My Perfect Automobile » Hybrid Electric Cars

Toyota Switching to Lithium Batteries?

Larry Bell — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:18:08 +0000

Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid car

Japanese media sources are reporting that Toyota Motor Co. will soon ramp up its production of lithium batteries by at least six-fold. The company apparently wants to use the packs in its Prius hybrid automobiles. Eventually, a jointly owned Panasonic-Toyota battery facility will build 200,000 packs per annum and will cost almost $200 million to build. In order to reduce vehicle size and weight, and to improve mileage, Toyota will likely be replacing the current nickel-metal hydride batteries in Prius cars with the new lithium units. Exact timing for the change has not been announced.

Toyota Prius: Video

While there is no specific word on how the eventual battery switchover will affect Prius range and charge time, the video clip above offers a nice overview of how the current version of the plug-in works. The 15-mile all-electric range in today’s Prius plug-in is sourced from a battery pack that can be recharged from a 220-volt outlet in about 90 minutes. The car’s dash display shows progress of the charge.

Toyota Batteries

Japan’s influential Nikkei Business Daily newspaper reported the basic facts about Toyota’s apparent switch to lithium power, but did not cite sources for the information. It is possible that Toyota is intending to sell the batteries to other carmakers, or offer them for sale on the open market. However, rumors have been adrift in the auto industry for several years that the maker of the best-selling Prius hybrid would soon switch to lithium battery packs for reasons of efficiency if nothing else.

Toyota sold more than 1 million hybrid cars last year, and its popular Prius typically makes up about 70 percent of the company’s total hybrid sales. Since 1997, Toyota hybrid sales have exceeded 5 million units.

For more about Toyota, see the Japanese carmaker’s official corporate website:
http://www.toyota.com

Larry Bell

Larry Bell + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Author, but we call him ‘The Expert‘. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Expert Author. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

Toyota Prius V a Top-Ten Family Car

Larry Bell — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:25:40 +0000

Toyota Prius V

Kelley Blue Book’s list of the top ten best cars for families includes the Prius V hybrid in the number-three slot, just behind number two Honda Accord and top choice Nissan Pathfinder. In fact, Toyota notched two of its models on the prestigious list. The company’s Avalon placed sixth on KBB’s ranking. While the Prius V shows an average sticker price of $28,752, the Avalon’s price comes in at $35,610.

Toyota Prius: Video

For a substantive, though humorous, car review, watch the clip above, where Ford’s C-Max hybrid faces off against the Toyota Prius in a tandem road test of sorts. Each driver makes the case for the car he drives, with a total of five points at stake. Without spoiling the ending, know that the C-Max wins the mileage category, though only by a slim margin. Toyota’s Prius is a hands-down victor when it comes to rear cargo space, which is one factor that helped it snag a position on the KBB Best Family Car listing. Overall, the review delivers a lot of laughs but also much substance about the two cars.

Toyota Prius V

Fourth and fifth on the KBB Best Family Cars list were the Volkswagen Passat and the Honda Odyssey, respectively. Places seven through ten were, in order, Ford Fusion, Honda CR-V, Nissan Altima and Chevy Suburban. A spokesperson for KBB noted that all cars on the list ranked high in the categories of comfort, value, spaciousness and of course safety. The annual listing typically includes vehicles in a wide range of prices and sizes. This year’s selections covered the pricing spectrum and featured several multiple corporate entries; three Hondas, two Toyotas and two Nissans. Chevy, Volkswagen and Ford each had one car on the list.

For more about Toyota Motor Co., and the Prius V in particular, see the official corporate website for Toyota below, plus a specific site for the Prius V hybrid.
http://www.toyota.com
http://www.toyota.com/priusv/

Larry Bell

Ford Fusion Energi Gets Five Stars for Safety

Larry Bell — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:25:17 +0000

Ford Fusion Energi

Ford Motor Company’s plug-in hybrid Fusion Energi scored a powerful double play in safety, earning the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA’s) highest rating, as well as being named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. NHTSA tests frontal, side and rollover impact, and then calculates an overall rating based on those three scores. The Fusion Energi plug-in scored a perfect five stars in each of the three crash categories.

