So you own a Prius but have never been able to get to that magic number. Now before many of you non-hybrid user’s start thinking that magic is involved let me warn you, no magic is involved. Every Prius hyrbid driver dreams of getting 50 MPG, but sometimes dreams do not always come true. I [...]

Recent research tends to point out that hybrids do not pose any greater harm than its conventional gas cousin as long as “all safety procedures as outlined by the drivers safety manual are followed”, in event of a crash. Ok, now who in the hell reads the drivers manual word for word, please raise your [...]

GM has teamed up Chrysler & BMW, and have plans on taking on Toyota and its hybrid technology head on. Now we all know two brains are better than one, lets see what we get out of three. Imagine the amount of resources these guys will be pooling together, instead of competing with each other, [...]

High gas prices now make it worth owning a hybrid. Previously many auto car analyst did make sense when they said “Do not buy a hybrid if you plan on saving money at the pump”. However, times have changed and the auto research gurus are having a change of heart. Last week, Edmunds analysts reversed [...]

The last three weeks have been crazy, especially since I got a job offer and started work three weeks ago, I have been swamped, but now that things are finally getting down to a routine (sort of), I was totally cut off from the rest of the world, gas prices are at $78 a barrel, [...]

Newsflash from GM (apparently off the record), GM plans on building a plug-in hybrid that can be recharged from any domestic electric outlet. GM plans on unveiling this car at the Detroit Auto Show next year. GM now wants a share of the hybrid market which the Big Three lost out to Toyota. General Motors [...]

At 24K plus the new 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid is not overtly priced. Even though the difference between the conventional model and the hybrid is about $1500, is this car worth spending the extra cash and getting a hybrid which is much heavier and has less boot/trunk space. The Hybrid teams a 4-cyl gas engine [...]

The next step in hybrid SUV development is to create a clean burning diesel-electric hybrid. The University of Wisconsin has entered “Moovada” in essence a Chevy Equinox which has been modified and has been entered in the Challenge X. The way current gas prices have been and since the trend is only going to rise [...]

My hybrid dream car would be a vehicle that does not stick out like a sore thumb by closely resembling a box. Even if I where able to buy a Toyota Prius, one problem I see when driving that car is that the way the rear end of the Prius has been designed. I believe [...]

Toyota Motor said Tuesday that it planned to begin a global voluntary recall of nearly 320,000 of its hot-selling Prius gasoline-electric hybrid sedans to repair a potentially faulty steering system component. Apparently this recall is not specific to the Prius, Toyota is recalling 9 more models. Several faulty parts in the steering wheel system may [...]

Look what we have here, a hybrid SUV from GM. Saturn’s VUE Greenline Hybrid, costing around 23k, with an EPA estimate of 27/32 city/hwy mpg, I say the only good thing about this SUV is the fact that it only cost 23k. My Mazda3 (which is not a hybrid) gives me the same mileage and [...]

Plug-in hybrids may soon become a reality: Last week in Washington, DC — even as top executives from Ford, Chrysler, and GM asked lawmakers to subsidize the installation of more ethanol pumps at filling stations — makers of new battery systems were letting U.S. senators test-drive prototype cars that get over 100 miles per gallon, [...]

NYC already has 6 Ford Escape Hybrid cabs on the streets. Now Hybrid Technologies plans to build a battery-powered car, in this case, convert a PT Cruiser to run only on a 320V lithium-ion battery, weighing in at over 600 pounds and has a recharge cycle life of around 1500 charges. The downside for cabbies [...]

Last week BMW, DaimlerChrysler & GM unveiled plans of their two-mode hybrid system at a conference in Vienna. This consortium aka Global Hybrid Corp. plans on introducing this hybrid system in its SUV’s and trucks, starting with the 2008 Chevy Tahoe. Hopefully these guys plan on introducing this new two-mode hybrid system in sedans and [...]

The Toyota Camry Hybrid is out on the roads folks. Price approximately at $25,000 (approx.). Now this car for people like me, falls in the hybrid luxury vehicle class. The Camry hybrid has got a EPA fuel rating of 40 MPG, 43/37 city/hwy mpg as per Toyota specs released. In any case with a 17 [...]

