Cars, trucks and more

Hyundai’s hybrid weapon?
A couple of years ago, when it was speculated that Toyota would use lithium in the third generation Prius, I thought the world of hybrid cars was ready to explode. Unfortunately, Toyota chose the safe and reliable path and stuck with NiMH.
Since then, there has been a lot of talk about lithium chemistry’s, [...]

Hybrid sales versus hybrid tax credits
I was just checking out some data provided by Hybridcarreview that seeks to find out the impact of tax credits for hybrid cars and the sales of hybrids.
Ultimately, this summer, Toyota Prius sales proved that tax credits are largely irrelevant when energy prices are higher. For other hybrids, the data [...]

Recession-fighter?
Had Honda launched the fantastically aerodynamically designed Insight hybrid at this time last year, it would have been impossible for Honda to match demand.
This year, however, is a whole different matter. Cheaper gas, a dead car buyers market, and a deep recession make the car business a bad business to be in these days.
Still, the [...]

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.
Labels: Highlander hybrid, honda civic hybrid, toyota camry hybrid, toyota prius
hybridcarblog.com

One Prius in the bunch
Of the eight members so far named to the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry and their 10 senior aides, two own American vehicles according to the DetroitNews. Just one owns a hybrid.
I don’t know if that means that Detroit is in trouble, but this news bothers me nonetheless.
It reminds [...]

Plug-in conversions could be one way
A few weeks ago I was hanging out with a friend of a friend during part of a bachelor party weekend. While everyone else was golfing, we hung out at the Sports Book in the Venetian Casino. As we didn’t really know each other, we eventually got into jobs, life, [...]

A fun, fuel efficient sporty hybrid
Honda might not be the biggest automaker on the planet, but it is certainly one of the smartest, which makes many of Honda’s recent moves very interesting.
For instance, Honda has been one of the few automakers to resist the PR campaigns most automakers have now rolled out to promote various [...]

A plug-in hybrid at HybridFest
Ford and Johnson Controls-Saft have agreed to a 5 year partnership where Johnson Controls will provide lithium batteries, as well as “mechanical, electrical, electronic and thermal components” for Ford’s plug-in hybrid vehicles.
The first plug-in hybrids developed under the partnership will hit the road in 2012 and the partnership has a goal [...]

GM takes 2nd in December, but not the year
In December GM sold more hybrid vehicles than both Honda and Ford, led by GM’s large dual mode SUVs, such as the Chevy Tahoe hybrid. In December, GM sold 2,555 hybrids, although about 800 of them were mild hybrids.
For 2008, however, both Ford and Honda sold significantly [...]

A diesel hybrid concept from Peugeot
Peugeot will begin selling hybrid cars in 2011 according to new reports. Accordingly, Peugeot will partner with Bosch to build a number of diesel hybrid vehicles. InsideLine reports, “Bosch will supply Peugeot with electric motors and the electronic systems for PSA Peugeot Citroën’s four-wheel-drive diesel hybrids. The company will also [...]