Just as the Mercedes S400 is set to be shipped to U.S. dealers, Mercedes Benz has unveiled another future model in the Mercedes S500 Vision Plug-in Hybrid at the Frankfurt Auto Show. With the eventual coming of this new hybrid Mercedes vehicle, expect the Mercedes S500 to invade the luxury hybrid ring soon.

The S500 features economical fuel consumption, burning only 3.2 liters for every 100 KMS. Add as well the lower CO2 emissions for something as big as the S500 and a V6 petrol engine with fuel injection and you get the flexibility due from luxury hybrid cars today.

From the looks of it, while we are praising the coming of the S400, the S500 looks promising as well. The only difference is we don’t have an idea when it would come out or how much this would cost in the market.

(Source) Automo Blog

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With the shift towards electric cars still apparent, the buck doesn’t stop there. Apparently the need to properly monitor that charging of vehicles will somehow become a need in the near future and Ford is getting its act ready for such a scenario. And to spearhead their efforts, Ford launches the Intelligent Charging System for hybrid cars which will allow cars to communicate with the electrical grids.

Under this scenario, the driver or the car owner can easily control the charging station and choose when the car charges, how long it takes and at the rate it charges. Similar to how most motorists are trying to control their fuel consumption, this device aims to control the electric consumption of cars for a longer and smoother ride.

This Ford Intelligent Charging System will first show up in the all-electric Transit Connect commercial van and then the Focus Hybrid in 2011.

(Source) Slashgear

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Nissan officially unveiled today the Nissan Leaf, set to be available in 2010. The Nissan Leaf is a medium-sized hatchback that can accommodate five adults and go as far as 100 miles. The Leaf is powered by a compact lithium-ion battery which can be charged up to 80% in 30 minutes tops. Regular charging is estimated to be about eight hours.

Among the highlights of the Nissan Leaf:

• V-shaped design light-emitting diode (LED) headlights
• Dash-mounted monitor to displays remaining power
• Ability to use mobile phones to turn on air-conditioning and set charging functions
• On-board remote-controlled timer to recharge batteries

(Source) Hybrid Cars

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As far as new cars are concerned, it is not surprising that most motorists are turning towards hybrid technology to curb down carbon emissions and better fuel efficient vehicles. This seems to be the trend these days as we see most car manufacturers unveiling their own version of hybrids, potentially to lure a curious market on the ideal car to have today.

The new 2010 automobiles will soon change the future in transportation as conventional vehicles make the switch to hybrid cars. The new cars also qualify for government incentives to use as a 2009 hybrid car tax credit. Hybrid cars can achieve better fuel efficiency and are led by car manufacturers including Ford Motor Company, Toyota, Honda, and General Motors.

The big switch is indeed apparent. We have been seeing various advertisements and promotions for the new breed of hybrids. And this time, it is not just a marketing gimmick. These car giants are really gearing towards the market demand. With due consideration to the two factors, carbon emissions and fuel efficiency, the product is that of having a hybrid or electric car in your lineup, something that we can see in most vehicle showrooms for customers looking for a new vehicle to own.

(Source) News Oxy

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By 2011, Britain is poised to make sure that the shift towards electric vehicles is done to fall in line with its “electric car cities” plan. Motorists in Britain are to be offered up to $9,000 Cdn to encourage them to buy electric or hybrid cars under a new government plan. The incentives will be offered from 2011 when a new generation of electric cars is expected to become available

Environmental groups said it was a step in the right direction but fell short of initiatives in other European countries, such as Denmark, which are far ahead in the race to go green. Business Secretary Peter Mandelson and Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon announced the plan in Scotland as part of a $500-million scheme to cut emissions and at the same time help the struggling motor industry.

Electric cars cost an average of $24,000, but go up to more than $80,000 for high-performance models. A national demonstration project will give a small sample of around 200 motorists the opportunity to drive a cutting-edge car and give feedback to the industry. Green groups said the plans would make little difference if the electricity used to power them came from dirty coal-fired power stations.

(Source) Times Colonist

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Maruti has revealed that in 3 to 5 years time, they will be launching their own line of hybrid cars and compressed natural gas (CNG) variants for three or four models in the domestic market. The plan is part of the company’s broad strategy to develop small cars that run on alternative fuel technology.

