Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles

It’s no big secret that fuel prices for our gas- or diesel-guzzling vehicles costs a crap load more per mile than the necessary power required for an electric alternative vehicle. For the most part, electric cars are very clean, much less dependant on imported petroleum, quiet, and can be fully powered by renewable resources of electricity such as wind generation. A huge part of their previous unsuccessfulness was the fact that electric cars had very limited range.

With the new hybrid technology, though, that supposed unsuccessfulness is no longer an issue. You can add some extra electric batteries to an electric-gas vehicle and as long as you have a way to plug them in, you can expect to get a typical day’s mileage. But, thankfully, you still have a fuel tank for times when you either don’t have time to charge or replace your batteries, or when you need to go on a longer trip.

But just because the hybrid is perceived as “better” than the electric cars doesn’t mean that they don’t face challenges themselves. The largest challenge a plug-in hybrid will face is the weight and cost of batteries. Extensive research on modeling, thermal management, and solutions have been (and is still being) done on energy storing technology by NREL.

NREL’s engineers and scientists are also dedicated to improving power electronics crucial to the new cars’ efficiency, and do very extensive research on what areas hybrids can improve in. But, even with the rather hefty cost of today’s battery, plug-ins will be able to repay their debt within only a few years.
With energy efficient homes, it’s not hard to picture someone driving an electric car home from work, and plugging it into their solar powered house to draw energy.

Plugging your car into your house really wouldn’t require much electricity at all, as these cars get most of the electricity they need from renewable resources.

Nissan Plans to Recycle Electric Car Batteries

Many people are speculating that Nissan’s electric car battery recycle program may give the manufacturer an advantage over other electric car companies. If Nissan joins up with the famous Sumitomo Corp. the prices of their cars a likely to become much more affordable, which will indeed give them a leg up against competition. How exactly will it help? The trade in worth of the electric car batteries, of course! It’s definitely a smart and beneficial approach to the electric car. Not only will the environment benefit, so will costumers’ pockets! I’m willing to bet that it won’t be long before many other electric car manufacturers jump on that bandwagon.

It has been said that over the next ten years, the Ford Company plans to ‘electrify’ a large portion of their fleet. They hope to make anywhere from ten to twenty-five percent of its products (around eight-hundred-thousand to two-million cars, trucks, and SUVs) either hybrid (gas-electric) or full electric by the year 2020. Their first fully electric “Focus” is expected to be released in 2011. 2012 is expected to bring us bigger batteries and travels as far as thirty miles in electric mode.

Plug-ins aren’t that far off, either. Toyota is gearing up for a little hands on review of its plug-in prototypes a little later this year in Japan, Europe, and the US. Toyota plans to release five-hundred Prius plug-ins around January 1st, using their latest lithium-ion batteries rather than their old nickel-metal hydride currently faceted in the existing Prius.

It will mark a 3 year long endeavor by the auto company to get a realistic collection of data on the cars, and how they’ll do out in “the real world”. They want to know more realistically how the batteries will charge, how long they will last, and what kind of mileage we can expect to get. After that, engineers for the company will take the data and use it to make an even better and more widely available version.

Best Hybrid Cars 2009

Here you’ll find a compellation of all the best hybrid cars soon to be hitting the market. I’ve chosen these based on the gas efficiency and overall performance. All listed prices are in USD. Enjoy!

Mercury’s 2010 Milan Hybrid really is a tech car. It provides not only a very comfortable and wallet-friendly ride; it also offers amazing tech for both passengers and driver. Last time I checked, the average price for this little ditty was going to be 28k.

Lexus’s 2010 HS250h has a phenomenal cabin tech and wondrously comfortable refinements. There is a downside, however. When it comes to fuel economy, it’s average. It makes one wonder if it’s worth the 34k for a rather average car.

Honda’s 2010 Insight EX might not be as mpg impressive as the ever-popular Prius, it comes with navigation and can be seen as a better value (at only 21k) with a much more fun ride.

Toyota’s 2010 Prius (a name we all know by now) is much better than the previous Prius, though there is drastic room for improvement, especially in the cabin. This hybrid sells for roughly 27k.

