Hyundai Motors is getting quite ambitious with their hybrid and electric vehicle plans.  The Korea-based auto manufacturer has gained popularity in the United States since it was initially launched.  Up until recent weeks, however, Hyundai has made no concrete announcements regarding its transition to alternative fuel vehicles.  Now that they’ve started to discuss the options with the public, they are planning to go beyond just an initial hybrid launch.

Alternative Fuel Hyundai Plans
A Hyundai Sonata hybrid vehicle will be debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November with an expected production date of 2010.  Although 2010 may be the year of the electric vehicle, for Hyundai it will be the year of its first hybrid.  Hyundai plans to follow that release with a hybrid sub compact and by 2013 an all-electric plug-in to compete with the Chevy Volt.  Lofty plans but Hyundai hopes to be on par with the world’s biggest carmakers by 2013 with regards to alternative fuel vehicles.

Hyundai Partnership
As part of the new plans, Hyundai has partnered with several companies to ensure that they reach their target production dates.  According to an article that appeared in the online edition of the Korea Times on August 25, 2008, Hyundai Motors has “teamed up with LG Chem, SK Energy and SB LiMotive to develop batteries in the next 5-6 years that will be a critical part of these eco-friendly vehicles. The development is designed to cut back on the use of fossil fuels, and help reduce greenhouse gases.”

Made in America
An Alabama-based Hyundai plant is currently responsible for all of the domestic Hyundai Sonatas being sold.  Although Hyundai Motors hasn’t officially announced (or possibly even decided) where the future Sonata Hybrid will be manufactured, there is a good chance that it will be an American-made hybrid. 

Non-Hybrid Hyundais
Although the hybrid Hyundai is in its planning stages, this doesn’t mean that the car company doesn’t strive to reduce emissions in their current lineup of cars.  From the Hyundai website, “all of our vehicles are certified Low-Emission vehicles and six of our models are certified Ultra-Low-Emission Vehicles. The all-new Elantra is even certified PZEV (Partial Zero Emission Vehicle) in many markets.”

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Filed Under: electric vehicles

Keeping with the tradition of one manufacturer’s car having a strong resemblance to another manufacturer’s car, the Nissan EV-02 that was pictured in the UK-based Times Online website looks remarkably like a Scion XB.  Nissan is just one of several companies that are planning to have a production-ready electric vehicle available for public purchase in the United States in 2010.

Nissan EV Stats
Although the car is not in full-production status, the car that was tested in the Times Online article featured a single electric motor with three cases of lithium-ion batteries, 107 base horsepower, a top speed of 85 miles per hour and a 0-62 mph time of a whopping 13 seconds.  Taking 13 seconds to get to highway cruising speed is rather lengthy so the engineers at Nissan are working on this and hope to get that down to less than five seconds.  Obviously quite slower than the all-electric Tesla Roadster which puts down a 0-60 mph time of under four seconds but this car is meant for a completely different market. 

Future Availability
It is currently expected that the Nissan electric vehicle will be available in the United States and Japan in 2010 and global expansion in 2012, at the earliest.  According to the article, Denmark, Portugal and Israel will be likely 2012+ target markets as each of these countries is planning to provide tax benefits and create the needed infrastructure to support electric vehicle expansion.

Driving Range
When it comes to electric vehicles, consumers usually ask how far the car is going to take them.  Right now an EV is not meant to be a replacement for cars taken on trips but merely for around-the-town errands, commuting, etc.  The model tested by the reporter has a range of between 62 and 75 miles on a full charge.  The goal is to reach a 100 mile range on a full charge; it takes between six and eight hours to completely charge the Nissan EV.

In closing, the author had this to say of the Nissan EV-02 that he tested, “I’d be lying if I said the EV had not impressed me. Sceptics will find little to hate about a car that goes as fast as (or faster than) a prehistoric piston-powered motor, corners and stops like one but has running costs on a par with a Flymo.”

Source:  TimesOnline

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Filed Under: electric vehicles, nissan

The 2008 Electric Vehicle Rolling Showcase just wrapped up its weeklong push to bring attention to electric vehicles to those attending the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Denver, Colorado. Famed Hollywood actress Darryl Hannah even stopped by for a visit and to film a spot for The Daily Show.

Sebastian Blanco from autobloggreen posted an interview with Paul Scott about Hannah’s appearance, here is an excerpt: “We got a call from Obama delegate, and the organizer of the Electric Vehicle Rolling Showcase, Nate Vanderschaaf, asking us if we were available to pick up Daryl Hannah and assist her with a shoot for the Daily Show. Hell yes!”

About the EV Showcase
Held from August 24-28, 2008 in Denver, the EV showcase was created to allow anyone in the area the opportunity to ride in an electric vehicle and learn more about the technology. There were ten different EVs in attendance including the Tesla Roadster, Plug-in Prii and the Toyota RAV4 EV from “Who Killed the Electric Car?”.

“Who Killed the Electric Car?”
“Who Killed the Electric Car?” is a 2006 documentary by filmmaker Chris Payne that looks into why the electric car concept failed to take off. Two people from the film, Paul Scott and Colette Divine, were in attendance at the EV Showcase.

Nate Vanderschaaf

The Electric Vehicle Rolling Showcase is the brainchild of Longmont, Colorado resident Nate Vanderschaaf. According to the official EV Rolling Showcase blog, “He feels that Electric Vehicles are the only logical pathway to clean air, energy independence, and freedom from high gas prices.” Vanderschaaf then goes on to say in a blog post, “I’m a “real guy” who drives my 2002 Toyota RAV4 EV to work everyday and, by my own confession, enjoys the ability to haul a large supply of cargo in my car.”

With the 2008 Presidential election on the horizon, it is only natural that green motoring options are being discussed by both parties. Alternative fuel vehicles were discussed during the DNC and it is likely that they will be discussed during the Republic National Convention (RNC) which will be held next week in Minnesota.

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Filed Under: electric cars, electric vehicles

The Green Car of the Year (GCOY) award was created by the Green Car Journal in 2006 “to recognize environmental achievement in the automotive industry.”  Each year, the GCOY is announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show.  Ron Cogan, the editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal, says of the yearly announcement “Each year we choose the LA Auto Show to make this important announcement because California — and especially the greater Los Angeles region — has historically been the epicenter for both automotive and environmental innovation, and that’s what this award is all about.”

Previous Green Car of the Year Winners
In 2006, the inaugural Green Car of the Year award was given to the Mercury Mariner Hybrid.  The Toyota Camry Hybrid garnered the award in 2007 and the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid received the GCOY Award in 2008.  The Tahoe was selected because the city mpg rating was equal to that of non-hybrid mid-size cars.

2009 GCOY Eligibility
In order to be eligible for the 2009 Green Car of the Year award, the vehicle must be in production status by January 1, 2009.  A team of members from the Green Car Journal staff will be weeding through all eligible vehicles and then five finalists will be announced in advance of the LA Auto Show.  The official announcement will be made on November 20, 2008 at the LA Auto Show’s Press Days event.

When looking at the prospective finalists, “emphasis is placed on vehicles that advance overall efficiency and functionality while decreasing its environmental footprint” are important factors that are considered according to Ron Cogan.

Likely Finalist
There isn’t a large list of vehicles that will be eligible for the 2009 GCOY but that doesn’t mean it will be easy to guess which vehicles will make the final five.   The Chrysler Aspen Hybrid fits the newness factor that judges look at but will the 19 estimated mpg city rating be sufficient for the Aspen to seal the deal and win the 2009 GCOY Award?  My guess is no.

Which hybrids do you think will make the top five list for the 2009 GCOY?  I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Source:  PRNewswire

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Filed Under: General, chevy, toyota

Today is going to be “spy photo” day on The Green Motorist.  The folks over at BMW Blog have posted up a photo of the BMW X6 Hybrid via GlobalMotors.net.  On Sunday, Seyth Miersma at Next Autos.com posted spy photos of a Jaguar XJ which may just be the luxury motor company’s first hybrid. 

BMW X6 Hybrid

The BMW X6 will be the first hybrid BMW to hit the market.  Although expectations are that this vehicle will be initially released in Europe but hopefully the X6 will make it to the US market.  The X6 was initially revealed at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show.  According to the official BMW website, the X6 is “a concept vehicle that showcases innovative BMW ActiveHybrid technology in the world’s first Sports Activity Coupé. On the road, the BMW X6 Concept ActiveHybrid is as agile and enjoyable as it is efficient, leaving conventional hybrids far behind in the driving pleasure stakes.”

The ActiveHybrid technology has a goal of reducing fuel consumption and emissions by 20% over comparable non-hybrid vehicles.  The key parts of the ActiveHybrid system consist of an internal combustion engine and a transmission which will have either one or two electric motors.  Although the X6 is the only current concept, BMW engineers plan to use this technology in future hybrids.

Jaguar XJ

NextAutos.com has published a series of spy photos of a next generation Jaguar sedan.  Although nothing is set in stone yet, the website is theorizing “This next generation XJ could also be the first Jaguar car ever to be offered with a hybrid engine option to go along with an entry-level V-6 mill, several V-8s, as well as diesel choices.”  Although it will likely be years before we see a hybrid Jaguar on the road, it would be a step in the right direction for luxury hybrids.

