gallon.

The tradeoffs? CNG must be stored in cylindrical containers, so Toyota (or any other automaker, for that matter) loses the flexibility of being able to shape the fuel tank to best suit a car’s packaging. CNG’s also less dense than gas, which means less overall power than a comparable, conventionally-powered car. And then there’s that infrastructure bugaboo that seems to always pops up when discussing otherwise nifty-sounding green fuel ideas (think ethanol and hydrogen): a dearth of filling stations for the fuel in question. Toyota says there are only around 1,000 CNG pumps in the country, and most of them aren’t publicly accessible anyway. Hence, they have no plans to produce a car like this anytime resembling “soon” — it’s basically just eye candy for green-conscious showgoers.

[Sources: Toyota, WCF]

LA 2008: Toyota Camry CNG Hybrid Concept gets early reveal originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 01:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Alex Nunez

Filed under: Hybrid, Legislation and Policy, Green Daily, USA

What’s in a number? For hybrid buyers, the number 60,000 is an important one. As you might know, when Congress enacted the particular hybrid tax credit, they set a limit of 60,000 vehicles per manufacturer to get the discount, and the more popular hybrids now do not qualify for any government assistance. The Toyota bonus ran out a year ago and, as soon as 2008 is over, the Honda hybrids will no longer qualify, leaving just 16 models that can be used to claim the credit in 2009. Green Car Advisor put together a list of these models and the crazy thing is, only one gets more than 33 mpg (the 2007-08 Nissan Altima Hybrid). The rest of the government money will go towards encouraging people to buy the unwanted large hybrids from Ford and GM. Where is the sense in this?

[Source: Green Car Advisor]

Come 2009, U.S. tax credits will exist mostly for large, low-MPG hybrids originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota

Even mighty Toyota isn’t immune to the downturn in sales in the United States due to the horrible current economic climate and credit crisis. Revenue is down nearly 70 percent for the Japanese giant, a situation that it is anything but familiar with. So, Toyota has created a team headed by its President Katsuaki Watanabe that will focus on ways to spend less money. Expect the automaker to extend incentives to more of its fuel efficient models, not just full-size pickup trucks and SUVs, and move quickly to bring more fuel-saving models to market as quickly as possible, especially new hybrids.

If Toyota plans to spend less money overall but more on hybrid development, expect to see its larger vehicles be affected the most by the budget cuts. Models that aren’t segment leaders when it comes to fuel efficiency are likely to wait a bit longer for model refreshes as more hybrids are rolled out instead. It should be noted that this is exactly the strategy that General Motors is taking, except that GM is extremely close to running completely out of money while Toyota has got plenty in reserve. GM’s continued life depends on its fuel-savers while Toyota’s motive is continued profitability, making it painfully obvious that The General should have gotten a much earlier start on its hybrids and EVs.

[Source: Inside Line]

Toyota cuts spending, increases hybrid development originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: Hybrid, Ford

Even though some people within Ford think hybrid trucks are a “publicity stunt,” the heavy-duty hybrid van maker Azure Dynamics knows that it can still count on FoMoCo for some hybrid help. Azure announced this week that it has signed new Sales & Service agreements with some Ford dealerships to work on the company’s Balance Hybrid Electric commercial trucks. Azure Dynamics will now work with eight more Ford dealerships around the country (see a full list after the jump), bringing the total that have signed these agreements to fourteen. In the future, Azure hopes to get 50 dealers on board to “maintain inventory of ready-to-deliver Cube Vans and Walk-in Vans equipped with Azure’s hybrid electric powertrains.”

As we’ve written before, the Balance hybrids use a Ford 𐽊 chassis and adds a 5.4 liter Triton gasoline engine with a electrical component that can move the van up to 20 mph. Mated to a 5-speed automatic TorqShift transmission the hybrid powertrain improves fuel economy by up to 40 percent, Azure said.

[Source: Azure Dynamics Corporation]

Continue reading Azure Dynamics signs deal with Ford dealerships for hybrid trucks

Azure Dynamics signs deal with Ford dealerships for hybrid trucks originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: Hybrid, Lexus

We know Lexus is planning on introducing the RX-series at the LA Auto Show in a few weeks. Over at Autospies, they got their hands on some scans of what appears to be a Japanese brochure of the new 2010 RX450h and RX350. Reaction is mixed, but these modern station wagons for the suburb set don’t look all that bad to me. There are some similarities to the LF-Xh concept, but mostly the unique qualities of that vehicle have been tuned down. The asymmetrical dash (see it after the jump) is particularly interesting. We’ll know more when we get to LA and get a peek of exactly what Lexus has in store for us. Until then, see more grainy scanned images of the likely hybrid RX450h and the RX350 over at Autospies.

