Hybrid News

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Toyota

While the main storyline for Consumer Reports‘ February issue revolves around the new Hyundai Genesis and its toppling of the mighty Lexus ES350 as the mag’s top-rated entry-level luxury sedan, another tidbit of information regarding next month’s rag caught our attention. Apparently, CR purchased a Hymotion L5 plug-in Prius conversion kit from A123 Systems, and testing proved to be a mixed bag. We don’t have full details to share regarding the kit’s installation or full fuel mileage statistics, but CR’s press release indicates that the PHEV managed to increase its mpg rating from 42 to 67 over the first 35 miles of driving. Perhaps this will be an ongoing series from the consumer-oriented publication. While that kind of mileage increase is meaningful, it would take a very long time to recoup the $11,000 purchase price of Hymotion’s kit. Still, “the technology itself proved viable,” according to CR.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Continue reading Consumer Reports tests plug-in Prius conversion, finds it lacking

Consumer Reports tests plug-in Prius conversion, finds it lacking originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Toyota

Dr. John Patten of Western Michigan University recently installed one of HyMotion’s ˽ plug-in conversion kits in his Toyota Prius as part of his work in educating people on alternative energy. The HyMotion kit is the first commercially available system that allows Priuses to become plug-in hybrids. Half of the total cost was paid for by the university with the rest coming from a Michigan Community Energy Project grant. Patten will conduct seminars and demonstrations at events around the state to help make people aware that the technology for plug-in hybrids is available. Patten also had a wind turbine installed at the school’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences to be used as part of his research into alternative and renewable energy. A student will also be working with the professor on analyzing energy data with the now pluggable-Prius.

Hopefully, Patten will also explain to people the limitations of such conversions. Unlike the Chevy Volt, say, the electric drive system in the Prius is not designed to provide full range electric operation. Anyone who has tried driving current hybrids in electric mode will be fully aware of the very light foot required to keep the engine from starting. A conversion like this will not yield a car that you can just unplug and driving normally without the engine for 30-40 miles. Nonetheless, this $10,000 kit can yield significant improvements in mileage. Learn more here.

[Source: Kalamazoo Gazette]

Michigan engineering professor installs HyMotion PHEV kit in his Prius originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Green Daily

Part aeroplane, part electric car, a new EV by Howard Hughes (not that Howard Hughes), a designer for Ballina will be on the roads in Australia by June. The Northern Star reports on a prototype vehicle called the Roade that would have a 60 km (37 miles) range using lead acid batteries and a 96 volt motor. Alternately, the specs say that a NiCd battery would offer a 150 km (93 miles) range and Li-ion batteries would push that to 220 km (136 miles). Hughes and his team expect a top speed of 100 kmh (62 mph) in the car big enough for two adults and two kids (2+2 seating). If the Roade ever makes it to prodution, it’ll probably cost between $25,000 and $40,000 Australian ($17,100 and $27,370 US), depending on the battery type. So, what’s your New Year’s resolution/project?

[Source: Northern Star via EVWorld]

Ballina designer working on the Roade electric car originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Saturn

The other day we mentioned that it looked like the plug-in hybrid version of the Saturn Vue had been delayed as result of GM’s current financial calamity. GM spokesman Brian Corbett gave ABG the following update about the status of the PHEV Vue program. “Our original statement said that production would begin ‘as soon as 2010′ because we did not want to create artificial deadlines. We have dedicated significant resources to the program and it is progressing rapidly. Now that we are further along in the development process, we can now give a more up-to-date projection.” While Corbett did not officially confirm a delay, stories from the original announcement at the 2006 LA Auto Show indicate that GM never actually announced a 2009 date. From what we’re hearing from sources at GM, the PHEV is still moving ahead and will go into production and it will likely debut sometime in 2011. Given the importance of the Volt to GM and the limited resources it has at the moment, it makes sense for them to focus on the ER-EV first. Work is proceeding on the VUE and knowledge learned about lithium batteries and controls is being applied to the PHEV.

