Posts tagged Hybrid at Switched

Posts with tag hybrid

Panasonic's Electric Bike Does Regenerative Braking

by Paul Miller, posted Jul 7th 2008 at 3:06PM

We're still a bit unconvinced about this whole "using our own energy to induce motion" thing, but if you got restless leg or some other siren call to the bicycle, the Lithium Vivi RX-10S seems the way to go. Panasonic is launching the bike in Japan this August, and stuffed in some fancy hybrid car-style regenerative braking to set it apart from the pack (though Sanyo does have something similar).

There are four levels of assistance electric motor assistance, which means you're probably going to end up peddling now and then, but the bike's range with regenerative braking to power a secondary battery is almost 78 miles, compared to 56 miles without it. You'll obviously benefit more if you have a lot of hills and "stop and go" type stuff on your commute, but that's certainly nothing to scoff at. [Source: Far East Gizmos]

Toyota Prius to Get Solar Panels

by Ryan Block, posted Jul 7th 2008 at 9:47AM

According to Nikkei, Toyota's apparently going to be equipping future high-end Priuses with Kyocera-built roof-mounted solar panels. Somewhat counter-intuitively, the sun's rays won't be used to power the car itself, but will instead run the AC. It also sounds like your next solar-assisted Prius won't be around for a while, as the panels aren't designed in yet, nor will they be until early next year when Toyota starts work on revamping the line. [Source: Reuters]

Volkswagen Prepping Diesel-Electric Hybrid for 2010

by Paul Miller, posted Jun 27th 2008 at 10:45AM

You know how we love plug-in hybrids around these parts, particularly if they're actually going to get built -- crazy, we know. Now it looks like Volkswagen is going to get into the game, with a "Twin Drive" Golf powered by a 122 horsepower diesel engine and 82 horsies of electric motor. The car should debut around 2010, and VW plans on spending $769 million on the project, helped along by a $23.5 million program put in place by the German government to help along such development.

The car, which uses the electric motor for primary power, supplemented by the diesel motor and regenerative braking for extra juice, should be able to squeeze about 31 miles out of its Sanyo-developed lithium-ion batteries in all-electric mode. [Source: Wired]

Hybrid 'Googlemobile' Ticketed!

by Tim Stevens, posted Jun 17th 2008 at 12:23PM

We've seen the Googlemobile before, captured in a window's reflection as it wove its way through the streets capturing images for Google's Street View feature on Google Maps. Since that earlier photo was taken, it seems Google's gone a bit green, ditching that big ugly van and choosing a Prius with a silly tall camera mounted on the roof. Being green doesn't mean necessarily being lawful, however, as this hybrid Googlemobile apparently broke some traffic violation and is about to be on the receiving end of a ticket from a California motorcycle policeman.

CHiPs it ain't, as we're guessing there wasn't a high-speed chase before this picture was taken, but it's an interesting look at the tech that makes Street View possible. [Source: The San Francisco Citizen]

Honda's Hydrogen-Powered FCX Clarity Coming to the US, and It's a Celeb-Magnet

by Joshua Topolsky, posted Jun 16th 2008 at 12:34PM

If you're in the market for a fuel efficient car, but you've been holding out for something a little more advanced than the Prius, then your dreams may have just been answered.

Honda announced today that it would begin producing limited quantities of its FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles for sale in the US and Japan over the next few years. According to the automaker, it plans to offer around 200 of the zero-emission cars in the next three years, with a few dozen models expected on the road this year leased at around $600 a month.

Of course, you'll have to be on some mighty exclusive list to get one of these babies, a list that's populated by -- naturally -- celebs including Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest, Linda Harris ('24'). When it comes to green motoring, hydrogen-powered vehicles are the new black in Hollywood -- according to USA Today, Magic Johnson and Ugly Betty's America Ferrera drive GM's hydrogen-powered Equinox, while Edward Norton, Cameron Diaz, and Brad Pitt drive a limited production, gas-hydrogen hybrid by BMW.

Said John Mendel, a senior vice president at Honda, "It's an especially significant day for American Honda as we plant firm footsteps toward the mainstreaming of fuel cell cars." Now all they have to do is get more than 3 fueling stations out there and we'll be all set. [Sources: CNN, AOL News/AP, Physorg.com]

Read - Honda rolls out fuel cell car
Read - Honda starts producing next-generation fuel cell car

Gallery: HydrogenCar-Lovin'-Celebs

Saturn to Launch SUV Plug-In Hybrid by 2010

by Alon Avdi, posted Jan 18th 2008 at 12:37PM

In an effort to keep up with foreign car manufacturers, GM has announced that it hopes to begin production on a Saturn SUV hybrid that will be equipped with a plug-in feature and a Lithium ion battery. Working in tandem with the battery and plug-in technology, the Saturn Vue Green Line automobile will use "a modified version of GM's two-mode hybrid system" to double the fuel economy of any SUV on the market today.

