Car loans and increasing hybrid supplies are a good sign for buyers If you can afford to be in the new car market Earlier today I read that 25 percent of Americans can’t afford to repair their current ride. Times are tough as the US and many other economies hover around a double dip recession that is…

Only in California? Although Toyota has several EVs planned to follow the RAV4 plug-in It sounds like the upcoming Toyota RAV4 EV will only be sold in California when it goes on sale some time in 2012, probably following the launch of the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid . While Toyota plans to be in the EV market, the automaker still…

Could smart charging make plug-ins a win-win for consumers and employers? Plug-in success will ultimately be driven by cost effectiveness and nothing else What’s the best EV range to achieve plug-in cost-effectiveness? While most plug-in proponents typically believe the most range possible is the best range, it’s cost-effectiveness that ultimately matters most to mainstream consumers — the key to plug-in success — not range…

Chinese-made cars in the US and Europe are inevitable Calls for more objective government regulations Since the Fiat takeover of Chrysler, I’ve spent little time following the activities of this automotive merger. While Fiat offers some very interesting small cars, the Fiat/Chrysler venture just doesn’t offer up much in the way of hybrid or plug-in news. Thus, maybe it shouldn’t be surprising that…

Will CAFE make today's cars coveted classic cars into the future? Or will commuters choose other options and hold onto older vehicles longer? Even when gas prices blow past $4.00 per gallon and many hybrid cars actually become wise long term investments, most consumers still don’t buy hybrids…

The king of plug-in sales Without nationwide offerings, plug-in sales still much ado about nothing Despite a significant decline in sales last month, the Nissan Leaf still topped the  Chevy Volt in July, 931 to 125. Of course, Volt sales were limited due to retooling the Volt assembly line for greater production, which has now been tripled according to GM. Thus, next month the Volt could potentially overtake the Leaf as the …

Dirty coal means plug-ins are an environmental problem. Plug-ins and dirty coal just don’t make sense China cannot reinvent the engine; however, China can be a leader in electrification since hybrid and plug-in vehicles are still in the dawn of their development. As China’s automarket is expected to grow massively …

Is the future battery-powered powertrains, or just compact cars? Why does 54.4 mpg mean something more like 37 mpg? At the most recent LA Auto Show, Hyundia North American CEO John Krafcik essentially mocked the hype around plug-in vehicles at the show while debuting the Hyundai Elantra — the kind of car Krafcik claimed was the future of the auto industry. According to…

But as government regulations for higher fuel economy standards take center stage and demand for oil skyrockets, it looks like electric cars have the opportunity to take a foothold in the market. …

More Volt demand than supplies. Buick and Cadillac versions shelved for now As soon as January, GM will increase Chevy Volt production to 5,000 units per month to meet pent up demand for the plug-in hybrid according to Bloomberg; however, Buick and Cadillac versions of the Volt have been “shelved,” at least for now. Of the 60,000 Volts …

Can the grid handle plug-ins at peak demand? Peak demand jumped from $100 per MWh to $350 last week in some areas Most of the US is still baking today. Many claim that such weather is a result of global warming. Let’s say that’s 100 percent true, and the situation is only going to get worse. That …

Toyota and Tesla expand their EV relationship Tesla secures another $100 million for RAV4 EV components Tesla has inked a $100 million dollar deal to supply electric motors and battery packs for the Toyota RAV4 EV, on top of the $60 million already secured for the same purpose. Additionally, Tesla is hoping to …