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Articles tagged with: plug-in-hybrids

CARB’s BEVx to automakers: You don’t understand plug-in cars
January 30, 2012 – 6:49 pm | No Comment
CARB’s BEVx to automakers: You don’t understand plug-in cars

The wrong kind of range extended plug-in through 2025? Leaf, Plug-in Prius, and Volt all bad by design? Not surprisingly the California Air Resources Board unanimously passed its Advanced Clean Cars (ACC) program for the technological requirements to meet emission requirements from 2015 – 2025. Under the plan, for instance, 1 …

Survey says: The kids want hybrid cars
January 20, 2012 – 12:32 am | No Comment
Survey says: The kids want hybrid cars

A good concept for a future Scion hybrid? Study suggests that Generation Y could be the tipping point for hybrid mainstreaming I’m not a big fan of consumer studies and surveys. It’s always easier to talk the talk than to walk the walk, and a decade of hybrid surveys and hybrid sales proves the relative …

Toyota Prius V: Why NiMH still matters and plug-ins don’t rule
January 19, 2012 – 6:31 pm | No Comment
Toyota Prius V: Why NiMH still matters and plug-ins don’t rule

Is it about perception or sales? Prius V extends Toyota’s battery dominance The other day I read some commentary regarding all the different cathode technologies being utilized in lithium ion batteries. This variety, it was suggested, demonstrates all the innovation now underway in the battery space, and the commentary concluded …

Lutz on plug-in trucks: “Why wouldn’t you start there?”
January 13, 2012 – 12:58 am | No Comment
Lutz on plug-in trucks: “Why wouldn’t you start there?”

Should been a Volt instead? So, why didn’t you start there, Bob? There are a number of people on this blog that have made fun of me over the years for my admiration of ex-GM Vice Chairman et al, Bob Lutz, an admiration I willfully admit. I’ve relished every opportunity to be around …

Ford’s new hybrids – A perfect Fusion of fuel economy and price?
January 9, 2012 – 6:19 pm | No Comment
Ford’s new hybrids – A perfect Fusion of fuel economy and price?

2013 Ford Fusion hybrid Or is it still about PR and halo products? Great new looks? Check. Luxurious interior? Check. The latest and greatest technology? Check. Outstanding fuel economy? Check. Check. Cost-effective price? To be determined. Without question, the new 2013 Ford Fusion is ready to take on the likes of the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord, and adding a plug-in hybrid …

EVs are awesome, but they can’t save the world. What now?
January 6, 2012 – 8:31 pm | No Comment
EVs are awesome, but they can’t save the world. What now?

The Leaf is a great car, but can it really change the world? Can the world wait for electrification? I was never much of a car guy growing up. It wasn’t until the first hybrid cars hit the street that autos started catching my attention, especially since code was such a big part of their powertrain, and coming from the software industry…

Mitsubishi ready to plug-in to light duty trucks
December 28, 2011 – 10:55 pm | No Comment
Mitsubishi ready to plug-in to light duty trucks

A Mitsubishi pickup truck concept. Can it keep on trucking to America? The importance of the light duty truck segment in America simply cannot be underestimated. It accounts for 50+ percent of all vehicle sales, and a significantly higher percentage of Big 3 profits. Unfortunately, most attempts at more fuel efficient pickup trucks and…

Hybrid hater Audi buying into electrification
December 28, 2011 – 10:37 pm | No Comment
Hybrid hater Audi buying into electrification

The Spyder plug-in hybrid The future is inevitable For years now Audi has been a vocal hater of hybrid and electric vehicles, claiming that diesel vehicles offer similar benefits at a cheaper price. But, heading into the future, even hybrid hater Audi seems to realize that hybrid and plug-in powertrains are inevitable. Consequently, Audi plans to spend billions …

Conditioning: Why a big jump in hybrid sales is coming
December 8, 2011 – 9:09 pm | No Comment
Conditioning: Why a big jump in hybrid sales is coming

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 …

De-powered: GM’s Chevy Volt fire begs serious questions
November 28, 2011 – 7:21 pm | No Comment
De-powered: GM’s Chevy Volt fire begs serious questions

Is the Volt's battery really safe? Shouldn’t there have always been a de-powering protocol? I would have no problem buying a Chevy Volt today — if it were cheaper — despite the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration’s formal investigation into Volt fire risk after an accident ( more ). I honestly don’…

Will auto shows ever be more shocking and disruptive?
November 16, 2011 – 7:58 pm | No Comment
Will auto shows ever be more shocking and disruptive?

Try selling an off-the-wall concept every once in a while Have major automakers colluded against out-of-the-box-thinking? Today is the first day of press days at the LA Auto Show, which is supposed to be the green auto show. Yet, there aren’t really that many buzzworthy green debuts expected. Automakers seem too big and stodgy to …

Battle of Chevy: 5,000 Volts versus 1,000,000 Cruzes
November 15, 2011 – 9:16 pm | No Comment
Battle of Chevy: 5,000 Volts versus 1,000,000 Cruzes

Volt hype drives Cruze sales Is the battery revolution still just too far into the future? Who killed the electric car? The 50 mpg flex fuel Chevy Cruze, or at least it would, if such an ICE-based vehicle existed, and some day soon, it will. In fact, the technologies for such vehicles …