The system will rely on the lithium ion energy source for power until the battery drains to a certain level. At that point, the battery will be recharged using the two-mode hybrid system's electronic motors and regenerative braking system. Using the plug-in to charge the battery at home should take four to five hours. Any 110 Volt electrical outlet will do the trick.

GM has disclosed that initial testing of the car shows that it can traverse a maximum of ten miles "at low speeds." It will use engine or electric power, or both, to allow it to travel at higher speeds or achieve faster acceleration. The biggest differences between plug-in hybrids and non-plug-ins are that the former offers more battery capacity, the at-home charging feature, as well as an increase in electric-only driving capability.

Consumers may find the prospect of buying the plug-in Saturn dubious, considering that GM omitted any mention of a price for the hybrid. Also, what GM hopes and what GM delivers may also be called into question, as 2010 production may be offset by typical delays, especially as it lags behind hybrid-makers like Toyota.

From Autoblog Green Via Engadget

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Ford Developing 100MPG Escort Hybrid

by Tim Stevens, posted Sep 25th 2007 at 11:13AM

Back in July, we reported that Ford was working with Southern California Edison to research plug-in hybrid and electric cars. That partnership is bearing fruit already with talk of the reborn Escort badge being slapped onto a compact plug-in hybrid car. Plug-in hybrids allow you to charge the car overnight before heading for work so you can make your commute on battery power (depending on length of commute, of course). This could result in EPA ratings of 100mpg -- or more.

The Escort was for a long time Ford's ubiquitous compact, but the car manufacturer replaced it in the '90s with the hipper Focus. With the Focus growing in size and weight age, there's room for a new, smaller car in Ford's range. The plug-in version is currently slated for release as a 2011 model, meaning you may be able to cruise to work emissions-free by late 2010.

UPDATE: It seems this rumor just was too good to be true after all. Ford has indicated that they are indeed not working on a plug-in hybrid version of the Escort.

From AutoBlog Green

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Why You Should Buy a Hybrid Car Now

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Sep 5th 2007 at 12:02PM

Outside of the environmental and fuel efficiency bonuses, one of the reasons to buy hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Prius is the hefty tax credits one gets. Those tax credits, at least for Toyota hybrids, are about to expire.

Here's how it works: The hybrid tax credits begin a phase out process after a manufacturer sells 60,000 vehicles. The credits drop 50 percent after the 60,000 milestone is met. Six months later, the credits drop to 25 percent of the original figure, and, after six more months, they expire for good. Credits on Lexus and Toyota hybrids are set to expire on September 30th. Next on the credit chopping block is Honda, as it is widely expected to pass the 60k threshold this month.

If you can't run out and buy a Prius right now, but still want a green vehicle and a healthy tax break, you can still choose from other alternatives, but you'll need to dig a little deeper. Fuel cell, natural gas, and methanol powered vehicles all come with impressive tax credits, but vehicles that qualify for these are very hard to come by. Hybrid and alternative fuel credits are set to expire for good in 2010, and fuel cell credits will only last until 2014 unless Congress decides to extend them.

From Consumerist

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Porsche SUV Enters the Hybrid Race, Finally

by Tim Stevens, posted Jul 27th 2007 at 4:11PM

Porsche Cayenne Hybrid Improves Mileage, Still Fat

Porsche was a little slow to jump on the SUV bandwagon when it released the Cayenne in 2002, so it only makes sense that the company is a little slow on the hybrid uptake as well. Finally, though, Porsche has come around and is showing off a prototype version of the Cayenne, charmingly called the Cayenne Hybrid (which isn't expected to go on sale until around 2010). It includes an electric motor nestled in between the traditional fuel engine and transmission that spins up when accelerating to assist the engine while pumping electricity back into the vehicle's batteries when braking.

However, like many recent luxury hybrids, the extra motor in the Cayenne will be focused on improving performance more so than mileage, or on cleaning up the environment. That said, the car, which currently hits the scales at a whopping 4,800 pounds (and will only be heavier in hybrid form), is still expected to deliver about 24 mpg -- a respectable boost over the current car's 18 mpg.

Here's to hoping the updated version of the car will also get an upgrade in the looks department at the same time, as the current design is in dire need of a refresh to tidy up that rather portly looking rear-end.