Probably in a couple of years down the road people will be able to buy a Ford PHEV. The California Cars Initiative and University of California at Davis Professor Andy Frank today welcomed Ford Motor Co CEO Bill Ford, Jr.’s acknowledgment that the company is exploring plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) technology. These are the [...]

The question all possible hybrid car buyers who are looking for a hybrid cheaper than the current ones on the market (Prius, Honda, Ford, etc) which cost 24k and above, is when will Toyota produce a hybrid Yaris. Honda already plans on producing the Fit as a hybrid. The Yaris is a subcompact car and [...]

A team of students at the Thayer School of Engineering hosted Formula Hybrid, the first collegiate car race to use only hybrid and electric vehicles, at the New Hampshire International Speedway on Thursday. Even though Dartmouth and McGill University (Krissy and my alma mater) were the only two teams to compete, events like these promote [...]

Driving on the road one can easily spot a Toyota Prius, but since other automakers including Toyota have come out with different hybrid models, its pretty difficult differentiating between a similar hybrid from its conventional counterpart. I keep looking for that little energy sign on the back of the cars. So in an effort to [...]

Extreme hybrid cars are set to change the whole auto industry, I mean an extreme PHV that could get between 150-250 mpg. Now before anyone goes and says where can we get one of these cars, hold your horses, AFS Trinity Power Corp. has just file a patent application for the extreme hybrid drive-train, check [...]

Currently there is speculation that Honda is planning on producing a hybrid Fit subcompact model which will come with a 1.0 litre engine, with 60 mpg. Honda plans on launching the hybrid Fit in mid 2007. The conventional engine model is priced at about 13K, so the the hybrid model will probably cost about 20K [...]

We all know about the fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions of hybrid vehicles. But something every car owner has at the top of the list is vehicle safety ratings. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a non-profit, scientific organization that is dedicated to highway safety. They have given the 2004-06 Toyota Prius models [...]

From the beginning of the year till April 2006 Ford has sold 2,800 hybrid vehicles. Ford plans on selling 250,000 hybrids by 2010. Even though these hybrid SUV’s get about 35 mpg in the city,unfortunately Ford still has about 3,900 hybrid Escapes and Mariners in stock. So if you absolutely need an SUV, then at [...]

Green Car Journal Online is carrying out longitudinal test on the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Preliminary results show that this hybrid SUV nets 31/27 city/hwy mpg. According to Toyota estimates its is supposed to net 33/28 city/hwy mpg. The Highlander hybrid according to EPA guidelines has a air pollution score between 8 or 9 and a [...]

With soaring gas prices currently between $2.83 – $2.95 in Ypsilanti, MI, even hybrid car drivers are feeling the pinch, allbeit not as much as the conventional car owners. Companies such as CalCars, California’s EDrive Systems and Canada’s Hymotion are offering consumers the option of converting they current hybrids in to higher fuel saving plug-in [...]

Nissan is being extremely secretive and is only revealing limited information about the new 2007 Altima Hybrid. The Altima Hybrid continues Nissan’s best-selling car’s performance tradition in a new variation – a hybrid powertrain mates the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and Xtronicâ„¢ CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) with an electric motor and generator that increases fuel economy [...]

The completely redesigned 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid has won the World Car of the Year Award for greenest car. In an earlier post I said if I where to buy a sedan today, I would probably go for the 2006 Honda Civic hybrid based on its performance and the fact that when compared over the [...]

GM plans to launch the Saturn Aura Greenline Hybrid sedan by the end of this year. GM had a low key launch event at the New York International Auto Show for this car. Even though there is only a 20% increase in fuel economy when compared to the Saturn Vue SUV (using the same hybrid [...]

Here are some of the “Hybrids” which we should plan on seeing going on sale sometime between now and 2008. All these cars where showcased at the New York International Auto Show. Nissan Altima Hybrid 2007. Saturn Aura Greenline Hybrid to go on sale by the end of 2006. Lexus LX 600h Luxury Hybrid. For [...]

Did you know that the Toyota Prius emits 90% fewer harmful pollutants than a comparable conventional engine in its class. Hybrids are definitely environmentally friendly. Cost more than conventional vehicles in its class (upto $6000). So if you think you are going to save money on gas forget it. Tax breaks are available, but beware [...]