Nissan’s 2009 Hybrid Altima might not give us the most high tech in cabin comforts, but it is a very fun drive and is quite economical. Sorry, no pricing on this one, guys!

Toyota’s on the list again with its 2009 Hybrid Camry. To some, the cabin might seem a little primitive, but it still gives us a damn good driving experience all the while providing extraordinary fuel economy and low emissions. Again, no pricing!

Cadillac’s 2009 Hybrid Escalade combines flamboyant lavishness with an openly green idea, while providing seating enough for seven plus cargo room. Not to mention the fuel economy commendable of a V-6. No pricing on this one.

Ford’s 2009 Limited Hybrid Escape is excellent for city dwellers who appreciate wallet-friendly fuel efficiency and an outstanding sync-based technical package, but for those of you having to commute on the freeways, you might find the high-speed handling unsettling. No pricing is available.

Lexus’s 2008 LS 600h is a very classy car with every tech you could possibly ask for, whether it’s in the cabin or under the hood. The ride and performance is amazing, and it’s even more environmentally friendly system gives it a leg up over similar luxury class competitors. No price on this one.

Hybrid Sports Cars to Torch the Future

It’s not hard to imagine a hybrid burning up the fast lane. With the rate at which many new types of hybrids are being churned out, an exotic, high powered, super-fast sports car is a very tangible item. If you’re a frequenter at major auto shows, the name “Eclipse Concept-E” shouldn’t be new. This high-performance sports car is a gas-electric hybrid from Mitsubishi.

The front wheels of the Concept-E are powered by a composite system using an electric 3.8 liter V6 motor which results in a 270 (combined) horsepower. Their E-Boost mechanism manages to convey an additional two-hundred horsepower to the back wheels from an electric motor behind the cabin. (This motor is powered by lithium-ion).

Subaru has also come out with the “Scrambler” electric hybrid concept. Andreas Zapatina’s design and craftsmanship is combined with the electric hybrid technology to bring you the sleek model. Subaru also has a unique HE drive that works flawlessly and smoothly with the all wheel drive. Impressively, it’s also available for adaptations to its already existing vehicle platforms.

Even though Mazda’s Miata hasn’t ever really left any large environmental footprint, Mazda is still working on making even cleaner and more efficient future for its sports car line. This is demonstrated best through Mazda’s latest Ibuki concept. This particular model harbors a hybrid power plant of sorts that kills idle time by automatically shutting down the car’s internal combustion engine when the car is stationary. This not only saves you money and fuel, it reduces the emissions output drastically. It also gives the car an electrical boost in acceleration once the car gets to going again.

While the technology may seem pretty knew, some designs for hybrid sports cars have been out as early as the 1990’s. The technology is still breathtaking, however, and a breath of fresh air. Imagine the day when sport scars might even run off of water. Cheap and fun!

Benefits of hybrid cars on the environment

As we all know by now, the new hybrid car technology is all the buzz today. It’s being presented as the major and compelling change to bring about the ultra-sleek, super efficient vehicle of tomorrow. It’s marketed as something that is easy on the environment. And it will supposedly relieve us from our dependence on limited fossil fuel reserves. We must wonder if all we hear is true, or if hybrids might be just as bad as more traditional vehicles, though.

With such new and promising technology, our cynical minds cannot help but wonder if we’re being lied to. I think the biggest question most people have is concerning the fossil fuel dependence. Can hybrid cars really be the solution? In order to figure this out for yourself, you need to know the basics. You must learn how the hybrids work, what their benefits are, and what disadvantages they hold.

Hybrids combine the best of both electric engines and gasoline engines. Hybrid technology has several benefits, including improved fuel consumption, increased power for a vehicle, economy of the vehicle, and to be able to add an auxiliary power source for various things that may require power. This sort of technology has really come a long ways over the last decade. It now includes such nifty features as driving assistance for the electric motor, regenerative braking, a completely automatic start-and-stop system, and many other options that will drastically increase the features and power of your hybrid vehicle, while still reducing your need for nonrenewable fuels.

