Just the beginning Here come the hybrids From mild to plug-in, hybrid cars are set to become a much bigger part of Hyundai’s business, and according to company executives, Hyundai should be about 20 percent hybrid by 2020. While the Sonata hybrid will be Hyundai’s first hybrid, it won’t be its marquee hybrid. Instead, like Toyota, Hyundai will also develop dedicated…

Coming soon, the $15,000 Honda hybrid? Honda’s renewed mission to again own fuel economy For a very long time, Honda has offered the most fuel efficient fleet of vehicles in America. Recently, however, other automakers have moved much closer to matching Honda’s fuel efficiency. In fact, Hyundai even surpassed Honda recently. Fortunately, however, Honda is not going down without a fight, and things …

Used? Think Toyota Prius Another best for the Prius When it comes to hybrid cars , the Toyota Prius often tops the list of most categories. Most fuel efficient. Most sales, etc. Well, the Prius has added another ‘best’ to its list of bests. According to Edmunds , the Toyota Prius is the best bet for a used hybrid…

Success dependent upon gas prices? Chevy Volt sales and GM’s success Will Chevy Volt sales be dependent upon gas prices? That’s the question StraightLine asked yesterday . While I have an answer to that question, that’s not the question I would ask. Instead, I’d ask, are higher gas prices good or bad for GM, …

The future, or forever a niche? Are batteries really the future of the auto industry? For the last couple of decades materials scientist Dr. Jean-Marie Tarascon of the Laboratoire réactivité et chimie des solides (LRCS) at Université de Picardie Jules Verne, and previously Bell Labs and Bellcore, has been working on energy storage solutions, most notably the plastic Li-ion battery (PLiON)…

Natural gas today, methanogenesis tomorrow? Time to get serious about natural gas A new report out of MIT suggests that significant reductions in CO2 emissions and foreign oil consumption are achievable using natural gas to replace coal, while converting natural gas into methanol for transportation. While natural gas could have a huge impact on reducing CO2 emissions from coal-generated…

It's just not that easy A bad Roadster reminder? The first time I heard of Tesla I was extremely impressed and excited. Eventually, however, the extreme over-promising and constant under-delivering executed under ex-CEO Martin Eberhard grew tiresome and annoying. Delay after delay after delay. Now, could a delay by plug-in maker Fisker remind…

Built in Europe for Europe Can hybrids refuel England? Assembly of the Toyota Auris hybrid has started in Burnaston, England. Likewise, Deeside, Wales is now also producing engines for the hybrid, the first hybrid engines to be produced outside of Japan according to the AFP . While that’s great news for …

Toyota's latest recall victim Voluntary recall on luxury hybrid Lexus is voluntarily recalling the Lexus HS 250h hybrid to address a gas spillage problem following a crash scenario created by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that resulted in a fuel spill greater than the US standard. According to OfficialWire , Toyota is currently working on a solution to the…

Looking for their next victim Deal? What stinking deal? One of the great adventures of the American consumer is buying a car. Sadly, however, the dealership, the salesperson, and the finance department just never quite provide the impression they are on your side. Inevitably, too often the image portrayed by Robin Williams in Cadillac Man rings far too true. Buying hybrid cars…

Is it worth to plug-in the Prius? Is a plug-in Prius the better Prius? Everybody has an opinion. Thus, when it comes to calling any consumer product the best, it’s usually easiest just to let the numbers do the talking. Hence, in terms of hybrid cars and fuel economy in the US, for instance, the Toyota Prius easily stands out…

The Hyundai Sonata hybrid coming soon A dedicated approach to hybrids Later this year Hyundai will begin rolling out its first hybrid vehicle, the Sonata hybrid , but that should be just the beginning of Hyundai’s hybrid story. By 2012, Hyundai will also add a new dedicated hybrid to its portfolio, followed by a plug-in hybrid in 2013. Following in the footsteps of the Toyota Prius , Hyundai’s new hybrid will only …