Natural gas could power conventional cars, hybrids and even plug-in vehicles. Why isn't more being done? Working towards a perfect energy solution For years now Toyota has had a production ready natural gas hybrid car awaiting a US embrace of natural gas. Quantum Technologies can convert Ford Escape hybrids into natural gas hybrids. Numerous companies can convert hybrid vehicles into plug-…

Is this really the right box for plug-in hybrid technology? Can adding a plug to the dual mode hybrid drive charge sluggish sales? Several years ago Chrysler and GM co-developed the dual mode hybrid powertrain, a powertrain particularly designed for large SUVs and pickup trucks. Today, Chrysler doesn’t…

Toyota Prius V coming in October Toyota Prius supply issues quickly improving This morning Goldman Sachs raised their oil forecasts for 2011 and 2012 to $120 and $140 per barrel respectively. If true, $4.00 gasoline could become common and that should be good news for the Toyota Prius family. While Prius supplies have been low in recent months because of higher gas prices…

Tax incentives and high gas prices mean plug-ins aren't just for the rich. With great incentives and serious gas price threats, consider a plug-in Since the Middle East uprisings have helped drive oil prices higher, it wasn’t surprising to learn that Osama bin Laden was a fan of the movement. Oil is the biggest Achille’s heal of the West, especially the US. Consequently, the fact…

If $4.00 gasoline is doing this much damage, what happens at $5.00? 4 out of 10 Americans facing financial hardship because of high gasoline prices According to a new Associated Press-GfK pol l, $4.00 gasoline is beginning to “cause serious financial hardship” for 4 out of 10 Americans, while causing “some hardship” for 71 percent of Americans. Yet, isn’t $4.00 …

Electrification is all about energy security Countering the hybrid and plug-in haters won’t be easy Earlier today I read How is the transition to electric cars going? in USAToday. Unfortunately, I found the article a bit dull. Wanting more I checked out the comments. Wow! If the comments in USA…

Volt should have long term value Although thanks to tax credits After 3 years the Chevy Vol t is expected to retain 51 percent of its residual value according to Kelly Blue Book, although that’s after the $7500 Federal Tax credit is factored into the equation. If not for the tax credit, however, the Volt would retain 42 percent of its value. A…

Supply and demand issues will still last for many months Back to 70 percent of normal levels by June If you’ve been out shopping for a Toyota Prius in recent weeks, you’ve probably been a little disappointed. There just isn’t much selection, if any at all, and dealers simply aren’t willing to negotiate. Fortunately, this problem is being …

Volt supplies limited through the summer But will they have the batteries? Today, GM has the ability to produce 16,000 Chevy Volt plug-in vehicles per year. But later this summer, GM will upgrade and reconfigure its Volt manufacturing capabilities so that GM can produce up to 60,000 Volts per year. But whether GM will have the battery supplies to produce 60,000 Volts per year is another matter. Last week GM’s CEO…

Helping to make eco-modification cool? Is there a bridge between performance and eco-tuning? By the time Mugen is done fine tuning the Honda CR-Z hybrid , they’ll have added 15 percent more power to their current CR-Z tuner that now offers 197 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. Unfortunately, while the tuned CR-Z can achieve 0 – 60 in about 6.6 seconds when…

Sell your hybrid high, buy a new one low in a few months Next two months could offer best prices in a long time for sellers Buy low, sell high. While that’s a mantra for many when it comes to investing, it could also apply to car sellers today. “ You’re not going to find a situation like this very often ,” says Jonathan Banks, executive…

Electrification is coming, but many issues remain Only if hybrids and plug-ins are perfect I used to get excited when I’d see consumer surveys demonstrating how interested consumers were in hybrid cars and the potential of plug-in vehicles. Consistently, 60 – 80 percent of consumers, according to these surveys, have been considering hybrids and plug…