[Source: General Motors]

More on the delay of the plug-in Saturn Vue hybrid originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Saturn

During the General Motors third quarter earnings (or lack thereof) conference call on Friday, company executives discussed the vehicle introduction schedule for 2009 and 2010. Several cars that had been expected to debut during 2009 have been pushed back to the following year, including the Saab 9-4X and Cadillac CTS Coupe. GM declined to discuss any vehicles beyond the 2010 calendar year. One vehicle that notable by its absence in the list of vehicle launches is the Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid. The two-mode hybrid version of the Vue is launching production right about now and the first drives are due in about a month. The plug-in variant that was expected to launch late in 2009, although GM has never given an official date, only approximate targets. A late 2009 production launch would have made the Vue among the first, if not the first production PHEVs on market. During the call, GM president Fritz Henderson explained that the list was not exhaustive. At this point we’re still waiting to hear more from GM on the fate of the PHEV Vue.

[Source: CNN Money]

Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid delayed to 2011 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 09 Nov 2008 11:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Toyota

At least a few dozen people around the country have now done one-off conversions of hybrids like the Toyota Prius and Ford Escape to transform them into plug-in vehicles. For those who may not have the hardware hacker gene in their DNA, the first commercially available plug-in conversion kit is now on the market from A123 Systems subsidiary HyMotion. Popular Mechanics Detroit Editor Larry Webster recently had the chance to sample a converted Prius with the HyMotion kit for a couple of days. The kit consists of a 5 kWh lithium ion battery and associated electronics that are claimed to give the Prius a 30-mile electric range. As Larry found out this isn′t exactly true. The pack will give the Prius up to 30 miles of driving before the battery is depleted. However, the Prius is not designed as an electric vehicle and the 67 hp electric motor is insufficient to let it operate on electrons alone at all speeds. With a very light foot on the gas pedal you can get up up to about 35 mph without the engine. Even at higher speeds, Larry found the engine would occasionally shutoff allowing the car to run on batteries. At lower speeds however, the engine will occasionally start up depending on the driving condition so that 30-mile range is really mixed mode driving. During Larry′s time with the Prius he got about 24-25 miles before the lithium battery was depleted. Given the $10,000 price tag of the kit, this looks likes its strictly for the environmentally-minded rather than those trying to save money.

[Source: Popular Mechanics]

Popular Mechanics tries out the A123/Hymotion PHEV Prius originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Toyota

Ever since the debut of the Chevy Volt concept in January 2007, some people have been wondering about Toyota′s attitude toward plug-in vehicles. This situation was not helped by some negative comments by Toyota executives in fall 2007 denigrating the concept of a extended range EV. Toyota has since shown some prototype plug-in hybrid Priuses and committed to offering a plug-in version of the next gen Prius starting in late 2009. Nonetheless, Toyota has also said repeatedly that the company doesn′t feel that lithium batteries are ready yet for prime time in the mass market. On the company’s Open Road blog today, VP Communications, Irv Miller reiterates Toyota’s commitment to building plug-in hybrids. Toyota will start regular assembly line production of lithium ion batteries at its Panasonic EV joint venture later in 2009 to supply the initial volumes PHEV Priuses. Miller makes clear that Toyota is going slow with initial production in order to ensure the reliability of the packs, something which remains a big question mark for automotive applications. Companies like GM are moving aggressively to do accelerated testing of lithium batteries, but until significant quantities are being used in real world applications, there is no way to know for sure if the testing is accurate. The other issue as Miller describes it, is understanding how drivers will use PHEVs in the real world. This is necessary to make sure that they build the right kind of car with the right capabilities.

[Source: Toyota]

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Volkswagen

Volkswagen recently built twenty prototype diesel plug-in hybrid Golf prototypes for a field test of the technology. AutoExpress magazine in the UK recently had an opportunity to try out the so-called Twin-Drive Golf. The Twin-Drive combines a 1.5L diesel with electric drive and lithium ion batteries with plug-in capability. A pair of wheel motors turn the back wheels providing all wheel drive capability while a third motor and generator are combined with the diesel engine at the front axle. With a very light foot on the go pedal, the Twin-Drive can go to 31 mph on electricity alone. It can reportedly go 30 miles on a charge of its Sanyo battery pack. The plug-in hybrid hardware adds 550 lb of mass to the Golf but it yields up to 94.1 mpg (U.S.), according to VW. AutoExpress says the even distribution of the new mass keeps things balanced but the car does feel heavier than a standard Golf. It’s unlikely we’ll see a production VW with this configuration anytime soon though. The cost would simply be prohibitive.