Thanks to the electric component of the hybrid, less fuel is used and burned, meaning that less carbon and sulfur are released into the atmosphere. These new hybrids use the electricity that is generated as a result of the energy the car itself creates, which means you’ll be using a lot less fuel. You may be pleased to hear that there are some hybrid vehicles available that may use other renewable fuel supplies, such as biodiesel & ethanol. (Even though ethanol is actually not that great, as it uses much more nonrenewable resources to make ethanol than it does to make gasoline. It also drives up the cost of corn, which in turn drives up the cost of poultry and beef). These are known as hybrid fuels, as they are a combination of regular diesel or gasoline with environmentally conscience biodiesel or ethanol.

There are some advantages over full electric cars, like not needing to be recharged and the versatility (being able to use different fuels and electricity). But this means that it also still does put out some pollution because it still uses traditional fuel. Hybrid cars are pretty available both in quantities and price. Even if they cost a little more (not much) than a ‘normal’ car, the money they will save you over the course of their life will be astronomical. If everyone were to switch to hybrids, the environment would be impacted in a huge, happy way.

Cost benefits of hybrid cars

The not so recent change in gas prices, which are still rising depending on the day, and the realization by the masses that destroying the environment might not be the smartest thing have driven many vehicle manufacturers to start developing hybrid cars. In America alone, there have been over 1,000,000 hybrid vehicles on the road since May of 2008. Industry giants such as Toyota and GM have made huge and determining strides in the eco-friendly direction. You’ll see much fewer gas-guzzling big trucks from GM, but many more light, fuel-and-money-efficient cars. Surprisingly for some, Toyota is way ahead of the curve when it comes to producing hybrid cars. This can be seen by their best selling hybrid, the Prius.

And it’s not just your average Joe trying to save money, gas, and the environment. Even Hollywood stars have jumped on board with the idea. We can see this at the latest Academy Awards, where the flashy limousines were definitely not the most glorious way of coming to and getting onto the red carpet. Time and again, celebrities kept coming in a hybrid car.

Not surprisingly, your hybrid car will have 2 engines under the hood. The 1st of the engines is an electric motor, and the 2cd is the gasoline engine we all know and love. How does this work? It’s relatively simple. If your car is going at a steady speed, or if it is just sitting but the engine is going, then the gas engine will automatically shut itself off, and the electric motor takes over. This is especially nice if you happen to get caught in a traffic jam with your engine still running. There’s a lot of pollution that is caused by our many traffic jams. If you’re in the process of accelerating, then the gas engine takes over long enough to pump in the required gas, and then gives control back to the electric engine.

Doing this is a nice way to cut down on the consumption of fossil fuel. By doing this, it’s cut down to nearly half of the consumption, as well as half of a normal emission level.

Toyota Prius Hybrid Car is Japan Car of the Year

As most of us know, Hybrid cars are at last being recognized and having overwhelming success. The save the environment attitude, and the even more shared view of the save the money attitude, has made such cars hugely popular. While this can be said for many countries, no one can beat out Japan’s love of these cars. The Honda Insight was a pretty big deal last May, when it was reported as the first hybrid to be ranked as the best selling car in Japan. Toyota has its own hybrid, the Prius, which is doing very well the whole world over.

Toyota has now put out word that their new Toyota Prius Hybrid car was voted as the Japan Car of the Year during the Tokyo Motor Show. This is very exciting news, as huge industry experts as well as a panel of very illustrious auto journalists took part in the voting. What more of an honor could they ask for? Not to mention the publicity that this honor has given them. According to Toyota, their new car not only provides lower emissions, but better fuel efficiency when using the full hybrid powertrain.

Over thirty-one-thousand Priuses were sold in Japan back in September of this year, and it remains in its spot as top selling car, as it has been for the past five months in a row. Talk about Japan loving its fuel efficiency, eco-friendly cars! Astoundingly, it made up almost eleven percent of the entire new car market. Japan is not the only country to fall in love with this car, though. The United Kingdom also enjoys the style and convenience of the car. One can only hope that Americans, too, will fall in love with such a money and energy saving car.