“We are developing electric car technology for India. But it might take us up to the next five years or more to manufacture and sell electric cars in the domestic market,” said Maruti Suzuki Managing Director Shinzo Nakanishi.

Maruti Suzuki Chairman R C Bhargava, added, “We are working on multi-fuel variants and some models have been identified for CNG. A CNG kit currently costs over Rs 40,000 and that is expensive. Also, these cars can only be launched in 2010 or 2011, when there is a pan-India CNG filling system from companies like Reliance.”

Bhargava pointed out that even Delhi lacked sufficient CNG filling systems for commercial vehicles. The company has already launched LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) variants of the Maruti 800 and Wagon R.

(Source) Business Standard

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U.S. President Barack Obama announced today that he will be ordering 2,500 hybrid vehicles for the U.S. General Service Administration made up of hybrid vehicles from GM, Ford and Chrysler by June 1. The purchase goal is fuel economy that’s 10 percent higher than the vehicle being replaced.

While auto sales have fallen 36 percent in the first quarter of 2009 compared to last year, the government’s purchase is still only symbolic, representing less than two-tenths of one percent of total US annual sales. But lawmakers from auto-industry states like Michigan and Ohio reacted with fervent support.

The first step will be an order for 2,500 hybrid sedans by April 15. Qualifying cars include the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, and the 2009 Saturn Aura Hybrid. The Ford Fusion Hybrid received excellent reviews and generated intense public interest, but the incremental mileage improvements of the Malibu and Aura mild hybrids have neither sparked much enthusiasm nor sold particularly well.

The total cost of $285 million would come from the $787 billion economic stimulus bill passed by Congress last month. A statement from the White House said the entire purchase will “reduce gasoline consumption by 1.3 million gallons per year and prevent 26 million pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.”

(Source) Hybridcars

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It is apparent that to stay in business, you have to go with the flow. For car rentals, staying put with your current line of vehicles will get you nowhere and the real deal is listening to the demands of people today. And this is turning towards offering hybrid cars for rent as the demand for them continues to rise.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car says it’s doubling its rental hybrid vehicles by adding about 5,000 hybrids to its nationwide fleet.

And despite higher up front rental costs, customers are asking for them because it makes returning the cars with a full tank a little easier.

“We’ve noticed that over the past few months our customers are asking for a fuel efficient, environmentally friendly vehicles,” Bob Albrecht said with Enterprise.

Most other rental car companies do offer hybrid vehicles. But the enterprise family claims to have most fuel efficient cars.

(Source) Arkansas Matters

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It was something that many had predicted so the fact that the Toyota Hybrid has hit the 1 million car sales should not be totally surprising. Though the current economic indicators are a factor that many seem to count as hindrances towards allowing Toyota to achieve success, it seems to have had little impact on the hybrid sales as far as the U.S. is concerned.

US sales of Toyota’s hybrid cars have surpassed the one million mark, the Japanese carmaker said, highlighting the rising popularity of ecological vehicles.

It took seven years for Toyota, the world’s biggest carmaker, to sell 500,000 hybrids in the US, but has taken just two years to sell the next 500,000.

“One million hybrids in less than nine years indicates how quickly American consumers have accepted this important technology,” said Jim Lentz, Toyota’s top US executive.

(Source) Birmingham Post

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Here is an off-roader which barely made it to the Geneva Motor Show this year. An obvious sight to behold considering most cars presented this year catered more towards the compact and hybrid cars, the Skoda Yeti is a more capable off-roader thanks to the option of four-wheel-drive.

The Yeti escapes looking either aggressive or utilitarian. Inside, the smart, upmarket dashboard continues the theme. In the back is a set of three removable, sliding rear seats.

The engine range includes a surprisingly muscular and efficient 1.2 turbocharged petrol unit, as per the new VW Polo, and a 1.8 petrol turbo. The diesels are three 2.0s of differing boost, the top one running to 170bhp.
(more…)

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Tractors are joining the zero-emission drive as New Holland has reportedly unveiled a new tractor called the NH2. The NH2 also diverges from said super-cars with its performance — it’s pulled along by 106 horses and only operates for around two hours on one hydrogen tank.