Ford Fusion Energi: Video

The video footage above shows NHTSA frontal crash testing on a Ford C-Max Hybrid. The meticulous documentation of the controlled crash is typical of the organization’s thoroughness. Results of the frontal tests showed the C-Max scoring four out of five stars, while the vehicle notched a full five stars in the side testing. Rollover results came in at four stars, giving the C-Max an overall four-star safety rating. The Ford Fusion Energi scored a perfect five-star safety rating in its most recent testing. NHTSA crash simulations are scientifically designed to mimic real world conditions, and have been perfected over several decades. Carmakers spend huge sums of money in an effort to earn four- or five-star safety results. Marketing surveys show that at least half of all car buyers purchase a vehicle based at least partly on its safety ratings, from NHTSA and others.

Ford Fusion Energi

Concerning the NHTSA ranking for Fusion Energi, a Ford spokesperson noted that the vehicle’s fuel efficiency, along with its top-ranked safety performance in the testing, are the two factors that modern day car buyers look for when considering a purchase. Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid is EPA-rated at 100 MPG-equivalent.

For more about Ford Motor Co., and the Fusion Energi in particular, see the official corporate sites below:
http://www.ford.com
http://www.ford.com/cars/fusion/

Larry Bell

Toyota Camry is Top Hybrid on Consumer Reports List

Larry Bell — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:01:08 +0000

Toyota Camry Hybrid

The recent Consumer Reports car quality list ranked an all-electric car at the top for the first time ever. Tesla’s Model S sedan notched an almost perfect score and made automotive history in the process. Lost in much of the media coverage was the fact that Toyota’s Camry Hybrid placed fourth on the list, and was the highest-ranking hybrid among the candidates. In fact, the top ten cars on CR’s list included just one with a base price under $30,000. That honor also went to Camry Hybrid, which carries a sticker of $29,052 (the price of the model that Consumer Reports tested).

Toyota Camry Hybrid: Video

For a thorough review of the Camry Hybrid, view the short clip above. Notably positive, the reviewer offers up interesting factoids about the car. For one thing, most owners are finding they get better mileage than the listed 40/38. Camry is Toyota’s best-selling mid-sized sedan for a reason; year in and year out, Camry delivers a wealth of standard features that people want, need, and enjoy. In addition, this particular hybrid features 10 airbags on the base model, two of which are knee-airbags, one of the more high-tech safety amenities in modern automotive design.

Toyota Camry Hybrid

Technically, there was a three-way tie for fourth place in the CR rankings, with Audi’s A6 and Infiniti’s M37 joining the Camry Hybrid with statistical ratings of 93 (out of a possible score of 100). Note, however, that both the A6 and the M37 cost almost twice what Toyota’s hybrid model does. No matter how one does the math, Toyota’s Camry Hybrid provides more quality per dollar than any vehicle among the CR top ten.

Among the top three, Tesla’s Model S costs $89,650, second-ranked BMW 135i carries a price tag of $37,650, and third-place Infiniti G37 sedan is $37,225. Those three cars scored 99, 97, and 95, respectively.

http://www.toyota.com

Larry Bell

Chevy Volt for $10K Less?

Larry Bell — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:36:53 +0000

Chevy Volt

General Motors CEO Dan Akerson has hinted that the next generation Chevy Volt might be priced as much as $10,000 less than the current base sticker of $39,995. During a recent industry event, Akerson also noted that the future version of Volt would likely be lighter and more profitable. A $10K price cut would put the Chevy Volt smack in the middle of competitors’ EV price profile. Ford, Toyota and Nissan already offer electric vehicles that straddle the $30,000 price point.

Chevy Volt: Video

For someone who was not originally a fan of the Chevy Volt, the narrator of the above video clip certainly changed his mind. Now, during an extended review ride, he discusses some of the car’s interesting nuances of performance in cold and warm weather. Driving around the streets of Wisconsin, the driver switches between gas and electric drive several times, demonstrates the basics about home charging, and explains the wonders of what he calls “stealth,” or silent, driving. The bottom line from his demo drive is that the Volt is comfortable, fun to drive, handles very well, and gets incredible mileage.

Chevy Volt Price

Industry sources early this year reported that GM is thinking about reducing Volt’s engine size from four to three cylinders, and reducing the current 1.4-liter displacement to either 1.0- or 1.2- liters in an effort to improve fuel efficiency and trim the car’s weight. Apparently, the company is considering the smaller engine for the Cadillac ELR and the Chevy Volt, both of which use the Voltec drivetrain. As is typical in such situations, GM has neither confirmed nor denied specifics about the engine in its next generation Volt, but CEO Akerson’s more recent allusion to a lower price tag for the future Volt would make sense if the company were to cut engine size for the ELR and Volt.

