In an effort to keep their Ford plant in Minnesota, Rep Frank Hornstein wants the plant converted to produce plug-in hybrids vehicles (PHEV). The PHEV can be plugged in overnight and will run a vehicle at low speeds (under 30 mph) under full electric power. PHEVs routinely get over 100 mpg in urban driving, where there is plenty of stop and go, slow moving traffic.
Minnesota wants Ford to spend an estimated $500 million to convert the local plant from building the Ranger pickup to something else. Sales on the Ranger have been slowing and the locals are worried the plant will be closed as part of the downsizing plan for Ford.
Ford executives have been reluctant to convert the plant to PHEV, given polls indicating consumers would be reluctant to pay extra for the technology.
Hornsteins legislation is mostly 'investigative' in nature, including a panel that would research how to convert the plant.
Read the story at skywaynews.
Monday, 10 April 2006
Wednesday, 5 April 2006
Compare the Toyota Camry Hybrid to the Honda Accord Hybrid
The New York Times compared the Toyota Camry Hybrid to the Honda Accord Hybrid in a publication on April 2nd.
The Toyota Camry hybrid has a smaller engine (2.4-liter, 4 cylinder) but better mileage (40 city/38 highway) in comparison to the Honda Accord 3-liter V6 (25 city/34 highway). The major gains to the mileage for the Camry comes from its continuous transmission and full hybrid capabilities. Honda focuses on performance for its hybrids (Integrated Motor Assist system), while Toyotas Hybrid Synergy Drive tends to focus in on fuel economy.
Both have great emissions ratings with Advanced Technology - Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) rating. But the Toyota Camry Hybrid came out with a sticker price $5000 below that of the base price of the Honda Accord Hybrid.
Honda Accord Hybrid sales are down almost 20% in the first quarter in comparison to first quarter sales last year.
The Toyota Camry hybrid has a smaller engine (2.4-liter, 4 cylinder) but better mileage (40 city/38 highway) in comparison to the Honda Accord 3-liter V6 (25 city/34 highway). The major gains to the mileage for the Camry comes from its continuous transmission and full hybrid capabilities. Honda focuses on performance for its hybrids (Integrated Motor Assist system), while Toyotas Hybrid Synergy Drive tends to focus in on fuel economy.
Both have great emissions ratings with Advanced Technology - Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) rating. But the Toyota Camry Hybrid came out with a sticker price $5000 below that of the base price of the Honda Accord Hybrid.
Honda Accord Hybrid sales are down almost 20% in the first quarter in comparison to first quarter sales last year.
Dodge Durango Hybrid in 2008
Engineers are preparing for the Dodge Durango Hybrid to be sold in 2008 by reworking the 2007 Dodge Durango. They modified the floor, second row seats and electrical system to make the transition next year simpler.
The Durango hybrid will be a V-8 5.70-liter Hemi, but with a 25% increase in fuel economy.
The 2007 Durango will go on sale in August, but Dodge is unveiling it on Wednesday at the Dallas auto show.
Automotive News
The Durango hybrid will be a V-8 5.70-liter Hemi, but with a 25% increase in fuel economy.
The 2007 Durango will go on sale in August, but Dodge is unveiling it on Wednesday at the Dallas auto show.
Automotive News
Toyota expects self parking cars to come to the US soon
New Toyota hybrids in the UK come with a parking assist option. The parking assist will park your car automatically. The computer will turn the wheel at the right time, but you control the speed using the brake pedal.
When the car is parked, the assistant will announce the assist is over.
Toyota expects parking assist to be available in the US soon.
local6.com - Technology - Self-Parking Cars Coming To U.S.
When the car is parked, the assistant will announce the assist is over.
Toyota expects parking assist to be available in the US soon.
local6.com - Technology - Self-Parking Cars Coming To U.S.
Nissan developing hybrid technology
Nissan will design its own electric motor, lithium-ion battery and inverter package, in order to create its own hybrid powertrain in the future. But for now, Nissan is dependent on Toyotas hybrid technology, which means its first hybrid, the Nissan Altima saloon hybrid will launch this year using Toyotas Synergy Drive. Nissan is planning on buying 100,000 units of the hybrid system from Toyota over the next five years.
Nissan is making big claims for its new system. They hope it will be 35% smaller and cost 30% less than current hybrid systems. Its inverter alone will cost 30% less and be 20% smaller, with double the power.
Nissan expects the Altima to sell at a loss for the first five years. But, Nissan is willing to start selling now in order to avoid the fines for fuel economy standards. Nissan has couched their cautious approach to selling hybrids with uncertainty in the consumer marketplace. They have been unwilling to jump in to the hybrid market, when they are unsure if hybrid technology will be the final answer.
The full story is at bloomberg.
Nissan is making big claims for its new system. They hope it will be 35% smaller and cost 30% less than current hybrid systems. Its inverter alone will cost 30% less and be 20% smaller, with double the power.
Nissan expects the Altima to sell at a loss for the first five years. But, Nissan is willing to start selling now in order to avoid the fines for fuel economy standards. Nissan has couched their cautious approach to selling hybrids with uncertainty in the consumer marketplace. They have been unwilling to jump in to the hybrid market, when they are unsure if hybrid technology will be the final answer.
The full story is at bloomberg.
Honda Hybrids March sales are way down, but Ford and Toyota are up
Honda sales are down 39.9% in comparison to last March, but Toyota and Ford posted increases in their total hybrid sales at 30.7% and 1.3%, respectively. Ford and Toyota both benefitted from the multiple models introduced last year in boosting their sales.