Although BMW and Jaguar won’t be the first to offer luxury hybrid vehicles, the two companies will be a great addition to the existing luxury hybrid market.  Other luxury lines that I’d like to see enter the market include Audi and Bentley – what I wouldn’t give for a nice new Bentley Continental GT Hybrid.

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Filed Under: BMW, Jaguar, Luxury Hybrids

When a person thinks “Toyota hybrid”, the first thing that usually comes to his mind is “Prius.”  The Toyota Prius is arguably the most popular and well-branded US-based hybrid vehicle on the market.  However, the engineers at Toyota have also put their hard work into the Toyota Camry Hybrid.  The Camry is a bit pricier than the Prius with an MSRP of $26,150 for the 2008 model.

Exterior and Interior
The 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid is available in one of nine colors including two different white colors, a racy red and a vibrant metallic blue.  Consumers can choose between two fabric and two leather interiors for the Camry Hybrid allowing for a bit more luxury as compared to the Prius.

Safety Features
The Camry Hybrid isn’t only good for the environment; it is also good for you.  The airbag system in the vehicle include the standard driver and passenger airbags, a driver’s side knee airbag and front and rear side curtain airbags.  The 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid has received a five star rating in all front and rear crash categories by the NHTSA.  For safety ratings on other hybrids, read Hybrid Vehicle Safety Ratings – 2009 Models.

Engine Specs
The 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid will be powered by a 2.4 liter DOHC 4-cyclinder engine with 147 base horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque at 4400 rpm.  The vehicle is classified as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (AT-PZEV).  The battery in the Camry Hybrid is a sealed nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) with a 650V maximum voltage.

Camry Hybrid Fuel Efficiency
The 2009 Camry Hybrid has a fuel efficiency rating of 33 miles per gallon in the city and 34 miles per gallon on the highway.  For comparison, the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid with a 5-speed automatic 2.4L 4-cylinder engine has a city mpg rating of 21 and a highway mpg rating of 31.  Although the Camry Hybrid’s fuel efficiency is significantly greater than its non-hybrid counterpart, it falls quite short when compared to the Toyota Prius.  The mileage estimates for the 2008 Prius are 48 mpg in the city, 45 mpg on the highway which leads to a combined mpg of 46.

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Filed Under: General

One obvious benefit of driving a hybrid is the increased fuel efficiency.  When gas averaged over $4.00 per gallon, drivers everywhere felt the pinch and the demand for hybrid vehicles reached a new point.  The other obvious benefit that hybrid drivers receive is the comfort in knowing that their car is producing fewer emissions than other cars around them.

Besides these two perks, some states have implemented additional incentives for hybrid owners.  Some drivers in Arizona, California and Colorado get to bypass traffic and utilize the high occupancy vehicle lanes.  Other states have financial incentives for hybrid drivers.  It is likely that as hybrid ownership becomes more common these perks will fade away but for the time being, if you’re a hybrid driver in one of these states – enjoy your little incentive.

Florida
Hybrid drivers in Florida can also use the HOV lanes as long as the vehicle is certified and has a state-issued decal.  The decals, which require an annual renewal, are only $5.00 and can be purchased at your local Division of Motor Vehicles office.

Illinois
If you’re in the market for a new hybrid vehicle in Illinois, you may be eligible to receive a $1,000 rebate from your financial institution.  This rebate is in addition to the hybrid car tax credit that you may be able to claim on your federal income tax return.  In addition, Illinois residents who want to convert their current vehicle to run on alternative fuel can apply for a rebate of up to $4,000 towards the cost of the conversion.

Maryland
Hybrid owners in Baltimore, Maryland can receive a discount on monthly parking passes in one of the city-owned parking garages.  This perk isn’t limited to Maryland drivers, for more information on the concept read Premium Parking for Hybrid Drivers.

Emissions Exemption
Many states across the country offer an emission exemption for hybrid car owners.  Even though hybrid cars still produce emissions, the cars burn much cleaner than non-hybrid vehicles.  Having an emissions exemption saves hybrid owners time and money.

These are just a few samples of perks that are given to hybrid car owners across the country.  Most of these perks aren’t going to drive consumers to the hybrid car section of their local dealership but they are a nice gesture to recognize those who are making a more green motoring choice.

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Access to the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane, sometimes called the carpool lane, is a perk for those who ride share. In some states, a vehicle needs to have two or more people and in others it is three. Then you’ll find yourself in a state like California where the HOV lane is marked as 2+ and then a few miles down the road it magically turns into 3+ and you have to merge into traffic that is sitting at a standstill.

Until the last several years, hybrid car owners were not given special access to HOV lanes unless they also met the minimum person requirement. However, some states launched a special permit program which would allow certain lucky hybrid owners the ability to use the HOV lane. I decided to do a little research to compare a few states’ regulations on hybrid cars’ ability to use carpool lanes.