For more about the Chevy Volt, and all the other vehicles made by Chevrolet, see the U.S. carmaker’s official corporate website:
http://www.chevy.com

Larry Bell

Range Rover Hybrid Ready for Frankfurt

Larry Bell — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:50:25 +0000

Range Rover Sport Hybrid

The upcoming Frankfurt Auto Show will feature the debut of a diesel hybrid Range Rover as well as the Range Rover Sport Hybrid. In order to maintain the vehicles’ spacious interiors, both will carry under-floor battery packs. All indications from company spokespersons point to generator placement being midway between the combustion engine and transmission. So far, there has been no official decision about selling the new vehicles in the U.S. market.

Range Rover: Video

See the above clip from the Shanghai Auto Show to get a glimpse of the enthusiasm on the Range Rover team. Though the RR Sport Hybrid will not be unveiled until the Frankfurt Auto Show, Shanghai’s event featured its share of surprises from the RR team. The company is preparing a four-cylinder version of the car as well as the diesel hybrid for Frankfurt. According to Land Rover officials, the hybrid will boast a fuel efficiency rating in the 44 mpg range. Most of RR’s newer engines carry an eight-speed box, regen braking, and stop-start technology. All the new features contribute to a smaller carbon footprint.

Range Rover Hybrid

The pedigree of the Range Rover can get a bit complicated. The vehicle is produced by the British company Land Rover, which itself is part of the Jaguar Land Rover grouping under overall corporate ownership of global auto giant Tata Motors. Because Land Rover has invested so heavily in Range Rover’s name and technology, many consumers mistakenly use the names interchangeably.

Diesel hybrid vehicles have become very popular in Europe and Asia during the past decade, though only now are beginning to gain sales traction in the U.S. Some industry analysts believe that the Range Rover Sport Hybrid could make its way to American showrooms if sales in Europe prove to be strong.

For more information about the Range Rover, see Land Rover’s official corporate website:
http://www.landrover.com/us/en/rr/

Larry Bell

McLaren P1 Hybrid Does Arctic Testing

Larry Bell — Mon, 06 May 2013 23:19:16 +0000

McLaren P1 hybrid supercar

McLaren Automotive tested its upcoming P1 hybrid super car on barren swaths of the Arctic Circle in north Sweden. In the rarefied air of ultra-costly car sales, the McLaren will face off against several other heavy-hitting elites, like the recently unveiled LaFerrari and Porsche’s unique 918 Spyder. Boasting 664 pound-feet of torque, a limited top speed of nearly 220 mph, and a breathtaking total 903 horsepower, the P1 is worth every penny of its $1,150,000 sticker price.

McLaren P1 Freeze Drive

McLaren Automotive is putting the final touches on its one-and-only batch of P1 super cars for 375 lucky customers. The company promises the car will be “the best driver’s car in the world on road and track,” so expectations are high. The short video clip above is exciting footage of the super hybrid being run through some tests in icy conditions. Considering the stratospheric price tag of the P1, don’t feel out of place being a bit nervous watching the test car almost lose its footing a couple of times on that lonesome Arctic track. At least there were no other vehicles around to bump into!

McLaren P1 Hybrid

The P1 hybrid gets to 60 mph in less than three seconds. The automotive work of art made its debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, and borrows style cues from the McLaren MP4-12C as well as the McLaren F1. Some keen-eyed observers have noted that the car’s headlights replicate the company’s logo. The two-door coupe is being assembled in Surrey, England. It features a seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission and a twin-turbo, 3.8-liter V8 engine. The combustion powertrain is mated to a 176-horsepower KERS electric motor that is capable of taking the P1 12 miles on nothing but electric propulsion. In all-electric mode, the car tops out at just 30 mph, a far cry from its actual speed capacity of 239 mph. Alas, that speed is electronically limited to a more modest 217 mph for production purposes.

For more about the McLaren P1 and the rest of the company’s great looking cars, see Mclaren’s official corporate website:
http://www.mclarenautomotive.com

Larry Bell

EV Car Sales: Second-Generation Volt by 2016

Larry Bell — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:36:19 +0000

EV Car Sales (Pictured: Chevy Volt)

Amid a flurry of plug-in car sales announcements late last week, GM CEO Dan Akerson said Chevrolet Volt would unveil a second-generation model not later than 2016. The Chevy Volt, Nissan’s all-electric Leaf, and the Tesla Model S electric sedan all jockeyed for top sales spot in April. While Volt’s sales were down compared to April 2012, the model did manage a 3 percent increase for the first four months of 2013, compared to the same period last year. April marked the second month in a row that Volt was slightly outsold by the Nissan Leaf, as Tesla Motors appears to have beaten both those cars in the monthly sales derby.