Ford Fusion Hybrid Car Review

Most auto journalists will complain about eco-friendly cars, and the people who drive them. Only tree-hugging eco- geeks with disdain for good taste and high performance like the poorly made, loud, jerky hybrid cars. Somewhere along the line, people began to look at hybrid cars as poor performing and ugly vehicles only made as a temporary fashion. Eco-cars are here, people, and they’re here to stay. I’d like to hear them find something to complain about once the 2010 Ford Fusion hits the wheel. With 41 mpg (city), it nearly doubles the city efficiency of its non-hybrid counterpart.

Many people are raving about this hot little family sedan, saying that it’s the best gas-electric hybrid to be put out yet. It’s no surprise when you compare its 41 city/36 highway to similar models in its class, which admittedly isn’t much. Hybrid cars don’t often cater to family-sized vehicles. With the rising demand of eco-friendly cars, however, more family models are being made available
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It’s also noted that the transitioning from gas to electric mode is seamless. No shuddering or shimmying when the gas picked up to help the electric. Not even the 107,000 dollar Lexus can boast that 100% of the time. A really wonderful thing, especially given that it’s a family vehicle and youngsters might get a scare out of such a thing.

The suspension, steering, handling, and over all quiet ride makes it very appealing – especially for a family sedan. You won’t feel like the 50 year old family man in this bad boy. With the engines combined, the output of the Fusion Hybrid is 191 horsepower. A truly impressive feat for a hybrid car.

As with all things good, there is criticism. The most consistent of which is that Ford exaggerated how fast and long the car could go in all-electric mode. 47 mph and 2 miles? Only if the conditions are absolutely perfect. Otherwise you can’t really expect to go more than four or five blocks at a rather low speed.

Sanyo to Supply Battery for Peugeot Hybrid Cars

Sanyo Electric Company announced on Sunday that they plan to provide batteries for PSA Peugeot Citroen’s electric-diesel hybrid cars. The French automaker will be Sanyo’s fifth client in that business. Sanyo has aggressively and progressively grown their business in car batteries by not fiddling with and being bogged down by specific automakers. The company, based out of Osaka, can already count Honda, Ford, and Volkswagen among its clientele. The company hopes that Toyota will be its next big client.

Sanyo, in their deal with Peugeot, will be providing nickel-metal hybrid cells for the 2 hybrid car models which the French automakers intend on launching in 2011. According to sources, Sanyo’s batteries will be manufactured at the Sumoto plant (Hyogo Prefecture), and assembled in the Kasai plant according to the specifications. The two companies plan to develop these batteries together.

ETRA Proposes New European Regulations for e-Bikes

The latest news is that ETRA Proposes New European Regulations for e-Bikes. A motivated proposal to incorporate some changes in the regulations that govern electric bikes, pedal assisted cycles and electric mopeds has been submitted to European commission by ETRA. With a view to reach an agreement on such a proposal, a meeting had been called by LEVA and ETRA for industry concerned in Las Vegas and Brussels respectively. An increase in power from 250 W to 500 W as well as an increase in maximum unassisted speed from 25 km/hr to 32 km/hr was voted by industry in Vegas whereas the industry in the Brussels voted for increase in power only after a detailed and lengthy discussion. The current speed limit for mopeds performing low is 25 km/hr only and so this could lead the commission to be reluctant while granting permission for higher speed in electric bikes.

It was seen that the industry in Brussels were just not only concerned with the exclusion of desired specification of the pedal assisted bicycles from the type-approval but the 18 participants belonging to and representing 14 different countries also worked on a consensus that was regarding the definition of two new categories which can be introduced in the type-approval.

ETRA proposed the following definition for the cycles with pedal assistance which were not excluded from the type-approval: Cycles having pedal assistance and being equipped with one or more auxiliary electric motors which have combined maximum continuous rated power that does not exceed 1 kilowatts of which the output is usually cut off when the vehicle reaches the speed of 45 km/hr, or may be sooner, as the cyclist stops pedalling.

Also, a new category for low-performance mopeds and for open throttle electric cycles has been proposed by ETRA and defined as follows: Mopeds and cycles with one or more electric motor containing combined power not exceeding 1 KW and also a maximum design speed which not exceed 25 km/hr. ETRA needs as much support as possible from the concerned industry and for those interested, the full proposal is present at the ETRA official website.

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