Rare earth guzzler. Going down under for hybrid-loving rare earths By 2025, as many as 50 percent of the cars sold in the US could be hybrid cars based on possible new CAFE requirements, but without new rare earth mines, or the cost-effective development of new rare earth free magnets, such plans could be impossible to achieve. And, while a new rare earth mine in Australia will help, the new…

Next stop, displace the rare earths Rare earths still needed for many years Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO) and Hokkaido University have developed a new electric motor that uses ferrite magnets, rather than magnets using neodymium and dysprosium – rare earths imported from China. While weaker, through a unique magnet placement, Japanese researchers have…

Toyota moving beyond Chinese dyprosium Toyota diversifies battery supply chains While the Chinese continue to claim that a rare earth metal ban has not been imposed against Japan, Toyota is taking no chances. Toyota has set up a new rare earth metal task force, as well as a new supply partnership with Australian Lynas …

Toyota's first hybrid pickup truck? A-BAT hybrid truck concept not dead yet I loved the Toyota A-BAT hybrid pickup truck concept vehicle when I first saw it several years ago at the North American International Auto Show. It just seemed so smart, so functional, and so needed in the pickup truck space. Thus, a few years later when I heard that the A-BAT …

Playing it both ways Another battery option The key difference between the Chevy Volt and other EVs is the ability of the Volt to extend EV range with gasoline. GM believes so much in the marketing potential of this difference that it is trying to trademark the phrase ‘range anxiety’ . Still, range anxiety isn’t enough for GM to bet the farm on the Chevy Volt. GM …

The airport’s economical, environmentally friendly steps include reusing cooking grease as biofuel for airport vehicles, replacing incandescent runway lights with cooler, longer-lasting LED lights, and recycling airplane deicing fluid. … costs lower while maintaining heating and cooling efficiency. (David Guralnick / The Detroit News). Hybrid and propane fueled vehicles now make up the fleet of available for-hire cars

GM primed for hybrid leadership? Hybrid share to increase to 7.4 percent by 2015 Hybrid vehicles should witness a healthy increase in sales by 2015 according to a new Pike Research forecast . The biggest growth market will be China, but America will still have the largest hybrid fleet with a significant uptick in hybrid…

Not just your average cannabis. Weed is good Still trying to get over my X-Prize disappointment, so let’s burn one down and explore other options for the auto industry. For instance, Motive is showing off its latest design for its Kestrel EV, also known as the ‘cannabis car&#…

You can visit this site for reviews of all the latest eco friendly cars that have come up in the market. There is a news section too which keeps you up to date with latest in the world of hybrid cars. You won’t find a better resource …

Time to take action? Hybrids and natural gas today, plug-ins tomorrow A new study on behalf of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment demonstrates that hybrid cars and natural gas vehicles offer significant potential to reduce CO2 emissions that “can be put to use immediately”. So, why are we putting off until tomorrow what can already be accomplished today? For urban drivers, hybrid vehicles offer the cleanest solution, while natural gas …

Plug-in Prius to outsell conventional Prius by 2030 Plugging into Toyota’s hybrid focus At a conference in Detroit last night, Toyota announced that 6 new hybrid cars would be launched in 2012, along with a plug-in version of the Toyota Prius , as well as two electric cars. While most details have yet to be revealed, plug-in Prius…

… which is presenting positive steps to leading a sustainable lifestyle, and a high profile and fun way to show green cars to the people … Excerpt from: Book of Green News » Seeing stars in eco-friendly cars . Comments are closed. …