[Source: AutoExpress]

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Legislation and Policy

When Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson first proposed last week that Congress should give him $700 billion to do with as he pleased in an attempt to save Wall St, the plan ran a staggering two and a half pages. That’s because the plan essentially consisted of “Give Hank the money, and then go away and he’ll take care of everything without supervision.” Congress, of course, was going to have none of that and set about writing a bill in more typical congressional fashion. That means lots of extra stuff added, bringing the bill that passed in the Senate the other day to a more Congressional 451 pages. All the extra stuff, including pet projects, got added on, for example a reported $150 billion in extra spending.

One particular $1 billion chunk of that extra money has been earmarked to provide cash back to American drivers who opt to buy plug-in vehicles. Tax credits starting at $4,168 (there’s a nice round number for you) will go to people to buy a vehicle with a battery pack that has at least 4 kWh of capacity. From there the credits ramp up to $7,500 for vehicles with a 16 kWh pack. For those that haven’t been paying attention, that just happens to be the size of the pack in the Chevy Volt. Medium and heavy duty trucks with plug-in capability are also eligible for credits of $10-15,000.

[Source: Detroit News]

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep

Chrysler’s co-president continued to talk up his employer’s plans for electrically-driven vehicles this week at a media luncheon in California. Press told the gathering that he had driven three different producible prototypes of plug-in hybrid vehicles recently. The vehicles have been developed by the new ENVI unit that was established in late 2007 specifically to work on electric vehicles. According to Press, the vehicles can accelerate from 0-60 mph in four seconds and have a range of over 300 miles. Press hasn′t said when these vehicles would be built, but earlier this summer, company officials indicated a 3-5 year timeline to produce such vehicles. If so that would put the company at least 1-2 years behind the expected launch of the Chevrolet Volt and a potential plug-in version of the Toyota Prius. For production, it’s likely that the performance of the cars would be dialed back significantly in order to increase electric range although a higher-performance Dodge vehicle is not out of the question.

[Source: Los Angeles Times]
Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Toyota

Toyota President, Katsuaki Watanabe this week announced that the start of fleet testing for plug-in capable Priuses had been moved up by a year. At this year’s Detroit Auto Show, Watanabe announced that several hundred Priuses with the ability to be plugged in would be delivered to government and commercial fleets in 2010 for field testing. That schedule has been adjusted so that the PHEVs would now be introduced in early 2009 with several hundred on the road by the end of the year. Over on the Toyota Open Road Blog, communications VP Irv Miller makes it clear though that no timetable has been set for retail sales of these cars and that it won’t happen until Toyota is well and truly confident that the lithium ion batteries are safe, reliable and affordable. He also calls out a Palo Alto, CA Toyota dealer for beginning to take deposits on the cars. While applauding the dealership’s initiative he stresses that no one knows when a PHEV Prius will actually be available to the public, including Toyota’s dealer network.

[Source: Toyota]

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Toyota

Speaking at this week’s Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, MI, Toyota advanced powertrain program manager Justin Ward reiterated the company’s plans to offer hybrid drive systems in every one of its model lines by the end of the next decade. Toyota already has more vehicles with hybrid systems than anyone else, but will need next-generation systems to support larger vehicles like the Tundra pickup, assuming it is still building full-size trucks in 2020. On the subject of fuel cell systems, Ward described the progress the company has made on efficiency (and hence range) as well as performance and durability. However, cost and durability issues still have a way to go and there is the whole issue of hydrogen production and distribution.

