Another gas spike or two will change everything about hybrid sales. Hybrids still aren’t ready to mainstream, but they’re closer than you think Recently AutoNation’s Mike Jackson served up some stern remarks regarding hybrid and plug-in market penetration, pointing out that while 70 percent of consumers claim to be interested in hybrids and plug-ins — according to polls and surveys — less than 3 …

Another reason to consider a hybrid or plug-in purchase Energy costs: Is this as good as it gets? For many American drivers, the economics of hybrid cars and plug-in vehicles don’t make great sense. Even when cost-effective, the time required to recoup the battery-powered premium is simply longer than most Americans are willing to invest. But, based on the latest energy opinions and forecasts regarding the future…

… opening to the public on Saturday. Plug-in hybrids and electric cars are centerstage at the Tokyo Motor Show – reflecting both how green cars are growing in favor and the low profile of foreign automakers at the event. … Although new government regulations for nutrition standards in school lunches won't go into effect until the 2012-2013 school year, many public schools are…

The VW eT! with auto-drive Follow me eT! A few days ago I wrote that the plug-in I really wanted was the self-driving plug-in . Well, I’m one step closer to having my dreams fulfilled, thanks to the new Volkswagen eT! electric van. OK. The eT! isn’t a fully self-driving vehicle just yet, but it can drive itself in some situations. For now the…

Fit EV brings little excitement to plug-in world. A few new details about the Fit EV Well, I guess if you had to sum up the new Honda Fit electric in a marketing phrase, it would go something like this. ‘Charge the Honda Fit electric car in just 3 hours using a 240-Watt outlet!’ Certainly, that’s an improvement …

The most cost-effective and boring plug-in. It’s all about cost effectiveness Today, a plug-in vehicle just doesn’t work for me. Unfortunately, I live in an old North East Los Angeles neighborhood where many old homes were built before cars were common. Consequently, many houses have garages built for buggies, if any garage at all. And if you don’…

Fire worries no reason not to buy a Volt. According to multiple preliminary reports The Chevy Volt has been associated with several fires, but the evidence suggests more and more that the Volt is not the problem. Yes, lithium-ion batteries in vehicles like the Volt are combustible, but so too are gasoline engines. And, while the National Highway…

A Chevy Volt battery pack. Neither Volt nor EVs more dangerous than conventional vehicles – NHTSA Three weeks after undergoing National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests, a Chevy Volt lithium-ion battery pack started a fire at a NHTSA facility. Consequently, the NHTSA is going to conduct some additional tests on the Volt and its battery pack, while reviewing battery protocols from all EV manufacturers. Nevertheless…

Local govs expected to keep charging infrastructure moving forward. Congressional Deficit Super Committee looks for cuts Tax credits for the buyers of plug-in vehicles appear safe for now, according to the NYTimes, but tax credits for the installation of plug-in chargers — set to expire at the end of the year — probably will not be extended. In order to extend the credits, the Congressional Deficit Super Committee would have to cut…

Instead of a plug-in SUV, I'd rather have an i-based, cheap hybrid. Why not follow the i plug-in’s DNA? Sometime in 2013 Mitsubishi plans to begin selling a new plug-in hybrid SUV based on the Outlander. For years now the PX-MiEV plug-in concept has been making the auto show circuit, with promises that it would one day hit production. Well, the PX-MiEV …

Are EVs a black swan in alternative energy? Vinod Khosla and the Black Swans of alternative energy When it comes to venture capitalism, there is a unique similarity between Vinod Khosla of Khosla Ventures and Elon Musk of Tesla. Instead, of thinking of the next incremental step in technological evolution, both …

Is it a hybrid, an EV, a plug-in hybrid? Despite making battery vehicle nomenclature even more confusing The new Suzuki hybrid/EV plug-in concept is actually one of the more interesting plug-in concepts to hit the light of day in some time, but a hybrid/EV? Can’t we just call it a plug-in hybrid? Like the Chevy Volt , which GM calls a range extended EV, the…