Prius provides real bang for the buck according to some studies. At least for some hybrid cars Americans are holding onto their cars longer, an average of 10.8 years, according to the latest data. That means old gas-guzzlers are becoming even bigger gas-guzzlers, not to mention more costly to fuel. And maybe that means hybrid cars are a better deal than many might believe, and that the hybrid premium really is more of an investment rather than a cost. For example, a recent Forbes piece on the cars with the most bang for the buck after 5 years of ownership includes both the Toyota Camry hybrid and the Toyota Prius. If these hybrids provide some of the best bang for the buck after 5 years, what about 10 years? According to Consumer Reports, for instance, even a 10 year old Prius is one of the better values in terms of used cars — even if the battery has to be replaced thanks to a healthy supply of used battery packs. Thus, if the Prius is a great deal after 5 years, it must be a really great deal after 10 years. Of course, many hybrids have much longer payback periods, but there is no doubt that many hybrids can be a real value compared to conventional gas-powered vehicles if you’re an average vehicle owner. Obviously, even long term savings still won’t be enough for most consumers to pay that hybrid premium up front, but if gas prices start permanently residing above $4.00 per gallon, it seems some hybrids could offer exceptional long term value — at least as far as autos go. Original post:  10.8 years – Maybe the hybrid premium is an investment, not a cost

Who needs a Volt when you can just Cruze? Are plug-ins to follow the path of fuel cells? I’ve made it clear that I don’t believe the hybrid and plug-in hype is fading into irrelevance because of advancements in gasoline engines, which undoubtedly have the capability to achieve much higher levels of efficiencies. Of course, those gasoline engines will never be as efficient as electrification. Still, it is undeniable that costs are still a major hurdle limiting plug-in, and even hybrid, potential. Perhaps even for decades. So, just for fun, could much more fuel efficient gasoline engines make hybrids and EVs forever unnecessary? Today the plug-in hype of recent years is being countered — maybe matched — by technologies like Ecoboost and 40 mpg compacts. Automakers even claim that such technologies and vehicles achieve hybrid fuel economy without the hybrid price — at least in some conditions. When you run the real world numbers, it’s obvious that automakers are deceiving themselves, the public, or both. Hey, but that’s just part of the profit-making business. Thus, in the real world advanced gasoline engines are an improvement, but they are not as great as advertised. 40 mpg can quickly become more like 30 mpg for average city drivers — and the future of transportation according to most experts. Therefore, if the US, for instance, were determined to become foreign oil independent, advanced gasoline engines are not enough. But, can this gap be bridged without batteries? Clearly, that means some kind of change in fueling capabilities, such a massive increase in unconventional oil and natural gas drilling, biofuels, synthetic fuels, etc. But could they really get the job done, cheaply? Moreover, over time could such a path continue to provide the most bang for the energy buck? If we set aside pollution worries, such as global warming or the massive amounts of water needed to frack oil and gas, it seems plausible that the US could end its dependence upon foreign oil without a massive embrace of electrification. As a result, theoretically, I’d say that gasoline engines could today make electrification irrelevant. I know what you’re thinking. Those fossil fuels will eventually run out, and you’re...

In the auto industry, Hyundai fits the overachiever bill nicely. The company’s lineup has been transformed from a lackluster group of vehicles to some of the top performing cars in their classes. One snickered at, no one is doing that now. Now the race is on in the industry to produce fuel-efficient vehicles, ones that will help manufacturers hit tough Corporate Average Fuel Economy requirements. They are being amped up, with car companies required to hit 36 mpg CAFE by 2016 and 54.5 mpg by 2025. Those numbers will undoubtedly be helped by higher numbers of hybrids, electrics and range-extended electric vehicles on the market. While everyone is scrambling to get ready for the 2016 milestone, Hyundai has quietly hit that goal in 2011 – five years early. How is that for over-achieving? Hyundai’s lineup of efficient cars powered by four-cylinder engines (Sonata ditched a six, for instance) has helped it to hit the target. It’s important to note that CAFE figures are determined based on mileage estimates released by Environmental Protection Agency. Meaning, 36 mpg is far from the true average mileage of Hyundai’s 2011 fleet. Activist group Consumer Watchdog is petitioning the EPA over this, trying to get them to retest the Elantra. They say the car isn’t capable of hitting its 29 city/40 mpg highway mark in real life driving. Hyundai says it is likely due to these people being urban drivers, and a vocal minority. Chief Executive officer John Krafcik commented on the situation, saying: “We’re not sure who the vocal people are, and who might be representing the vocal people, but we do know this: In a very large (sample) survey by J.D. Power of 2011 car buyers the Elantra got better real-world fuel economy than any other competitor.” To try to rectify the situation, dealers are reaching out to customers unhappy with mileage to give them efficiency tips. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts More here: Hyundai Smashes 2016 CAFE Target – In 2011

Killing the American dream one drop of foreign oil at a time. What does America stand for anymore? America. The grand experiment of the Founding Fathers. Democracy. Freedom. Equality. Has it worked? Does driving a gas guzzler that requires massive military protection and intervention of foreign oil supplies, puppet governments, and causes massive pollution prove that America succeeded? That Americans have the freedom to be as careless and irresponsible as we want? Our manifest destiny? Perhaps more interesting, if cheap oil is so great for Americans, why has the income game gap between the rich and the poor expanded for decades, ironically, as has American foreign oil consumption? Is cheap oil really driving forward the American dream, or is it causing an American nightmare? According to historical data , 9 of the past 10 recessions were preceded by gasoline spikes, including the most recent one. Ohhhh, but gasoline prices had nothing to do with the current recession, right? It was all just greedy bankers? Not so, according to many economists reexamining the 2008 recession, and the impact that a 55% surge in oil prices had upon GDP heading into 2008. Certainly, gasoline prices weren’t the sole cause of the downturn, but they were a very significant factor in the crash. Add in the costs of Afghanistan and Iraq — both also lubed by America’s addiction to oil — and the oil story is even more compelling. Yet, here we are again, at the precipice of another major oil spike, as Iran threatens to cause disruption in the Straits of Hormuz, an event that economists claim would push the price of oil beyond $400 per barrel — far higher than in 2008. Sure, American military might will eventually dominate Iran, but again, at what cost? Of course, maybe nothing will happen, at least for now. Nevertheless, current data as well as historical data strongly suggest — basically SHOUTS — something will eventually happen. And, since America will be dependent upon foreign oil for decades without massive action beginning today, America is sure to again feel recessions preceded by oil spikes. How long America? How long until we realize there has to be a connection between extreme foreign oil dependence and the lack of prosperity for most Americans?...

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 SUVs, such as compact pickups or dual mode hybrids, have failed. Nevertheless, in 2012 Mitsubishi is ready to give an electric pickup truck a try. Unfortunately, Mitsubishi’s new electric pickup seems hardly American. For instance, the new electric pickup will be cheaper than the Mitsubishi i electric car. Considering how fragile the i comes across, Mitsubishi’s new plug-in pickup will have to be very small, very light, and not very powerful. Thus, I’m envisioning more of an electric golf cart-like truck rather than a real world pickup truck. Still, Mitsubishi is aiming the truck at farmers and contractors, but I’m betting that’s Japanese farmers and contractors. Nevertheless, if you want to change what America drives, it really starts with pickup trucks. Therefore, it’ll be interesting to see what Mitsubishi has to offer for this segment. Source: Automotive News Read more here:  Mitsubishi ready to plug-in to light duty trucks

The best Prius A hybrid family smack down It’s often easy to say that size doesn’t matter, until size actually matters of course. For instance, when you have to stuff an extra passenger in your hatchback, or you need just a bit more room for that trip to Home Depot, size does matter. And while the Toyota Prius is remarkably roomy and functional despite its compact-looking outward appearances, sometimes the Prius just isn’t big enough. Hence Toyota developed the larger Prius V, but was it worth the effort? Already the Toyota Prius V is the second best selling hybrid in America based on November sales, and Toyota dealerships are selling them almost as soon as they hit the lot. So, obviously the Toyota Prius V makes sense. But could the larger Prius make more sense? I’ve tested the new V hybrid several times and my first impression is always the same. I love it. Oddly, however, I wouldn’t buy it. While the extra size in the new Prius is desirable, the higher price and the decrease in fuel economy crushes the deal. Ultimately, there just isn’t that much more functionality provided by the larger Prius for the money. But it didn’t have to be this way. In Europe and Japan, Prius V buyers will enjoy a third row of seating that is lacking in the US Prius V. Why? Would a third row of seating in the Prius V conquest too many Sienna buyers? Is Toyota still nervous about its lithium battery pack, or just not yet ready to produce and sell 40,000 lithium hybrids in the US in the coming year — the sales pace the V is on based upon November sales? In fact, if the V offered an extra row of seating, sales would probably be even higher. Thus, my guess is that utilizing lithium would shrink profit margins, or even squash them altogether, while possibly even reducing production capabilities. Regardless, early Prius V sales suggest that adding a larger Prius to the family made a lot of sense, and there is probably a lot of untapped potential left in the V. Once Toyota can sell the Prius V with a lithium battery pack for the same price as the NiMH-powered version, Prius V functionality and utility — and likability — increase significantly. For now, however, I’d have to recommend the conventional Prius over the larger Prius...

If you commute to the city, why drive a plug-in hybrid only to burn down all your range upfront on the highway? To do so, means slogging through the city on gasoline once the batteries run flat, rather than use the more efficient, quieter, zero-emissions electricity to motor around the urban environment. The solution is known as a “Preserve Mode,” triggered by a button on the dashboard that allows the driver to override the hybrid system and run on gas power on the highway to preserve the batteries’ charge. The upcoming plug-in version of the Toyota Prius is the only hybrid that has an actual Preserve Mode. Chevrolet Volts destined for export markets have it. American Volt fans, however, have found it disguised as something else… The Volt has what General Motors calls Mountain mode, along with Normal and Sport. Mountain mode was designed for climbing three of the longest mountain grades in the United States. It cuts about 10 miles off the normal electric range of the Volt to expand the battery’s “buffer” zone— the 20-25 percent of charge that’s left after the car switches to gas mode. By engaging Mountain Mode when you take off, you can save those last 10 miles for later use, even if there are no mountains in sight. When you want to go back into electric mode later, you just select Normal; the battery buffer shrinks back to its normal size, and the engine switches off, giving you another 10 miles of petroleum-free driving. Wanting to show off the car to my family on EV mode one night, I was frustrated that my normal 40-mile commute would completely deplete the battery’s projected 38-mile range—until I remembered Mountain mode. I tried it and learned it works fine, even on comparatively level ground. And, my family was impressed gliding silently around in the Volt on electric power. After three more days of experimenting, I found it was easy to control when the gas engine came on during the commute. I could strategically set aside 10 miles of battery range for use on back roads, rather than burn it up at highway-speed. So why did GM choose not to feature Preserve mode on domestically sold Volts? Because for emission purposes as spelled out by the EPA, the electric drive cycle must be used first....

Premiering at the Detroit Motor Show in January of next year are Mercedes’ newest green entries in the luxury car segment. Making their debut early next year are the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID and the E 400 BlueTEC HYBRID, which Mercedes claims are one of the most fuel efficient luxury cars in the world. With its 4-cylinder, 200 horsepower diesel and 20kW electric motor, the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID consumes only 4.2 liters per 100 kilometers. Bear in mind that one of the best-known hybrids, the Prius, claims 3.9 liters/100 km and this is for a commuter car that has no luxury pretensions. The E 300 and E400 HYBRID retain all their luxury and convenience comforts. For the E 400 BlueTEC HYBRID, Mercedes chose to install a 300 horsepower V6 combined with the same 20kW electric motor found in the E 300 HYBRID. Combined CAFE consumption rating for the E 400 HYBRID is 27 mpg. According to Professor Dr. Thomas Weber, Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, “The modular technology opens up a quick way for us to complement other model series with hybrid models. With these two E-Class models we are now continuing our comprehensive hybrid offensive.” Originally posted here: Mercedes To Introduce E-Class Hybrids In January

The i8 I made the press launch of the Toyota Prius in 1999. At the time it was a revolutionary car that Toyota was hoping (but not entirely confident) would sell. They had identified specific markets to introduce it in and undoubtedly had plans in place for the follow on model. But it was one car, one car only. And now, after a decade of one model, Prius becomes a brand with a suite of vehicles wearing Prius badges. BMW has added a number of mild hybrids to its existing lineup over the past few years, but the ‘i’ sub-brand is just that, a brand within a brand. And, as Prius has now become a sub-brand for Toyota, you can’t get there with just a single vehicle. A lot of car companies would be overjoyed to offer a car like the i3 with great performance, decent interior space, and incredible technology displayed in materials and construction. And make no mistake, the weight of the ‘i’ sub-brand is behind the i3. It is the volume product and the one that has to be right. It bears the fate of the ‘i’ sub-brand on its shoulders. But . . . The i8 is sitting there, a halo car, positioned several rungs above the i3′s role as an mega-city mover. The i8 defines the other edge of the sub-brand, and while it may sell a 10th of the volume of the i3 (or less), it does more to define the promise of the sub-brand than the i3. The i8 may be a bit of a magician’s slight of hand, a distraction while the foundation is laid for the i3 to succeed. The i8 is instant success; sexy, clever, and powerful. The i8 is there as an assist. It isn’t the steak, but the sizzle. But sizzle it does (and I still want to drive one! BMW, are you listening?) A Saab Story For whatever reason watching the torturous termination of Saab has reminded me of nothing less than the Monty Python, ‘Bring out your dead’ sketch from the Holy Grail. Unfortunately, the actual demise of the storied marque is anything but funny. Saab marched to a different drummer. It took a mix of two stroke engines, front wheel drive, and aircraft ergonomics/styling to entice a slightly counter-cultural, intellectually inclined following to emerge. The brand got stronger into the 1970s thanks to success on the rally circuit and innovative product. Saab embraced...

Tesla's EV range superstar A few thoughts about battery strategies Getting old sure is fun, and funny, especially in terms of technology. As a boy, renting a VCR for the weekend was one of the greatest technological highlights of my pre-teen years. Of course, eventually my family bought a VCR, with no regard to the whole betamax versus vhs debate. Ultimately, the only thing that mattered to my parents was price. And that brings me to the future of the battery-powered car and the battery strategies being utilized in the Tesla Model S, the Chevy Volt and the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid. Which is better? Which is smarter? Today, we learned that the upcoming Tesla Model S electric car will begin at $49,900 — after a $7500 federal tax credit. The top line Model S will begin at $79,900, also after the tax credit. Thus, the Model S is the most expensive vehicle, but also the most battery-intensive vehicle, in this plug-in bunch. So does that make Tesla the best and most forward thinking auto brand? Is there yet really a best plan or approach to electrification? Hybrid king Toyota believes that current battery technologies are completely incapable of achieving even modest mainstream penetration without massive government incentives. Even then, plug-in vehicles still face a limited future for many years, possibly even decades, without a major battery breakthrough. In fact a next gen battery technology breakthrough, such as lithium-air, might be required for double digit market penetration. In the interim, Toyota claims hybrid cars, including plug-in hybrids like the Prius plug-in, will offer more cost-effectiveness and they’ll also fall more in line with consumer expectations. And as batteries become more cost-effective, battery size can simply be adjusted. GM is taking a similar, but slightly different path than Toyota with its range extended Chevy Volt. The Volt is basically an electric car, as long as you only drive less than 40 miles between charges. After that a gasoline engine generates additional electricity. Unfortunately, the Volt requires a larger battery pack than the plug-in Prius, resulting in greater costs. To be certain, as battery costs decline, perhaps the Volt’s 40 miles of EV range will eventually find itself in the sweet spot...

The dash of Dave's hybrid If only the rest of America thought the same about fuel economy Hype. Image. PR. Image over all else. That’s largely the nature of our modern world these days. Maybe it has always been that way. Automakers, for instance, are geniuses at covering up their role in the terrible geopolitical and environmental mess the world finds itself in these days. But they’ve only been giving consumers what they want, right? Except for people like Dave Perry. Rather than the normal American ride, Dave bought a hybrid to push the limits of gasoline-powered fuel efficiency, and boy did he ever. 128.3 mpg over the course of 132 miles. Sure, Dave was hypermiling in his 2006 Honda Insight, spending much of his trip nestled amongst a convoy of semi trucks. And by Dave’s own admission, the conditions were simply perfect for hypermiling. Yeah, I know. Hypermiling isn’t very reflective of real world driving. It can even be dangerous. That’s just not average Insight or hybrid fuel economy. So, what’s the point? “That’s why I bought this thing,” Dave told me last week not long after achieving this amazing demonstration of fuel efficiency potential. On the other hand, most Americans buy vehicles for far less noble reasons. Image is too often much more important than impact upon the world. That’s not even part of the average American consumer’s consciousness. But, obviously it is for people like Dave. I’m going to tell the rest of Dave’s story later, but in our image-driven world of empty substance, Dave’s accomplishment is a nice break from my typically pessimistic rants these days. Too often I forget that the people reading this blog are much more like Dave than the typical ego-centric American consumer. Yes, the bulk of automaker actions still suck. Yes, most American consumers are irresponsible. But not all of us. People like Dave — and many that have read this blog — are taking a different route, and hopefully stories of 128 mpg hybrids can motivate a few more consumers to take fuel economy and its ramifications upon the world more seriously. Kudos Dave. More:  128.3 mpg in a hybrid: “That’s why I bought this thing”

Ahead of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, a quiet beach in Wales echoes with the sound of the new BMW M5′s twin turbo engines as precision driver Wolfgang Weber enjoys drifting around Pendine Sands. The video comes to support the BMW London 2012 Performance Team athletes. For next year’s olympics, BMW will supply 4,000 vehicles, in addition to the 400 bicycles, from diesels to electric cars, hybrids to motorcycles. During the Games, BMW bicycles will be available for use by athletes in the Athletes Village and by London 2012 staff. BMW motorcycles will also be used in certain Olympic and Paralympic events. A proportion of the fleet will be wheelchair-accessible and BMW will convert a number of vehicles for use by disabled drivers and passengers. Let’s have a look at some cool drifting! More: Video: New BMW M5 hits the beach in Wales

Good thing Americans don't understand geography. No country has more to gain from reducing foreign oil dependence, nor more to lose Screw GM. Screw Detroit. Screw the Ford F150. Screw the 1% and the 99%. Screw the American consumer and screw the USA. That pretty much sums up my feelings about America these days. It’s time to face it, WE suck, America. It’s not just them . It’s all of us. And god do I hope that Iran plays some war games around the Straits of Hormuz. In the past few days, Israel has made some serious threats against Iran. But who cares? Americans are more worried about MBIII and the Chris Paul trade. We don’t have time for the real world, unless we’re talking about the kind of real world featured on MTV. Of course, then, most Americans have already TiVo’d it. No sweat, homie. Got you covered if you missed it. But I shouldn’t be so mean. Americans really do have good intentions. Green PR groups and their cronies in Washington will have us know that almost 70 percent of Americans are ready to buy a hybrid or plug-in vehicle. We really do care about fuel economy. As long as it costs nothing extra, especially upfront. That’s why only less than 3 percent of us have actually bought hybrids and plug-ins for the last decade despite the rosy predictions of poll after poll. And these people are paid for their completely irrelevant surveys and polls? Wow. How do I get in on that gig? Must have to work for a lobbyist, I’m guessing. That’s why I’m praying for an Iranian intervention. Hopefully, just before Christmas. Seriously, could anything piss off Americans more than $6.00 gasoline prices — or even gas lines — as they rush to the malls for Christmas shopping? Ahhh,haaaa,haaa. He just said Whore-muz. See the original post here:  The hybrid barometer: America just isn’t that impressive

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 percent actually buy. And with the latest Tesla downgrade by one-time EV bull Morgan Stanley, it’s easy to believe that the hybrid revolution is over. Yet, that sentiment couldn’t be further from the truth. Even ExxonMobil believes that hybrid cars will make up half of all vehicle sales by 2040. Of course, Exxon has to play its hand close to its vest. It still has to give investors reason to believe in its long term business model — fossil fuels FOREVER. Therefore, in contrast to Exxon, I’d say that almost half of vehicles will be hybrids just after 2030, maybe even a little earlier. Why? For one, I think the hype around plug-in vehicles is finally subsiding. I know that sounds a bit oxymoronic, but it’s not. Consumers really do have to walk before they run. Many, I believe, potentially in the market for a hybrid didn’t want to rush into a Toyota Prius , for instance, if a new plug-in would turn out to be a better deal. But plug-ins have a long road to travel before that cost-effective day happens. In fact, plug-ins are about where hybrids were 10 years ago. Consequently, most consumers will refocus their attention back towards conventional hybrid cars. But, will they really start buying? Toyota believes so, and I believe in Toyota. Moreover, I think that consumers are truly starting to buy into the notion of volatile energy prices, and the concurrent reality that gasoline prices have nowhere to go long term but up is becoming more and more ingrained into the consumer psyche. But, as even Pavlov would tell you, conditioning doesn’t happen over night. Consumers still have a few hopes that gasoline prices will decline, at least for a while. Enter another gasoline price spike or two, and this ‘fuel economy is good’ conditioning will begin to truly take root. Still, higher gasoline prices won’t...

The Volt isn't the key energy policy conversation point. Burn, baby, burn I’m not sure what to think of Ray LaHood. Without solid evidence, LaHood crushed Toyota’s image during the sudden acceleration scandal that so suddenly disappeared. Yet, he allegedly hid evidence suggesting there might be some minor flaws in Chevy Volt plug-in engineering (And I do mean, minor.). Thus, it’s arguable that LaHood projects the impression of hidden agendas. Regardless, I believe the facts demonstrate that the Volt is safer than the average car by every measure. Sure, if a Volt is involved in a serious accident and the battery isn’t depowered, it could eventually spontaneously combust — LONG after its occupants have left the vehicle. Yes, that’s still a problem, but a relatively easy problem to fix. Ultimately, by every measure the Volt is a GREAT vehicle, except when it comes to the one factor that matters most: cost. Nevertheless, Republicans lose EVERY bit of intelligent energy policy standing every time they attack the Volt. Honestly, the Volt and GM, especially the GM bankruptcy, have pissed me off, but for few of the reasons it pisses off Republicans. Besides, I was becoming a bit of anti-Volt blogger long before bankruptcy. When I fully realized that the Volt was too much about PR rather than real world fuel economy, at least for the next decade, I became a bit irate. Sure, the Volt is a great step towards the future, but it’s real interim solutions that are most needed today, and the Volt fails measured by that metric. No amount of hype can overlook that fact. Thus, using thousands, or even tens of thousands, of Volt sales to justify millions of gas-guzzling pickup truck sales just doesn’t hold much mustard in my kitchen. By all means build the Volt, but also come up with some better fleet CAFE-improving solutions as well, such as a real Toyota Prius contender (in terms of sales, the only metric that really matters). Quite simply, the Volt is just not enough. Republicans, on the other hand, seem to believe that the Volt, hybrids, and fuel economy improvements in general are completely senseless acts, despite the fact that their party tries to build itself upon the foundation of national security. LOL!!!!!!!!!!! These...