On the topic of plug-in vehicles, Ward showed a healthy dose of skepticism. According to Ward, in spite of studies showing that 70 percent of commutes are less than 40 miles per day, having plug-ins with a range of only 40 miles would only cover about 35 percent of total miles traveled. The energy required to charge plug-in vehicles also poses problems. Plug-in proponents point to most vehicles being plugged in at night and taking advantage of off-peak generation and lower costs. Ward told his audience that a study of night time generation indicates that the vast majority of it comes from coal fired power plants. Until carbon sequestration becomes mainstream at power plants the use of coal generated electricity, regardless of time of day won’t have as much impact on CO₂ as plug-in advocates would like.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req’d]

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Hybrid, Transportation Alternatives, AutoblogGreen Q & A, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Legislation and Policy

Listen in to a fascinating conversation that took place yesterday on green car politics, featured on the radio show, “Your Call.” (KALW, 91.7 FM, San Francisco, CA). The show gave me a chance to discuss some of my research on “The Clean Car Movement,” and also featured Meghan Sinott (Organizer for the Car Free Cities Conference in Portland, OR), Michou Olivera (Co-Owner of Luscious Garage, San Francisco), and Russ Heimerich (Spokesman for California Bureau of Automotive Affairs Drive Healthy Campaign).

Some of the topics we discussed include whether green cars obscure public transportation alternatives, who defines what a “green” car is, and what alternatives exist today for consumers looking for the greenest possible options. Near the end of the show, Michou Olivera, who also repairs muscle cars on the weekends, gives a strong defense for the continued use of the internal combustion engine. I guess she never drove a Tesla….

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Original post by Shannon Arvizu

Filed under: Biodiesel, Ethanol, EV/Plug-in, Flex-Fuel, Hybrid, MPG, Legislation and Policy, USA

Democratic Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has proposed a new ten-year $150 billion energy plan today in Michigan. A large part of the plan centers around transportation — both the use of petroleum and the types of cars we are to drive in the future. For automakers, $4 billion in loans and loan guarantees would be made available for PHEV development, with one-million of the vehicles to be ready for sale by 2015. For consumers, a $7,000 tax credit would be offered for their purchase of said vehicle. Also, in a more short-term effort, Obama proposes that the U.S. sells some seventy-million barrels of oil from America’s strategic petroleum reserve.

While those PHEVs are being developed, Obama’s plan would increase fuel economy standards 4-percent per year. What’s more, Obama would mandate at least 60 billion gallons of advanced biofuels by 2030 while requiring that fuel producers reduce their fuel’s carbon emissions by 5 percent within 5 years and 10 percent within 10 years. To make those biofuels have as large an impact as possible, all new vehicles would be required to have flex-fuel capability within four years.

Lastly, the entire White House fleet will be converted to plug‐ins within one year (does this include the new presidential limo that will debut in January?) and half of all cars purchased by the federal government will be plug‐in hybrids or all‐electric by 2012. See the entire plan in .pdf form at this link.

[Source: Barack Obama - .pdf]

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Toyota, USA

Plug-In Supply has just released its new $4995 kit which converts your 2004-2008 Prius into a Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle (PHEV). Because the system is based on the Cal Cars reference design and uses lead-acid batteries as opposed to the more expensive lithium or nickel-based batteries, this new kit is cheaper than many other PHEV conversion options. According to Plug-In Supply, the kit will allow your Prius to operate in electric-only mode for up to fifteen miles and at speeds of up to fifty-two miles per hour. Getting 15 miles out of a lead acid pack will be a real stretch given that Toyota is only getting eight with a NiMH pack in its prototype PHEV Priuses. Getting a Prius up to 52 mph on batteries will also take a long time with the size of the electric motor used and all of this will absolutely, possitively void any warranty you may have left. The lead-acid batteries which help make this new kit relatively affordable aren′t likely to last the life of the vehicle. Therefore, the pack has been designed to be upgradeable to lithium batteries in the future. Due to the 360-pound weight of the included battery pack, heavy-duty springs have also been made available for the rear of the Prius.

While it still may not make sound economic sense, this kit proves that the costs associated with creating PHEVs is going down. Those living in California, though, might be hard-pressed to purchase a kit such as this if CARB passes its new regulations, as kits using lead-acid batteries may find it rather difficult to meet some of the proposed requirements.

[Source: Plug-In Supply]

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski