A rare earth free electric motor Rare earth free Toyota hybrids could be here in 2 years I’ve been following the rare earth story now for a few years, since the resources are so valuable for the production of hybrid and plug-in cars. And it has always been clear that rare earth free hybrid cars are possible, but the real question has been the costs of rare …

The Matrix and the Millennial revolution. It’s the social experience, stupid Advanced infotainment systems. Stylish and fuel efficient compacts. Those two underlying trends will be key to the future of the auto industry, at least the portion driven by millennials and beyond, according to the latest conventional thinking. Oh …

Volt reputation burned by a lack of honesty and transparency? Will NHTSA’s safety stamp change that? Is the Chevy Volt an Audi 5000? According to the AutomotiveNews , some Chevy dealers are not accepting their full allotment of Chevy Volts, citing limited demand. Of course, now that the NHTSA has given Volt safety a thumbs up, that sale’s story could…

Volt-gate is over: The Volt is safe. Neither Volt nor EVs pose greater fire risks Today the government closed its case on an investigation into Chevy Volt fire risks, announcing that both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as well as the Obama Administration, consider the case closed following some…

Can the V's versatility and fuel economy reshape the crossover segment? Doe the V make any sort of sense? So a friend of mine called yesterday to ask my opinion about the new Toyota Prius V, particularly regarding battery life, an interesting bit of synchronicity since I covered this subject in a post yesterday. Ultimately, my friend — let’s call him Stan — is considering the Prius V and …

Can the V's versatility and fuel economy reshape the crossover segment? Doe the V make any sort of sense? So a friend of mine called yesterday to ask my opinion about the new Toyota Prius V, particularly regarding battery life, an interesting bit of synchronicity since I covered this subject in a post…

A good concept for a future Scion hybrid? Study suggests that Generation Y could be the tipping point for hybrid mainstreaming I’m not a big fan of consumer studies and surveys. It’s always easier to talk the talk than to walk the walk, and a decade of hybrid surveys and hybrid sales proves the relative …

A battery challenge for the hybrid industry Buying into lithium hybrids There’s no doubt that consumers are interested in hybrid cars, but there is a big difference between being interested and actually buying a hybrid, and years of consumer data prove that point. Obviously, cost is the biggest hybrid deal killer, but battery worries continue to …

Is it about perception or sales? Prius V extends Toyota’s battery dominance The other day I read some commentary regarding all the different cathode technologies being utilized in lithium ion batteries. This variety, it was suggested, demonstrates all the innovation now underway in the battery space, and the commentary concluded …

The hybrid revolution and unprecedented greatness Time for the President to listen to his Job’s Council One can only laugh, or perhaps cry, at the irony of today’s political world. This morning I learned that the President was rejecting the Keystone Pipeline, an outcome most closely following this story expected because of the political prowess …

Prius provides real bang for the buck according to some studies. At least for some hybrid cars Americans are holding onto their cars longer, an average of 10.8 years, according to the latest data. That means old gas-guzzlers are becoming even bigger gas-guzzlers, not to mention more costly to fuel. And maybe that means hybrid cars are a better deal than many might…

Fuel efficient camping for 4. Making the Prius even more versatile OK. Toyota Prius haters are only going to shake their heads in total disbelief when I call the Camp Inn Relax Cabin the coolest Toyota Prius accessory ever. Then again, I’m a functionality person when it comes to transportation, and a 50 mpg camper that sleeps 4 is about as…