Do you have an extra $10,000 lying around that you don’t know what to do with? Go dig it up out of your backyard and get ready. This fall, A123Systems is going to make their Hymotion L5 Conversion Kit available to the general public. That means that the hybrid car that you already have can be converted into a plug-in. Right now, you can go to their website and put down a deposit so you can have your kit shipped to you when they are officially released.

The kit was made with the Toyota Prius in mind. Since the Prius was released to the public, drivers have tried to find ways to make the car even more fuel efficient than it already is. Sure, it gets respectable gas mileage. Some might even say it gets excellent gas mileage. With the Hymotion L5 Conversion Kit, that gas mileage can be doubled to 100 mpg.

The kit is supposed to install within three or four hours if you choose to do it yourself, which you might have to do after throwing down the $10,000 to buy the thing. But if you are one of those people who just can’t stop spending your money, you can also take the kit to any mechanic and have him (or her) install it for you.

This kit is an aftermarket product that is trying to propel ahead of the upcoming trend for plug-in vehicles. Automakers are expected to come out with an abundance of plug-in vehicles within the next two years, but A123Systems has allowed for consumers to have something to do while they wait. The kit gives all hybrid vehicles the ability to have a plug-in vehicle, as long as they have the extra cash.

The kit can even convert some non hybrid vehicles into plug-ins. Even though the kit was made with the Prius in mind, it works with a multitude of different vehicles, allowing it to penetrate deep into the market.

This kit should have a positive impact on the future of plug-in vehicles. If there is a great demand for the kit, automakers will know that there will also be a great demand for plug-in vehicles off the lot.

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Well before the hybrid vehicles of today came onto the scene, there were people in the past using hybrid technology to develop new ideas. When we think of hybrids, we often think about today, but a lot can be learned when we look at yesterday.

1. In 1769, they were already thinking of how to build a better, more efficient vehicle. The steam powered motor carriage was made by Nicholas Cugnot.

2. In 1839, trendsetters sailed on the first electric boat, which used technology that would later help in the development of electric vehicles.

3. It may not have been debuted to the world, but records show that in 1897, the first hybrid car was built by Justus B. Entz. The car used an assisted electric motor as a power source.

4. In 1899, “Mixie” was built by Ferdinand Porsche. Mixie was one of the first hybrid vehicles shown to the world, even though it did not make it into mass production.

5. In the early 1900s, thousands of electric trucks and delivery vehicles were used

6. 1903 saw the beginning of the Krieger Hybrid, which was very similar to Mixie. It ran on a battery pack. Due to record keeping in the early 1900s, there is not an accurate gauge of gas mileage of this vehicle.

7. In 1905, hybrid technology was getting interesting. H. Piper filed for a patent for a gasoline engine-electric motor power train.

8. In 1914, a hybrid vehicle was developed that could get 70mpg, which would astound drivers today

9. In 1918, Woods Motor Vehicle Company started the production of their “dual power” vehicle in the United States.

10. The introduction of the Hybrid Buick Skylark cannot be forgotten. It hit the roads in 1972, driven by Victor Wouk.

By the time the Toyota Prius made it to the roads, it was actually the product of years of hard work. As hybrid technology grows, we cannot help but look back at what the people before us have offered to hybrid technology. If it hadn’t been for that Hybrid Buick Skylark, we might still be living in a gas guzzling world.

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VW may not have the latest plug in hybrid to talk about, but the automaker is not waving a white flag and surrendering. Instead of joining the plug in bandwagon which says that plug ins are the only way to go, VW has unveiled its newest fuel cell concept. The concept shows that hydrogen is still a great alternative to gasoline, and is capable of rivaling the plug in. With the advancements of fuel cell technology, we just might end up seeing a fuel cell and plug in face off in the future.

VW’s Tiguan HyMotion Fuel Cell Concept recently made its first US debut. The concept was constructed from previous VW technology, and then improved upon to make a great fuel cell vehicle. The Tiguan HyMotion Fuel Cell Concept gives VW many reasons to be proud, and gives consumers many things to be excited about.

For starters, this vehicle can do pretty well on the power front. The fuel cell system gives it 107 horsepower, and with the assistance of the electric motor, it can create up to 134 horsepower. The vehicle can go from zero to sixty in fourteen seconds and it can go up to speeds of 93 mph. While that might not make it a race car it is sufficient for highway driving. It has enough pickup and enough speed to get the job done.

The best thing about this vehicle is it does not have any dangerous emissions. Water vapor is all that is coming out of the VW Tiguan HyMotion Fuel Cell Concept. Those guys on motorcycles driving behind it can take off their helmets and breathe the clean air. There is no danger to inhaling the Tiguan HyMotion’s vapors.

The vehicle uses a lithium battery pack, which can be recharged through the fuel cell or through regenerative breaking. There are no plugs with this vehicle, just green performance.

While many fuel cell systems sacrifice the roominess of the vehicle in order to put the fuel cell in that has not been the case with VW’s concept. The vehicle has the space of any non hybrid vehicle that VW has produced, with the environmentally positive technology to go with it.

This vehicle is not on its way to car dealers as of yet, but the concept shows that fuel cells have a lot to offer green drivers. They do not pollute, and they can perform. As the technology improves, that becomes more and more obvious to environmentally conscious drivers.

Within the next several years, there will be many fuel cell vehicles designed, along with a multitude of plug ins. It remains to be seen which type will win out in the end. There is a great possibility that the two will coexist, bitter rivals in the competitive auto market. Both have a lot to offer eco-friendly drivers, and both concepts have proven they can perform. With its latest concept, VW has proven that the competition is on and they plan on placing in that competition.

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Hybrid technology might have been just what Ford needed to rejuvenate its product line and help with sales. Ford has proven that it intends to be right up there with the big guys when it comes to hybrid vehicles. Ford has just given a plug in hybrid Ford Escape to the Department of Energy for testing. If this vehicle ever hits the streets, people will be very excited.

What’s so great about another Ford Escape hybrid? The plug in system, along with the hybrid engine, allows the vehicle to get up to 88 mpg in the city, and 50 mpg on the highway. Also, the prototype can drive for thirty miles without using any fuel, as long as the car stays under 40 mpg. That is incredibly impressive for a vehicle that runs on fuel and electricity.

The Ford Escape plug in hybrid uses a mixture of 85% ethanol with 15% gasoline. Ford has boasted that the plug in Escape has 60% less carbon dioxide emissions than a non hybrid vehicle. As if that was not enough, Ford claims that the carbon emissions could actually be reduced by 90% when compared to traditional vehicles if the cellulosic E85 fuel is used in the vehicle.

The Department of Energy has plans for plug in vehicles to hit their stride by 2014. With the help of Ford and other automakers that hope will likely become a reality. Considering that this new Ford Escape plug in hybrid is only a prototype that causes a lot of excitement for what is to come. Right now, automakers are just learning about this technology. They think they can make things that are even better, with a little more time.

Ford is expected to follow this prototype with more concept vehicles, and also with more vehicles that will be available for sale. Ford has taken an interest in the hybrid vehicle market, and plans on being a force in that market. As their ideas become more and more exciting, they have proven that they are going to become a big name in hybrid and electric vehicle manufacturing.

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It was only a matter of time until hybrid cars took to the race track. BMW has just announced its newest concept vehicle, a Formula One hybrid race car. Formula One’s governing committee just recently made a rule change which allows for this development. Formula One cars are now allowed to modify in ways that will boost their power through fuel saving technologies. This will allow for faster, more powerful cars that aren’t as crushing to the environment.

Many other auto makers are expected to follow BMW into hybrid race car manufacturing. There are many benefits to this technology, as the race cars will have more horsepower than their environmentally dangerous counterparts. Also, there will be less exhaust floating around the track. It is one of the few times in life where everyone wins.

The BMW HR2 will be able to get up to 185 mph and has 285 hp. It can go from zero to sixty in six seconds, so it can perform as a race car should. BMW did not sacrifice anything when making this hybrid vehicle.

While the HR2 is only a prototype, it is expected to lead the way into vehicles that will actually be used. BMW is expected to release a version of their race car by next year, using the HR2 prototype to build something that can be used on the race track.

The ideas that were used to create the BMW HR2 are expected to be used in other cars that will be driven on the roads. BMW is expected to incorporate the technology used for this car into many other models.

As hybrid technologies evolve, it only seems fit that all vehicles are outfitted with a hybrid system. Hybrid vehicles can have power and performance. Since they are also kind to the environment, it only makes sense that cars for every activity are converted into hybrids.

The BMW HR2 can change the face of race cars. It can also change the way people think of hybrids. In the past year, hybrids have evolved from unusual vehicles to cool vehicles that everyone wants to have. BMW can congratulate their company in having a hand in that process.

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Let’s be honest. Hybrid cars are cool. The technology is fun, and the thing about the environment is good too. But still, you have to drive the thing. As much fun as it is to own a car and get places, driving in that rush hour traffic can be a real pain. Keep your fingers crossed and say a little prayer though. The self driving hybrid is on its way…sort of, anyway.

Torc Technologies collaborated with some rather gifted students at Virginia Tech and created a Ford Escape Hybrid that can drive itself. It’s the perfect car if you want to tool around town with a twelve pack beside you. It’s hard to get pulled over for drunk driving when you’re not really driving.

Torc Technologies recently made the vehicle available for purchase. Before you run out to the nearest car lot, sit back down. It’s not available for people like us. It is only being made available for researchers for the time being. They want to make the technology even better (and cheaper) before they give it to the rest of us.

The Bywire XGV is expected to help make a lot of progress in the manufacturing of the autonomous car. The car industry has been interested in such technology for quite some time, although Torc Technologies has taken it to a further level than other manufactures have in the past. Lexus had put a mild bit of autonomous technology in one of their vehicles, but it does not even begin to compare to what Tor Technologies and Virginia Tech have done to the Ford Escape.

It makes sense that the technology should go in this direction. We are always looking for ways to make our lives even easier, and this would definitely help. Imagine sitting in your car and telling it where to go.

For a mere $89,000, researchers can get a hold of the Bywire XGV and start making things happen for the rest of us. Maybe it will get in the right hands and we will be able to go down the road with that twelve pack, talking on the phone, and watching TV. Finally, I will be able to get some use out of that DVD player in my car….

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Get out your calendar and circle 2010. That is the year that the Chevy Volt is going to be available to the general public. That will be the year that one of the greatest forces in the electric vehicle market will be unleashed. The public is anxiously anticipating the unveiling of the Chevy Volt, a vehicle that has been praised for both its looks and its performance.

The Chevy Volt is not only going to be an electric vehicle. It is going to be an electric vehicle with a punch. It’s going to be that punch that pushes it ahead of the competition. There are features of this vehicle that are an improvement on what the electric vehicle industry currently has to offer.

The Chevy Volt will be able to be charged by using a 110 volt household plug. While driving, gas or E85 ethanol will be used to recharge the battery. That gives the lithium-ion battery pack a longer life than many of its rivals. This E-Flex Propulsion System will allow the vehicle to go an estimated 640 miles without being recharged by the driver. That will allow drivers to have much more freedom than with electric vehicles in the past.

The Chevy Volt will allow for the electric vehicle to be much more practical than it has been in other models. With its increased range, it is a vehicle that families can take on trips. For the commuter that travels less than 40 miles per day, there will be no gas used, which of course means zero emissions. When gas is used, it is for the extra power to charge the battery pack to give the vehicle and increased driving range.

Besides its performance, the Chevy Volt is also a good looking car. The concept models that have been shown have been met by a receptive audience. It is a car that people would buy on looks alone, and it just happens to have the bonus of being an electric vehicle.

The Chevy Volt could prove to be the next generation of electric vehicles. In the past, electric vehicles have been exciting, but the driving range on many of them has been a letdown. With an increased driving range, the Chevy Volt shows that electric vehicles can be a family car used for both business and leisure.

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Toyota is at it again. The automaker has shown promise in the past with fuel cell vehicles, and now it has managed to outdo itself. Toyota’s FCHV-adv model runs on both hydrogen and electricity, and can go twice as far as previous Toyota fuel cell models. This is quite an announcement for Toyota and the automotive world.

The vehicle switches between electric power and a hydrogen fuel cell. The vehicle can go up to 516 miles before it needs a fill up.

While this is exciting news, Japan is the only place that is going to get to see the FCHV-adv model in the near future. While the vehicle is going to be available for leasing in Japan later this year, there are no plans for a global release as of yet.

What is so great about a fuel cell vehicle? Most importantly, it does not emit any pollutants. It is able to be pollution free by running on a chemical reaction that is created by hydrogen and oxygen, which produces water.

The Toyota FCHV-adv boasts a 25% increased fuel efficiency. Toyota was able to make some adjustments with the previous braking system in order to make that improvement.

One of the most exciting things about Toyota’s announcement is the starting temperature. The new FCHV-adv can start in temperatures as low as 22 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. That is unusual for a fuel cell vehicle. The technology is incredibly difficult to get running when it is cold out, so Toyota has made great improvements.