EV Car Sales: Video

The video clip above contains the sort of footage that electric car enthusiasts live for, a Formula-E burnout on the streets of L.A. It is all quite legal of course, as the demo was under the auspices of city officials there to promote alternative fuels. Notice the odd lack of noise compared to combustion car burnouts, where decibel levels are almost deafening. Some hardcore-racing fans claim a race is not a race without noise. Formula-E followers, on the other hand, love the hum and rev of the smooth-running electric motor. The good news is, you still get the burnout.

EV Car Sales

Tesla Motors does not reveal monthly sales data, but analysts estimate that the luxury electric sedan topped the much less expensive Volt and Leaf in April sales. As gasoline prices have leveled off, one company official at Chevrolet noted that competition between GM’s Chevy Volt, Nissan’s Leaf and Tesla’s Model S will become more competitive. Volt ruled the roost for a number of months, but now that Nissan has gone into full domestic production with its Leaf, and cut its price by $6,000, the battle of the plug-ins is getting underway. For its part, Tesla Motors expects to sell 20,000 Model S cars by the end of 2013.

For more about the carmakers mentioned above, see their official websites:
http://www.chevrolet.com
http://www.nissanusa.com
http://www.teslamotors.com

Larry Bell

Gov’t Fleet Will Add 10,000 Hybrids

Larry Bell — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 23:54:13 +0000

Ford Fusion Hybrid

The U.S. government announced this week that it would add 10,000 hybrid vehicles to the federal fleet in an effort to cut fuel usage and reduce carbon emissions. According to estimates by the General Services Administration (GSA), the move will save about 1 million gallons of gasoline each year. The agency’s acting administrator, Dan Tangherlini, said, “At a time when government needs to make every tax dollar count, GSA is committed to creating more energy efficiency and cost-saving opportunities like the fleet consolidation program that make government smarter and reduce our environmental footprint.”

Hybrid Cars: Video

Government purchasing agents at GSA have plenty of hybrid vehicles to choose from in reaching their goal of adding 10,000 hybrids to the federal fleet. The short video clip above offers a quick look at one of Volkswagen’s offerings for 2013. The Jetta Hybrid is the product of a German automaker who has built a powerful reputation in the field of diesel engineering. The reviewer’s impression of the car? He finds the Jetta Hybrid agile, peppy and fun to drive, even though is can’t match mpg numbers of its direct competitor, the Toyota Prius.

Gov’t Fleet

In 2011, the president instructed federal agencies to rid their fleets of SUVs and other large cars in order to save money and improve air quality. The U.S. Interior Department will be among the early adopters of the new push. It plans to buy about 300 hybrid vehicles to improve fuel usage in its own fleet. GSA is helping fund the program by financing the additional costs for any federal agency that swaps out its older cars for hybrid sedans. GSA is in charge of administering the new program and hopes to create a government fleet in which about 10 percent of the cars are hybrids.

For more information about Ford Motor Co. and Volkswagen, see the companies’ official corporate websites:
http://www.ford.com
http://www.vw.com

Larry Bell

Tesla Vs. Volt Vs. Leaf: The Winner is…

Larry Bell — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:49:27 +0000

Tesla Model S, interior

The statistics read like a football game update. At the end of the first quarter, in a three-way contest, Tesla Motors has pulled ahead of its two rivals, Chevy and Nissan, by a score of 4,750 to 4,421, to 3,695. In the automotive world, that news is no less surprising. Electric carmaker Tesla will post sales of 4,750 Model S vehicles for the first quarter of 2013, a period in which GM has sold 4,421 Chevy Volts and Nissan Motor Co. of Japan has posted sales of 3,695 for its all-electric Leaf automobile. What makes the data even more unusual is the fact that the cars feature wildly differing base prices. The Leaf costs $28,000, while Tesla’s luxury electric sedan goes for $69,000 and Chevy’s hybrid-electric Volt carries a sticker of $39,000.

Tesla, Volt, Leaf: Video

Hybrid and electric car enthusiasts have no doubt seen dozens of videos featuring the Chevy Volt. Chances are this has not been one of them. It is, however, proof that the car has become so popular even dogs are choosing it as their favorite. Kidding aside, the fellow in the clip, and his clever pets, are the owners of a shiny new Volt. This is simply a record of their first-ever ride in the car, along with a few still shots of the canines enjoying some all-electric errand running courtesy of their private chauffeur.