Toyota is bringing its Fine-T fuel cell hybrid in-wheel motor concept car to the New York Auto Show next week. The concept made its world premier at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show as the Fine-X. I was reading the postings at the bottom of this article and for some reason the main problem was whether [...]

Toyota plans on launching the Next-Gen Prius by 2008. The engineers at Toyota are redesigning the entire electrical system and also plan on moving over to lithium-ion batteries instead of the NiMH packs which are being used at the momemt. A car that actually gives 94mpg, look out competition. Not bad for Toyota, a company [...]

Students at a suburban Detroit high school have designed a four-wheel hybrid vehicle. Unlike conventional hybrids, it supplements its electric motor with pedal power, not a gasoline engine. Daimler Chrysler AG and the Detroit Science Center have sponsored a competition called 2006 Closing the Technology Gap in Education Awards, in which 170 entries were made, [...]

The first of several retrofitted Toyota Prius Plug-in hybrids by EnergyCS have been delivered to California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to undergo test trials. Preliminary test results have indicated that these plug-in hybrids can average about 100mpg by combining charging the car from an outlet at home and current hybrid technology. Using [...]

Amberjac Plug-In Prius: Hail the 130mpg car Clever new electrics and batteries have transformed a hybrid into an amazing car….. Now these guys have taken a Toyota Prius and reversed-engineered this puppy to give more mpg. Now another main factor to remember is that one has to change his/her driving habit if one to to [...]

As Americans become increasingly interested in fuel economy and global warming, they are beginning to make choices about the vehicles they drive… Yesterday I posted a comparison between my Mazda 3 and the Honda Accord Hybrid, using the Gas mileage impact calculator on the Hybrid Cars website, the results were interesting (Honda Accord Hybrid Vs [...]

Toyota in the UK has recalled all first-generation Prius hybrids after it was discovered the hybrid battery pack can leak. The leakage, which Toyota says does not pose a safety threat, can affect all models sold in the period of 2000-03 and affects 1,239 petrol/electric…. If memory serves me right (Iron Chef), sometime last year [...]

If you want to view a clip from South Park’s “Smug Alert” episode go to http://www.hybridcars.com/south-park-hybrid-smug.html

Japan’s Nihon Keizai Shimbun reports that Toyota Motor plans to offer gasoline-electric hybrid versions for all vehicle classes to meet its target of quadrupling annual worldwide hybrid sales to 1 million vehicles by 2012… What does that mean for us the potential hybrid buyers? Yes, you read my mind and this article, this will lower [...]

Up to 40 Dodge Sprinter Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) will be placed in operation with customers in California, Kansas City and New York among other locations within the United States. So now DaimlerChrysler are having its customers test drive these new hybrid cars, what I found interesting was that if you wanted to drive [...]

Subaru has confirmed plans to make a diesel version of the popular Liberty/Legacy. Parent company Fuji Heavy Industries’ turbodiesel development program appears to have been fruitful, with Subaru Australia expected to offer a diesel version of the Liberty within 18 months. I could not get any specs on the new diesel Legacy/Liberty model, but the [...]

Toyota Motor Sales said Monday the new 2007 Camry Hybrid sedan will have a base sticker price of $25,900, plus shipping, that’s $6,580 more than a similar four-cylinder 2007 Camry with automatic transmission but without its Hybrid Synergy Drive system. See what I mean, I like said in my post yesterday about new technology being [...]

In continuation of yesterdays post about research being supported by the EPA at Univ. of Toledo, I just wanted to make it clear as to why the work these people are doing is extremely important, we all have a basic sense about how hybrid cars such as the Toyota Prius and its relatives use the [...]

Alert all hybrid car owners especially those in Michigan, if you were wondering where would you go once that bumper-to-bumper warranty elapsed, then this news should put you to ease. Macomb County Community College in Warren, Michigan plans to start a 16-week hybrid repair course for its 950 students for the academic year 2006-07 school [...]

Did you know that only 16% of energy is transferred to the wheel from a conventional gasoline engine, and apparently 70% of it is lost in the form of heat via the exhaust and the radiator, and then divide the rest between drag, friction and braking. On the other hand a Toyota Prius transfers about [...]