Fuel cell vehicles are the next thing in hybrid vehicles. Although this vehicle is currently only up for distribution in Japan, the global market should expect to see it in the future. The world is hungry for advanced hybrid models, and surely Toyota has plans to take advantage of that hunger.

Other automakers have plans to release hydrogen vehicles. By 2010, consumers can expect to see hydrogen vehicles on the street in a much larger magnitude. Until then, we can just wait and hope for vehicles such as the FCHV-adv to make it to our market so we can take advantage of the technology.

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Hydrogen vehicles are the next wave in eco-friendly driving. That is why the recent announcement by Ronn Motor Company is creating such a stir. They just announced that they are jumping into the ring with their own hydrogen vehicle. In the world of hybrid vehicles, auto makers have to keep one upping each other, and this case is no different. Thus far, most hydrogen vehicles have needed a hydrogen fueling station to run. That would make sense, right? Ronn Motor Company did not like that part of the hydrogen vehicle. In fact, it bothered them so much that they created a new system.

The Scorpion, a vehicle still in pre-production, is going to be made with a system that actually produces the hydrogen. This is not something that the vehicle will need to stop and rest in order to do. It produces as it uses. It can produce hydrogen in real time and then mix it with the vehicle’s fuel as you’re on the go.

Ronn Motor Company’s Scorpion is going to mix the hydrogen with gasoline at 30% to 40% hydrogen, the rest gasoline. This system will allow the vehicle to get around 40mpg. There is no word yet about highway driving versus city driving, but more information should come out as the car goes into production.

Ronn Motor Company came up with their hydrogen prototype by doing a simple little thing that we should have all thought of before. They are going to be fracturing water molecules. If I had only listened closer in science class….

But alas, I’m never going to make a hydrogen car, but I will certainly drive one. I may get my chance fairly soon. The Scorpion is expected to be coming our way this fall. Ronn Motor Company is planning to start producing and selling right away to meet the current demand for green vehicles.

The Scorpion looks like a sports car. If it performs like one remains to be seen, but so far, consumers are hopeful. As they wait for more information to come available, there has been a lot of speculation that this car could change a lot of things in the market. It has the looks, a cool concept, and is environmentally friendly. If it has power and drives well, it will be a force to be reckoned with.

For added excitement, the prototype is also a convertible. You have to admit that it would be a lot of fun to cruise down the street with the top down while you’re making some hydrogen on the side. It’s all about multitasking, really. You can drive, make hydrogen, and cause people to turn their heads. In the past that would have been a lot to do at once. Soon, though, it just may be possible.

There has not been word yet as to how much this vehicle will cost. Eco-friendly sports car enthusiasts may still pick the car up if it is expensive, though. Check back for updates as they become available.

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What’s a hybrid concept without a little fun? That seems to be the thought that was on the mind of the Hurricane Jeep Hybrid concept vehicle. This concept may never see the showroom floor, but it has managed to still inspire plenty of auto lovers.

When the Hurricane concept car was unveiled for a test drive, the viewers were stunned. The vehicle appeared to be made from scratch. It was full of buttons and gadgets that would make every tech geek happy.

The Jeep Hurricane is not the average hybrid vehicle. First of all, it is loud. It roars to life with two V-8 engines, which is not commonplace in the world of green vehicles. The Hurricane can be powered with four to sixteen cylinders, so the possibilities regarding power are almost endless.

The Jeep Hurricane boasts some of the best steering around. It can turn corners like a luxury vehicle. It is a hybrid that is actually fun to drive.

It is rare for a concept car to be used for anything but display purposes. This is however a completely functioning concept vehicle.

Alas, it will probably never be seen in anyone’s driveways. This concept is expected to stay just that. However, it does raise some questions.

Is there a Jeep Hybrid on the way? Can we expect for that to be the next big thing that hits the marketplace?

Apparently, the Jeep Hurricane Hybrid was quite an expensive vehicle to make. While a Jeep Hybrid would be a hit, the price would have to be reasonable, and auto makers realize that. Until they are able to fit a Jeep with an affordable system, there will not be any hitting the sales’ floor.

Jeep is a popular selling brand, and a hybrid would be sure to take consumers by storm. However, there are currently not any plans to release a Jeep Hybrid. Still, it is promising that Jeep is out there giving a hybrid a test drive. Maybe before we know it, they will have a viable, affordable vehicle to bring into the hybrid market. Until then, we will just have to watch the videos on the internet and dream.

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