Tesla Sales

Some analysts consider the newly released sales data relatively unimportant, given that Tesla, Chevrolet and Nissan sell to such diverse demographics. The Leaf is trying to carve out a niche for itself as an affordable, budget-minded EV. Tesla’s much higher price tag is not a magnet for those buyers, while the Volt sits squarely between the two extremes. Chevy’s groundbreaking Volt is well within reach of many car buyers after federal and state tax credits.

For more about Tesla Motors, Chevrolet, and Nissan Motor Co., see their official corporate websites:
http://www.teslamotors.com
http://www.chevrolet.com
http://www.nissanusa.com

Larry Bell

Used Cars or New Cars? Experts Give Buying Advice

Larry Bell — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 01:45:26 +0000

Used or New? (pictured: a new LaFerrari hybrid)

Car buyers often fret at the prospect of choosing between a new vehicle and a used one. Lately, many experts in the automotive press have been making the case for used cars, especially in a challenging economy. Because mainstream models now last much longer than in days past, and because buyers can find certified pre-owned cars at respected dealerships, used cars have been gaining in reputation and sales numbers. In fact, certified pre-owned vehicles are among the most popular choices on dealer lots in major cities. Improved reliability and longer product life mean a used car might very well have 10 or more solid years of usage in its future.

Used Cars: Video

Whether you are searching for a new or used car, the above video clip will be of great interest to hybrid fans especially. It lists ten of the best hybrids available. The venerable Chevy Volt made the cut of course, as did Honda’s attractive Insight and one of the genre’s new stars, the Ford Fusion Hybrid. The Lincoln MKZ hybrid, the Lexus CT 200h, along with Toyota’s Camry hybrid, all made the list as well. In fact, Korean automaker Hyundai gets special mention as being one of the most reasonably priced of the bunch, while Volkswagen’s Jetta TDI is the lone diesel model in the elite ten. Buick’s LaCrosse eAssist wins kudos for its luxurious interior and over-35 mpg fuel efficiency. That’s nine in all. Watch the video and see what the author listed as his number-one pick of the hybrid segment. You might be surprised.

For those in the market to buy or sell a used car, the classified section of MyPerfectAutomobile has something for every automotive taste. Browse the huge selection and use the online tools to drill down to your specific favorite. The direct link for MPA’s classifieds is:
http://myperfectautomobile.com/classified/

Larry Bell

Hybrid Market Share Grew 41 Percent in 2012

Larry Bell — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:05:18 +0000

Hybrid car sales (pictured: Toyota Camry hybrid)

The market share for hybrid car sales grew by 41 percent in 2012, according to an extensive study done by Experian Automotive. Total overall market share for hybrids stands at 3.1 percent and is expect to continue climbing in each quarter of 2013. Experian also analyzed characteristics of borrowers who purchased hybrid cars. The company found that hybrid purchasers had higher credit ratings, on average, than buyers of non-hybrid automobiles. A company spokesperson said, “Hybrid vehicle owners have long been perceived as environmentally conscious consumers. While they may have made the vehicle purchase due to caring for the environment, our research shows that hybrid owners are economically-minded as well.”

Hybrid Car Sales: Video

For a close-up look at the BMW i8 hybrid sports car doing the circuit at Nurburgring, see the short video clip above. When hybrid car sales kick into high gear, the 2014 BMW i8 will already be on the streets. Set for a late 2013 production date, the car is the final evolution of BMW’s Vision Efficient-Dynamics concept, which made auto show rounds several years ago. The high-performance hybrid boasts a combined 349 horsepower and a 4.6-second ZTS (zero-to-sixty) time. According to BMW, the i8 will achieve 78 mpg and will be able to roll for 22 miles on electric power alone. The gasoline engine in the i8 is a 6-cylinder, 3.0-liter. The car was one of the more popular show pieces for BMW on the international auto show circuit.

Hybrid Car Sales

Experian’s study summary noted that the average dollar amount financed for a hybrid purchase was $25,807, with an average monthly payment of $461. Buyers of new hybrid cars had credit ratings of 790, compared to the average U.S. score of 755 for buyers of non-hybrid cars.

For more about the company that compiled the data for the hybrid car sales study, see Experian’s official corporate website:
http://www.experian.com

Larry Bell