Arizona
In 2007, the State of Arizona began a program in which the state issued permits for certain hybrid cars. The only hybrid models that qualified for a permit were the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid and the now defunct Honda Insight. There are no new hybrid permits being offered in Arizona and cars that have the permit can fetch a pretty premium.

California
California, land of the traffic jam, has also suspended their issuance of HOV permits for hybrid cars. Like Arizona, the State of California restricted these permits to only the highest MPG hybrids. If you happened to drive a Chevy Tahoe hybrid you weren’t eligible because that non-hybrid Civic riding next to you had a better MPG rating.

Colorado
Hybrid drivers in Colorado were able to apply for a hybrid permit for the first time earlier this year. The initial launch was a mere 2,000 permits but it is likely that there may still be permits to be had in Colorado as the state (nor any of the cities located in Colorado) made the top ten hybrid registrations as researched by R.L. Polk & Co.

While the hybrid permits are a nice perk, having only one car on the road instead of two is better for the environment. Keeping the HOV lanes restricted to cars with more than one rider gets my vote. If you don’t have a hybrid, or a hybrid permit, look into a rideshare program.

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Filed Under: General

As a car enthusiast, I am a big fan of car clubs.  For me, the car club that I belong to is like my extended family.  From the teenagers to the grandfathers, I feel a close connection with all of the club’s members.  Car clubs are nothing new – however you don’t have to own a classic car, supercar or sports car to take advantage of the benefits of being in a car club.  As hybrid cars have gained in popularity, so have hybrid car clubs.

Hybrid Car Club of America (HCCOA)
The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) doesn’t have the national car club market cornered; the Hybrid Car Club of America (HCCOA) is working to get chapters started across the United States.  The Madison Hybrid Group is one of the HCCOA chapters; the group meets on the second Saturday of odd-numbered months.  In addition to their regular meetings, the group also sponsors Hybrid Car Cruise nights and attend the HybridFest en masse.

Club of Prii
According to the official Club of Prii website, Prii is pronounced pree-eye and the word is simply the plural form of the word Prius; multiple Toyota Prius’ are Prii.  The club is based in Los Angeles and it really seemed to have gotten off to a good start but unfortunately things are running a little slow for the club right now.  If you are a Prius owner in Los Angeles who would like to get together with other Prii owners, check out the Club of Prii site.

Hybrid Meets
The CleanMPG forums have an entire section dedicated to arranging meets and get-togethers for those who drive hybrid cars.  While not exactly an official car club, car clubs often get started after groups of owners get together during one of these informal meet-ups.  If you drive a hybrid car and want to connect with others in your area, check out the CleanMPG Events and Gatherings forum.

Car clubs are a great way for like-minded individuals to get together, draw attention to their cars and just have fun.  If you know of a hybrid car club in your area that may be of interest to The Green Motorist readers, I’d love to know about it – please leave me a comment with your club’s information.

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Filed Under: General

The new trend among retail outlets and some parking centers is to offer premium spots for hybrid drivers. About ten years ago I remember seeing expectant mother parking and then shortly thereafter special parking for those with young children. The expectant mother parking was obviously to shorten the distance that pregnant mommas had to walk – a nine-month pregnant belly and swollen and achey legs and feet appreciate the shorter walk.

Families with small children find that parking closer is a bit safer and also easier when you factor in kids, kid gear and shopping carts. The concept of providing premium parking spots for hybrid drivers is more a reward than anything else. I like the idea but I don’t think it is one that will last, simply because the hybrid car population will increase at a pace that will far exceed what these premium parking spots can keep up with.

Fresh & Easy
Fresh & Easy is a neighborhood market (smaller grocery store) that is a part of the Tesco series of companies. Tesco is the third largest retail company in the world and is bringing Fresh & Easy markets to several Western states. Their stores have a few spots reserved for hybrids right up front by the entrance. This is convenient whether you have a full cart of groceries or just want to zip in for a quick trip.

IKEA
Home furnishing giant IKEA also has a section reserved for hybrid drivers. For anyone that has ever been to an IKEA store, you know that the parking lot is larger than the already huge store and it is usually quite full. Anytime I’ve been I’ve had to park about ½ mile from the entrance. Driving by the exclusive spots up front filled with hybrids usually leaves me with pangs of jealousy.

Parking Garages
The creation of premium parking spots for hybrid owners isn’t restricted only to specific stores. Companies who own parking garages are also getting on the bandwagon. Some garages in Los Angeles are allowing hybrids to park for free; these drivers are double dipping into the savings bin – less at the gas pump and less at the parking garage.

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Filed Under: General