[Source: Autospies]

Continue reading First look: 2010 Lexus RX450h, RX350

First look: 2010 Lexus RX450h, RX350 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: Diesel, Hybrid, MPG, Ferrari

Ferrari has set itself an aggressive goal of reducing the carbon dioxide emissions of its cars by 40 percent over the next four years. The company will have to make some pretty drastic changes to its powertrains to achieve that reduction from 400 g/km to about 280 g/km. One change it has no intention of making is adopting diesel engines. Instead it will go to smaller, more efficient engines using technologies like direct injection and turbocharging. The company just announced its first direct injected engine in the new California GT. Another option the company is looking at is hybrid drive. The Formula 1 team is currently developing a hybrid system for use starting in the 2009 season and that technology could be adapted to production. One direction not mentioned is biofuels. The company showed a biofueled version of its F430 Spider at last January’s Detroit Auto Show.

[Source: The Telegraph]

No oil burning for the prancing horse, Ferrari rejects diesels originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: Etc., Ford

You drive like crap and you know it. Stop the burnouts, late braking and 100-mph freeway sprint and you just might make a tank of gas last longer than a day. Sure, automakers like Ford could spend a few million on lectures to teach car buyers a thing or two about better driving. But if you didn’t get it in Driver’s Ed, you’re not likely to get it now. Instead, Ford’s new Smart Gauge will teach better driving through rewards. Do a better job controlling your right foot, and Smart Guage adds a green leaf to a display next to the speedo. The better you do, the more leaves you get. Nancy Gioia, Ford’s director of hybrid-vehicle programs, tells The Wall Street Journal, “You don’t have to count the leaves. But if you′re in a forest of leaves, you′ll know you′re doing well.”

You can also grow your Virtual Dash Tree[TM] for a chance to defeat the boss monster on the final level and, if successful, Smart Gauge will reward drivers with Fordelicious Fruit[TM], which you can trade for Microsoft Points that can be used to pay for your Sync subscription. No. Not really.

Ford is expected to announce the Smart Gauge today and it will initially be available on the hybrid versions of 2010 Mercury Milans and Ford Fusions.

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]

Ford “Smart Gauge” collects green leaves for good behavior originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by AutoblogGreen Staff

Filed under: Etc., Ford

You drive like crap and you know it. Stop the burnouts, late braking and 100-mph freeway sprint and you just might make a tank of gas last longer than a day. Sure, automakers like Ford could spend a few million on lectures to teach car buyers a thing or two about better driving. But if you didn’t get it in Driver’s Ed, you’re not likely to get it now. Instead, Ford’s new Smart Gauge will teach better driving through rewards. Do a better job controlling your right foot, and Smart Guage adds a green leaf to a display next to the speedo. The better you do, the more leaves you get. Nancy Gioia, Ford’s director of hybrid-vehicle programs, tells The Wall Street Journal, “You don′t have to count the leaves. But if you′re in a forest of leaves, you′ll know you′re doing well.”

You can also grow your Virtual Dash Tree[TM] for a chance to defeat the boss monster on the final level and, if successful, Smart Gauge will reward drivers with Fordelicious Fruit[TM], which you can trade for Microsoft Points that can be used to pay for your Sync subscription. No. Not really.

Ford is expected to announce the Smart Gauge today and it will initially be available on the hybrid versions of 2010 Mercury Milans and Ford Fusions.

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]

Continue reading Ford “Smart Gauge” collects green leaves for good behavior w/VIDEO

Ford “Smart Gauge″ collects green leaves for good behavior w/VIDEO originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by AutoblogGreen Staff

Filed under: Hybrid, Saturn, First Drive

We attended the New York-area “GM Collection″ event this week, which is basically an opportunity for journalists to drive a variety of 2009 models up at Bear Mountain, an hour or so outside Manhattan. What we didn′t know going in was that GM would bring along three production-spec examples of the ‘09 Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid, and that this would be the first opportunity to take the new gas-electric ‘ute for a spin. Bear in mind that this impression is based on about 25 minutes of shared time with the car (we buddied up with Jalopnik’s Wes Siler). The official full-dog-and-pony-show media launch event is set to take place in December, and we’ll be on hand for that as well. For now though, follow the jump to see some initial impressions of the new Saturn hybrid.

All Photos Copyright (C) 2008 Alex Núñez / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2009 Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid

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Original post by Alex Nunez

Filed under: Hybrid, Legislation and Policy, Green Daily, USA

If your goal is to do nothing more than cutting down your petroleum usage for either political or environmental reasons, a small car or hybrid seems to be the way to go. If your desire is solely to save money, there are many more costs to factor into your decision. One of them is insurance, as a recent study suggests that small cars and hybrids are considerably more expensive to insure on average than their larger and hungrier siblings. For instance, all other things being equal, a Honda CR-V is less expensive to insure than a Honda Civic by an average of $412 per year. Another? The Toyota Camry hybrid will cost you $650 more than its non-hybrid counterpart. Some reasons why the numbers are what they are include higher repair costs and the fact that compact cars are sometimes stolen more often than larger cars and SUVs. We should add that shopping around can prove valuable, as some insurers actually provide discounts for fuel-savers.

