You’ve been reading in this space piece after piece about electric and plug-in hybrid cars with ranges so preposterous you could probably walk farther than they could take you on a single charge.

Well, you can look to the Suzuki Swift to be a step in the right direction.

Designed to be used by motorists with about ten miles per day commute (does anyone live that close to work?  If so, chances are they work from home.) to be a pure electric, those of us who live farther away for once can actually still apply–the critical difference here being that the car could then switch into hybrid mode to get the rest of the distance.

I’ve been sick to death of reading all these reports about these electric cars that can’t go more than thirty, forty miles without whimpering like a schoolgirl and then folding up into the night.  Even though this is just a hybrid, it’s still a pretty good move, and hopefully the Suzuki Swift is just the beginning.

And, though you’ve heard about that one here once before, there’s some extra news along with it–not only will we be seeing that one at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, but we’ll also get the fuel cell version of the SX4 SUV.

The fuel cell in question for that one is being provided by General Motors.

Tags: fuel cell, hybrid, plug in hybrid, Suzuki, Suzuki SX4 SUV, tokyo motor show

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While we broke the tale of the BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics way back in September, some fresh news has emerged to make the whole thing a lot more interesting.

Specs have recently hit, and they’re downright amazing: it’s a plug in hybrid with a three cylinder turbo diesel, it gets zero to a hundred km/h in 4.8 seconds, and its total gas mileage is right around sixty two miles per gallon.

Frankly, this car is amazing no matter how you slice it.  it’s got incredible numbers on its side, and it’s easily one of the sexiest plug-in hybrids on the market.  After looking at the frumpy hausfrau that was the Toyota Prius (which will, by all accounts, still look like a shaved brick on wheels for the next couple of years at least), it’s downright liberating to get a look at the shapely, vaguely Lamborghini styled BMW Efficient Dynamics.  A sixty two mile per gallon car that looks like that?  Almost too good to be true.

Tags: BMW, BMW Vision Effcient Dynamics, hybrid, plug in hybrid, plug in hybrid car

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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

Tags: 2 liters, Blog, co2 emissions, economical fuel, flexibility, Frankfurt Auto Show, fuel consumption, fuel injection, hybrid cars, hybrid ring, market source, mercedes s400, mercedes s500, Mercedes-Benz, petrol engine, plug in hybrid

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Chrysler has submitted three proposals outlining a $448-million plan to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to try to quickly bring plug-in hybrid models and electric vehicles (EV) to market. These proposals were presented in order to get two initiatives established by the DOE – the Electric Drive Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative and the Transportation Electrification Initiative. Both are planned to speed up development, demonstration, evaluation and manufacturing of alternative energy vehicles.

The programs lay out a 50/50 cost-share opportunity, with $224 million to come from Chrysler and the same amount matched by the DOE. If approved, Chrysler is planning to use the funds to build a demonstration fleet of EVs and plug-in hybrids, in addition to creating a new-vehicle electrification technology and manufacturing center situated in Michigan. Under this plan, this new facility would be operational by next year and be capable of producing more than 20,000 vehicles per year.

Tags: $448 million, Chrysler, DOE, Electric, ev, models, plan, plug in hybrid

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Vehicle conversion systems aimed to address the growing issues of carbon emissions and energy consumption may soon be within reach as Foreign Affairs: Zero! has been selected as one of only twelve certified installation centers in the US to exclusively offer the HYMOTION L5 Plug-in Prius Conversion Module from A123 Systems. The L5 Module allows Foreign Affairs to convert Prius Hybrid Vehicles into Plug-in Hybrids (PHEV) capable of achieving 100+ Miles per Gallon.

A123 Systems officially announced the appointment for Foreign Affairs as a Certified HYMOTION Installation Partner (CHIP) in January 2009. “We applaud our nation’s administration for providing strong incentives for businesses, individual consumers, and municipalities to lower their carbon footprint through individual vehicles. The Plug-in Hybrid simply does just that,” continued Jonathan Ortiz. “Since the appointment from A123 Systems, we have created three new job positions and since filled them. We feel very proud to do our part in creating these ‘green-collar’ jobs intended by the Stimulus Act.”

Foreign Affairs: Zero! also represents other quality Zero-Emission Vehicles such as the All-Electric ZENN Car and the All-Electric Highway-Capable Vectrix Motor Scooter. Foreign Affairs:Zero! was chosen to be the exclusive Florida HYMOTION dealer for their strong support of environmental initiatives, outstanding business reputation, and their ongoing commitment to introducing advanced vehicle technologies.

(Source) Press

Tags: a123 systems, business reputation, carbon emissions, carbon footprint, conversion systems, energy consumption, environmental initiatives, foreign affairs, hybrid vehicles, hymotion, motor scooter, plug in hybrid, plug in hybrids, Prius, Stimulus, vehicle conversion, zenn car, zero emission vehicles

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It seems a number of major carmakers, energy companies and drivers of plug-in hybrid vehicles have decided on what the univerals plug should look like for new cars. Ultimately, the companies agreed on a three-pronged, 400-volt plug which was presented at Hanover Technology Fair. The thinking behind the decision to make the plugs uniform between different companies is that cars must be able to be recharged in one country in exactly the same way as in another.

Some of the major carmakers in agreement include Volkswagen, BMW, Ford, General Motors, Fiat, Toyota and Mitsubishi, which together account for the majority of global vehicle production. This agreement also includes major European energy firms, such as the German-based companies E.O.N and RWE, Swedan’s Vattenfall, France’s EDF, Spain’s Endesa and Italy’s Enel. There is no timeline for the new common plug as of yet.

Tags: 400-volt plug, common plug, Hanover Technology Fair, plug in hybrid, universal plug

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At a time when hybrids and fuel efficient cars are increasing in demand, leave it to Kia Motors to come up with a vehicle to satisfy those areas. Kia Motors Corp. yesterday unveiled the liquefied petroleum gas-electric hybrid version of the Forte and its eco-friendly sub-brand Eco Dynamics.

Eco Dynamics is a sub-brand that represents ecology and economics and the company’s aim of developing environmentally friendly automotive technologies, the logo for which will be used on hybrid, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen-powered vehicles to be launched in the future.

The hybrid Forte is equipped with a 1.6-liter LPG engine and an electric motor to support the internal combustion engine during acceleration and when the vehicle is started.

The LPI hybrid Forte is the world’s first hybrid vehicle to be fitted with a lithium-ion polymer battery, which is lighter and smaller but has higher output than nickel-metal hydride batteries. The company also altered the exterior and interior design of the hybrid Forte to set it apart from the normal version of the vehicle. The company said that it plans to develop a distinct tune that will be played when the hybrid Forte is started to further differentiate the car from conventional vehicles and use the tune in advertising campaigns.

The hybrid Forte will also be shown at the Seoul Motor Show that opens on April 2.

(Source) Korea Herald

Tags: acceleration, advertising campaigns, automotive technologies, conventional vehicles, hybrid vehicle, hybrid version, hybrids, hydrogen powered vehicles, internal combustion engine, kia motors corp, korea herald, liquefied petroleum gas, lithium, lithium ion polymer, lithium ion polymer battery, nickel metal hydride batteries, plug in hybrid, Seoul

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