From gizmag

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Ford and Electric Car in the Same Sentence?

by Tim Stevens, posted Jul 9th 2007 at 2:34PM

Ford's Going Electric (Boogie Woogie Woogie)

In a somewhat surprising move, Ford Motor Company is creating an alliance with utility company Southern California Edison to pledge a partnership to research and produce both plug-in hybrid and fully electric autos. The company is pledging to produce cars of both types in much greater numbers than it does today, with only a single hybrid product, the Escape SUV, currently in its lineup.

The basic idea behind a plug-in hybrid is that it could be initially charged overnight, meaning that much of your morning commute could be run without the auto's combustion engine kicking in, greatly increasing overall fuel economy. However, Ford is also hoping to develop fully-electric vehicles which don't use fuel at all, relying entirely on evening charges to get owners to their destinations.

In the wake of massive rolling blackouts in 2000, thoughts of placing even more demand on SoCal's already strained power grid seems troubling at best. But, Southern California Edison, a company that actually has to post rolling blackout info on its Web site to keep its customers appraised, is pledging that finding the extra juice to keep these cars on the road won't be a problem -- providing owners recharge their rides at night, of course.

From PC World

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Branding the Prius

by Tim Stevens, posted Jun 8th 2007 at 3:16PM

Toyota's Prius is not only America's hottest selling hybrid car, it's also something of a status-symbol among the eco-friendly. It would seem natural, then, for Toyota to capitalize on that status by expanding the role of the Prius to be less of a car and more of a lifestyle. That's the idea behind a blog post from metacool that lists 10 things Toyota can do to build the Prius brand.

Included are reimbursements for drivers who opt for eco-friendly vanity plates, designated "Prius Maven" parking spots at Whole Foods stores, and $1,000 discounts to buyers who agree to have a 75mph speed limiter installed in their cars.

Smart and practical ideas, most of these, but it's doubtful Toyota will listen to many. After all, the company seems to to be doing okay on its own.

From Core77 and metacool

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Hacking Your Hybrid

by Tom Conlon, posted Apr 10th 2007 at 1:00PM

This summer, when the inevitable power blackouts cripple California, it just might be a Toyota Prius coming to your rescue instead of a traditional gas-powered generator. Pacific Gas & Electric is showing off a new hack that allows you to plug a Prius into the wall socket and throw the juice in reverse to kick-start your home's appliances. But hold your environmentally-friendly horses: At the moment, this new Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology works only with prototype Priuses (eh...Priuii?) that have been rigged with an additional lithium-ion battery.

From Engadget and The Raw Feed

Hybrid Sports Car gets 42MPG

by Tim Stevens, posted Mar 30th 2007 at 2:36PM

What other color would you paint your eco-friendly hybrid-powered sports car? DailyTech reports on the new type-d h from niche British car manufacturer Connaught. The two-door coupe features a lilliputian 2.0 liter V-10 engine coupled with a 48 volt hybrid system that together provide a rather modest 162 hp and 144 lb/ft of torque (roughly the same power output as a 2007 Mazda Miata MX-5). However, the car has been constructed largely from composites and aluminum so it weighs just 2138 lbs (350 lbs lighter than that Miata). This light weight allows it to do 0-60 in just 6.5 seconds with a top speed of 150 mph.

Okay, so with that kind of performance you wouldn't be blowing the doors off of your average Ferrari with this thing. In fact you'd be hard pressed to beat a Toyota Camry from a stoplight. You would, however, be getting an estimated 42 miles per gallon while doing so, a figure that surpasses just about every economy car produced today. That kind of mileage could save a commuter some serious green while making the commute a bit more exciting. Right now Connaught is strictly a UK-business, so finding one of these with the steering wheel on the left will be a challenge. Also, with no mention of price, chances are this will probably fall somewhere in the "if you have to ask" range.

Gallery: Connaught type-d h

From DailyTech (via AutoblogGreen)

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Panasonic's Electric Bike Does Regenerative Braking

Toyota Prius to Get Solar Panels

Volkswagen Prepping Diesel-Electric Hybrid for 2010

Hybrid 'Googlemobile' Ticketed!

Honda's Hydrogen-Powered FCX Clarity Coming to the US, and It's a Celeb-Magnet

Gallery: HydrogenCar-Lovin'-Celebs

Saturn to Launch SUV Plug-In Hybrid by 2010

Ford Developing 100MPG Escort Hybrid

Why You Should Buy a Hybrid Car Now

Porsche SUV Enters the Hybrid Race, Finally

Ford and Electric Car in the Same Sentence?

Branding the Prius

Hacking Your Hybrid

Hybrid Sports Car gets 42MPG

Gallery: Connaught type-d h

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