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid

One of the key functions necessary to maximize the capability of hybrid and electric vehicles is regenerative braking. For those who haven’t been paying attention, regenerative braking uses the property of electric motors where mechanically driving the motor causes it to act as a generator producing electric current. In order to facilitate this, a brake system that can monitor the driver’s braking request and then seamlessly blend the maximum amount of regenerative braking with a corresponding amount of friction is needed. All of the major electronic braking system suppliers including Bosch, Continental Teves and TRW have developed such systems. TRW’s system, dubbed Slip Control Boost (SCB) had its first production application on the General Motors two-mode hybrid SUVs and the fuel cell Equinox that is being used for Project Driveway. Because hybrids and EVs don’t necessarily have a vacuum source available for brake boost, the SCB system incorporates a hydraulic brake booster and a high pressure accumulator to supply brake pressure on demand. SCB also provides full slip control functionality, including ABS, traction control and stability control. TRW has just announced a second-generation version SCʖ that is 25 percent smaller and lighter than the original. The SCʖ system can also be used on diesel vehicles to replace the vacuum pump or hydraulic assist systems for the brakes. This should also be a lower cost which will contribute to automakers reducing the costs of their hybrid and electric vehicles.

Full disclosure: prior to becoming a full-time writer last year, I worked as a controls software engineer at TRW and worked on the original SCB system.

[Source: TRW]

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: Hybrid

According to a recent report by JPMorgan Chase & Co, the average cost surcharge for a hybrid drivetrain will go down by 67 percent in the next decade. This means that using both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine under the same hood will cost both automakers and consumers less money. What will be the big driver of these cost reductions? Demand. According to the same study, in a decade, hybrid sales will account for 10 percent of the overall market, which equals 9.6 million units or an increase of 16 times their current market share. We know for sure that automakers have some pretty big plans for the technology, with such cars as the revised Toyota Prius, new Honda Insight and the first-ever Chevy Volt all expected to hit the market in the next few years. Of course, diesel technology is rapidly accelerating as well and its costs would theoretically go down as more oil-burners are sold. What’s clear, though, is that fuel-saving will be a priority moving forward, regardless of the technology used, and the costs are on their way down.

[Source: Bloomberg]

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: Diesel, Hybrid, Mercedes Benz

AMG is the wholly-owned subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz that transforms mainstream models into super performing beasts. As such it has never been known as a champion of efficiency, but this is about to change. AMG chief Volker Mornhinweg recently spoke to Britain’s CAR about future products that are being developed or considered. AMG has clearly demonstrated that it knows how to extract extraordinary amounts of power form Mercedes engines. Given the reality of fuel prices and emissions requirements, ever increasing power is no longer a suitable path. However, AMG wouldn’t be what it is without performance so the engineers will seek new directions that require less power and consumption. That means lighter weight materials for new models so that smaller engines can be used. The AMG engineers will also move beyond straight gasoline internal combustion power. In the next few years, AMG will introduce a model using the new mild hybrid system that debuts in the S400 BlueHybrid next year. That model should beat the current AMG 6.2L V8 by 30 percent in fuel economy but have similar performance. Diesel will also be part of the picture although the focus for AMG will be higher performance diesels than Mercedes currently sells. A twin turbocharged version of the 3.0L V6 diesel used through much of the current lineup could rival the BMW dual turbo six that is used in the 335d and 535d.

[Source: CAR]

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: Hybrid, Honda

Honda has launched a new mini-site - oh, excuse me, a mini-insight - that displays information about its hybrid vehicle lineup in all sorts of flashy goodness. Of course, the star of the show is the new Honda Insight, which was unveiled in Paris last week. On top of that, the dedicated site has information on the old Insight, the Accord hybrid, the Civic hybrid, the CR-Z and the Jazz hybrid, along with press releases from 2007 and 2008 about the latest models. To visit the site, go here and click on the “launch” button.

This is Honda’s second major online development that features the Insight. The first is the Insight blog, “a Honda blog that follows the journey of our latest hybrid.” Whether you prefer the chatty nature of the Honda blog or the more straightforward minisite, Honda wants you to know that their Prius-fighter has arrived online. We’ve noticed, but we’re really waiting for the car to show up in dealer lots.

[Source: Honda]

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: Hybrid, Mercedes Benz

A week after Mercedes-Benz announced details of its first hybrid, battery supplier Continental Automotive has launched production of the battery packs. Mercedes will be the first manufacturer to mass produce a hybrid vehicles with lithium ion batteries. Continental spent €3 million to build the battery manufacturing facility in Nuremberg. The first batteries that being produced weigh 55 lbs and have a volume of just under 0.5 cu. ft. When the Mercedes S400 BlueHybrid launches in mid-2009 with this 120V battery pack it will be installed in the engine compartment in place of the standard 12V lead acid battery.

Since this is the first mass market automotive application of a lithium battery, Mercedes and Continental are being extra careful. The battery is designed to last a minimum of 10 years and 100,000-150,000 miles so Continental has developed a sophisticated monitoring system to make sure that it operates within normal operating parameters. Each individual cell is monitored to keeps loads balanced and ensure even charging and discharging. Continental had to develop special processes to weld the copper bus bars that act as cell interconnects. The whole battery is enclosed inside of a laser-welded stainless steel case. The initial production capacity of the factory is 15,000 units a year and that can easily be doubled.

[Source: Continental]

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid