Hybrids. All about California? What’s the problem with the king of hybrid cars? Compared to last year, Toyota Prius sales are down more than 15 percent. Why? Is it the depressed California auto market still reeling from massive losses in property values? Are buyers simply waiting for plug-in vehicles? Is it gas prices? The recall scandal? All of the above? Not long ago I …

5 years or 60,000 miles? Can plug-ins catch without lengthy warranties? So, we now know that the Chevy Volt will offer an 8 year, 100,000 mile warranty. Today, KickingTires speculates that Nissan was shooting for a 5 year, 60,000 mile warranty for the Leaf; however, thanks to GM, Nissan might have to reconsider. Regardless, considering the cost of plug-in battery packs, is the resale value of plug-in vehicles the Achilles…

Nissan's first lithium hybrid Nissan’s newest full hybrid While Nissan is focusing on the Leaf as its marquee green product, the automaker is also focusing on a number of other technologies, such as start/stop and clean diesel as part of its Green Program 2010 . Likewise, a number of new hybrid cars , based on Nissan’s new lithium-powered hybrid powertrain, are also in development, and the first new hybrid, the Infiniti …

The FT-HS at the Detroit Auto Show Some sizzle for hybrid cars Hybrid cars aren’t cheap, and most hybrid models available are either high end or luxury models. In fact shopping for a luxury hybrid is a lot more interesting than shopping for a more cost-effective hybrid. There’s just more choices from more brands, with many more luxury hybrids, including plug-ins, on the way. Unfortunately, the…

These include hybrid electric vehicles, flex-fuel vehicles which can run on a combination of gasoline and bio-ethanol, and diesel engine equipped vehicles which gets its juice from biodiesel . … Conventional vehicles are also equipped with features that make them more fuel efficient and more eco-friendly . These features include fuel injectors, variable valve timing, continuously variable transmission (CVT), and exhaust filtration devices like the

2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid Vehicle Overview Introduction Hybrids and other green cars , though known for being economical and earth-friendly, have a reputation for also being rather slow, odd-looking and uninspiring behind the wheel. …

Have to wait until 2011 On the path to 10 percent by 2020? The first 13,000 Nissan Leafs being built for the American market have been sold out. “I don’t think we’re going to have a problem marketing and selling these cars for the first two or three years,” stated Carlos Ghosn, adding that tax incentives had made the car very popular in California according to…

Early adopters only? 10 percent electric by 2020? Unlike most upcoming EV producers, Nissan is quickly developing the manufacturing capabilities to sell as many as 500,000 EVs per year, about as many hybrid cars as Toyota produces today – more than 10 years after the launch of its first hybrid, the Prius . Consequently, by as early as 2020, Nissan believes electric cars could account for up to 10 percent of auto sales – one of the more aggressive forecasts in…

The Infiniti G hybrid All luxury hybrids? When Nissan offers the next Infiniti G, as early as 2012 according to MotorTrend, it will probably include a hybrid option, but what kind of hybrid the G will be is still a bit unclear. While one source inside Nissan believes the new Infiniti G will be offered as a gasoline hybrid, another has suggested the possibility of a diesel hybrid thanks to Nissan’s new partnership …

The Infiniti G hybrid All luxury hybrids? When Nissan offers the next Infiniti G, as early as 2012 according to MotorTrend, it will probably include a hybrid option, but what kind of hybrid the G will be is still a bit unclear. While one source inside Nissan believes the new Infiniti G will be offered as…

“Nowhere else will you be able to see all the new hybrid and eco-friendly cars from area new car dealerships in one place, at one time,” said Sally Sterns, environmental horticulture faculty at Bakersfield College. … Mean and Green cars are expected from Ford, Honda, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Nissan, Kia, Toyota, GMC and Lexus. At the end of the event, Bakersfield City Mayor Harvey Hall will present the Mayor’s Award for best in show…

Ready to order yours? CNBC is reporting that Nissan is accepting orders for the Nissan Leaf, but the Nissan website states that pre-ordering begins April 20 and that deliveries will begin in December. Regardless, CNBC reports that some 115,000 have expressed interest in the Leaf, or at least in more information regarding the new electric car.