This is just a protoype, and the areas can still be improved. Just like hybrid cars today, the idea of seeing zero emission dump trucks and cranes and other heavy-duty machines can certainly be a big help to the environmental efforts.

As for the NH2, New Holland is still testing it and plans to bring out a commercial version within three years.

(Source) Inhabitat

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In an effort to increase awareness in San Francisco, Zipcar has tied up with the city of San Francisco to deliver a pilot program for plug-in hybrid vehicles in its Bay Area fleet. Zipcar showcased the converted Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid at a special charging station across the street from City Hall.

Zipcar is supporting the Mayor’s drive to increase the awareness and use of electric vehicles (EVs), while also providing a convenient, cost-effective solution to consumer transportation needs. Zipcar’s legacy of offering clean cars dates back to 2003, when it was the first commercial fleet to widely introduce hybrids in Seattle.

“Zipcar encourages sustainable lifestyles in several ways — fewer personally owned cars, less driving overall, and now the addition of these super efficient plug-in cars,” said Mark Norman, President and Chief Operating Officer of Zipcar. “Our members strongly support the notion of adding next-generation clean cars, and this program is an important first step in exploring the potential.”

(Source) Press

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Electric and hybrid cars are in focus these days and while we see the likes of Toyota, Ford and Honda coming up with their own concepts, there is one car that has been lingering in the back and that happens to be the GM Hydrogen4.

The GM Hydrogen4 is powered by a fuel cell, the technology which many hope will all but remove cars from the global-warming equation. Fuel cells take hydrogen and oxygen and combine them, in a reversal of the electrolysis process, to produce electrical power to drive the car. The only tailpipe emission is harmless hot water vapor.

The HydroGen4 feels much in line with its standard, petrol-powered counterpart; it does not quite have the “thump in the back” acceleration from standstill of purely battery-powered cars. But apart from its notable quietness, there are far fewer moving mechanical parts in a fuel-cell drivetrain compared with petrol or diesel. Even the extra weight of the still-prototype drivetrain (fuel cell plus electric motor), at 600kgs, has no seriously detrimental effect; it being packaged very low down in the car and sited amidships.

Filling HydroGen4’s tank is only a little more complex, and takes only a little longer, than filling a conventional car at the petrol and diesel pumps. Safety is a priority: a puncture at pressures of around 10,000lbs per square inch would probably propel the car from Berlin to Munich.

(Source) Financial Times

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They are compact but the price is still something to think about. And with the notion that Chinese cars may soon be seen in stores like Costco is something that can happen. And with these cars situated in Mexico for manufacturing, you can just imagine how easy it would be to transport newly assembled Chinese cars into the U.S. market which would only lack the need for aggressive distribution and marketing from thereon.

GS is building an assembly plant in Michoacan, Mexico with FAW. The plan is for vehicles to roll off the line beginning in 2010. GS Motors will launch the FAW brand in Mexico this year with the F1 Hatchback, an entry-level car sold for under $5,500. FAW, one of the largest Chinese automakers, is allied in China with Volkswagen.

GS Motors is racing to bring the first Chinese cars to America via Mexico—but they are not alone. BYD (Build Your Dreams) showed plug-in hybrid and electric model in Detroit last month and promised to bring them to the US as early as next year. In fact, many of China’s 80 or so auto companies have made similar gestures, with varying degrees of seriousness.

(Source) Hybrid Cars

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According to figures released by J.D. Power and Associates, sales of hybrid vehicles in the U.S dropped in the second half of 2008 as gas prices began to fall. Prius sales in November and December plunged more than 45 percent, prompting Toyota to delay plans to build the car in the United States. “Cheap gasoline combined with fuel efficiency mandated by the government is an economic and environmental disaster for America,” Auto Nation CEO Mike Jackson said at a news conference earlier this week.

“When the cost per mile driven goes down, people buy bigger, faster” cars and trucks, he noted. Ford Motor Co., No. 3 in hybrid sales behind Honda, suffered the greatest decline, down 22.2 percent. The sales declines coincided with steep declines in sales of all autos due to a severe credit crunch and global economic crisis. The drop in hybrid sales complicates the already difficult task of retooling the American auto industry to be more competitive through increased production of fuel-efficient cars.

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