By the looks of things there is a big push on car makers to develop a plug-in hybrid car that can travel a 100 miles on a single gallon of gasoline. The million dollar question is, are plug-in hybrids economically viable at this point of time and when the technology hits the market are hybrid [...]

If you plan on buying a hybrid and wish to take advantage of the tax breaks, which could amount to $3000 or even a bit more depending on certain factors. But hurry soon, because once the car manufacturer reaches the magic number (60,000) the tax credit will be phased out. Toyota is expected to hit [...]

EPA named the Honda Hybrid Insight as the most fuel efficient vehicle in its class (66 MPG/MT only). For under $21,000 this car is a sporty little thing. For a car with only 1.0L , 3 cylinder engine, this car sounds peppy and probably is too. Now here is a car I would like to [...]

Honda Accord Hybrid Toyota Prius Hybrid Price: Approx. $30,000 Approx. $20,000 MPG: 30/37 60/51 Engine: 3L V6 1.5L 4 cylinder Speed (0-60): 6.5 seconds 10.2 seconds Source: Vehix I wanted to see how the Honda Accord Hybrid was in comparison to the Toyota Prius, if you want a car with some oomph and the Honda [...]

Hybrid Myths: The Truth about Hybrids, go to the site and then at the bottom click on the slide show segment and check out the slide show put on by these guys. Fact: Over 100,000 Toyota Prius had been sold in the US in 2005. Myth: Hybrid batteries need replacing. Source:http://www.hybridcars.com/cars.html

There are some really fun cartoons about hybrids on Hybridcars.com. Source: http://www.hybridcars.com/cartoons/taxing-problem.html

Roadshow: Hybrid owners driven by desire to help environment, cut oil use. Check out the reasons hybrid car owners give for buying a Hybrid. Tomorow we will hear from the critics, so stay posted. Source: MercuryNews.com

So you bought a Honda Civic Hybrid, but no one notices the difference because the car does not pop out like the Toyota Prius. How much is it worth to you to make a social statement by driving a vehicle that’s green? If it’s attention you’re after, this may not be your car. Read on.

Nissan Altima (Toyota’s Hybrid Technology): Fall 2006 Toyota Camry: Fall 2006 Hyundai Accent/Kia Rio (Indigenous hybrid technology): Late 2006 Lexus GS: Spring 2006 Source: http://www.hybridcenter.org/hybrid-timeline.html

Nissan plans to unveil a hybrid in the Altima model in sometime in 2006. Nissan has bought the hybrid technology from Toyota. Instead of focusing primarily on fuel economy and reduced emissions, Nissan will try to match the performance and acceleration of non-hybrid models. So let see if Nissan can actually make these improvements to [...]

The Hybridcenter.org been set up by the Union of Concerned Scientist, who are citizens and scientist who care for our environment. If you are buying or reviewing or just want to know about a hybrid vehicle for someone other than the DOE and carmakers, you definitely need to check this site out, I found it [...]

All hybrids are are not necessarily green cars. So with this whole push for “go green” by automakers, we tend to forget that not all cars which are now coming under the “hybrid” label are actually not hybrids, go figure that now. And to think that I was actually going to trust the car manufacturers [...]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/transportation/14037080.htm I read this article and it goes to show that driving a green car can attract a lot of unwanted attention from other drivers.

Consumer Reports picked the Toyota Prius as one of it Top Ten picks and it came out a winner in the “green car” category which was based on it overall fuel economy at 44 mpg.

Here is a growing list of Hybrid cars on the road: Ford Escape Hybrid 2005 Honda Insight Hybrid 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid 2005 Honda Civic Hybrid 2005 Toyota Highlander 2005 Toyota Prius Hybrid 2005 Will add more as I got through the sites.

Any vehicle with two or more sources of power can be classified as a Hybrid vehicle. These vehicles run on a rechargeable (Traction) battery and gasoline. Some neat facts about Hybrid Cars: 1) Hybrid engines are made smaller and to accommodate the 99% of time when not going uphill or accelerating quickly. The battery kicks [...]