Honda Accord hybrid sales fell from 1862 to 581 units sold from last March to this March, a 68.8% drop. Honda Civic hybrid sales dropped 22.9% from 2896 to 2232 units sold, but the Honda Insight increased from 56 to 79 units sold, an increase of 41.1%. In total, Honda sold 2892 hybrid cars this March.
Ford increased sales over last March with 1589 hybrids sold, an increase from the 1569 units sold last year. Ford benefitted from having two hybrid cars this year, with the Ford Escape and the Mercury Mariner, while last year they only had the Ford Escape.
Toyota was the big winner this March. Despite losing ground with the Toyota Prius, with sales dropping from 10236 to 7922 (22.6% drop), the number of hybrids sold with the Toyota or Lexus brand increased with sales of the Toyota Highalander Hybrid (2987 units sold) and the Lexus RX 400h Hybrid (2470 units sold). The Highlander Hybrid was introduced in June and the Lexus RX 400h was introduced in April, so there are no comparison figures as of yet.
Since Toyota increased sales, and it sells almost 75% of the hybrids in North America, the total number of hybrids sold increased 7.5% over last March.
February Hybrid Sales, January Hybrid Sales, 2005 Hybrid Sales
Honda Accord hybrid sales fell from 1862 to 581 units sold from last March to this March, a 68.8% drop. Honda Civic hybrid sales dropped 22.9% from 2896 to 2232 units sold, but the Honda Insight increased from 56 to 79 units sold, an increase of 41.1%. In total, Honda sold 2892 hybrid cars this March.
Ford increased sales over last March with 1589 hybrids sold, an increase from the 1569 units sold last year. Ford benefitted from having two hybrid cars this year, with the Ford Escape and the Mercury Mariner, while last year they only had the Ford Escape.
Toyota was the big winner this March. Despite losing ground with the Toyota Prius, with sales dropping from 10236 to 7922 (22.6% drop), the number of hybrids sold with the Toyota or Lexus brand increased with sales of the Toyota Highalander Hybrid (2987 units sold) and the Lexus RX 400h Hybrid (2470 units sold). The Highlander Hybrid was introduced in June and the Lexus RX 400h was introduced in April, so there are no comparison figures as of yet.
Since Toyota increased sales, and it sells almost 75% of the hybrids in North America, the total number of hybrids sold increased 7.5% over last March.
February Hybrid Sales, January Hybrid Sales, 2005 Hybrid Sales
Tuesday, 4 April 2006
Tax breaks
Its never too early to think about taxes, especially when you haven't filed for this year yet. Hybrid owners are realizing their tax deductions if they bought their cars last year, but consumers who buy a hybrid car this year may realize an even better deduction in the form of a hybrid car tax credit being estimated at up to $3400. The tax credit has not been outlined by the IRS as of yet, and the amount depends on the mileage of the hybrid car being purchased.
Ford has set up a hotline for buyers of Ford or Mercury Hybrids. They are promising to walk you through the federal tax breaks as well as the state tax breaks that may be available to buyers of hybrid cars.
* New hotline provides Ford and Mercury dealers a single source of information on federal, state, and local incentives available for Escape Hybrid and Mariner Hybrid owners
* Escape Hybrid and Mariner Hybrid qualify for a federal tax credit worth $1,950 to $2,600
* 35 states have proposed or approved state tax incentives for hybrid vehicles; 11 states have proposed or approved HOV lane access for hybrids
According to the dealer hotline statistics, the top places to own an Escape Hybrid or Mariner Hybrid currently are:
1. West Virginia, where the $1,950 – $2,600 federal tax credit and $3,750 West Virginia Alternative Fuel Motor Vehicles Tax Credit combine to total between $5,700 and $6,350 in tax relief.
2. Colorado, where the $1,950 – $2,600 federal tax credit is supplemented by the Colorado Alternative Fuel Vehicle tax credit, for a total of $4,806 to $5,358 in tax relief. In addition, the city of Aspen offers a $100 license registration discount, and free municipal parking.
3. Oregon and Louisiana (tie), where the $1,950 – $2,600 federal tax credit is supplemented by $1500 in tax relief from either the Louisiana Alternative Fuel for Motor Vehicles tax credit or the Oregon Residential Tax Credit, for a total of $3,450 to $4,100 in government incentives.
In these states, tax incentives more than offset the higher MSRP (approximately $3,500) of an Escape Hybrid or Mariner Hybrid over its gasoline-powered counterpart.
The hotline will be continually updated with information sourced from both government and government-support agencies. Consumers looking for more information on incentives in their area are encouraged to contact their local Ford or Mercury dealers. In addition, consumers are advised to confirm processes and eligible redemption amounts with a tax advisor, or the IRS.
In a side note on taxes, consumers who purchase hybrid cars may also be interested in upgrading their heating or other appliances in order to receive a 'green' tax break. Take a look at the article from Bloomberg discussing the possibilities, for example, of installing solar panels and getting a tax break next year.
Ford has set up a hotline for buyers of Ford or Mercury Hybrids. They are promising to walk you through the federal tax breaks as well as the state tax breaks that may be available to buyers of hybrid cars.
* New hotline provides Ford and Mercury dealers a single source of information on federal, state, and local incentives available for Escape Hybrid and Mariner Hybrid owners
* Escape Hybrid and Mariner Hybrid qualify for a federal tax credit worth $1,950 to $2,600
* 35 states have proposed or approved state tax incentives for hybrid vehicles; 11 states have proposed or approved HOV lane access for hybrids
According to the dealer hotline statistics, the top places to own an Escape Hybrid or Mariner Hybrid currently are:
1. West Virginia, where the $1,950 – $2,600 federal tax credit and $3,750 West Virginia Alternative Fuel Motor Vehicles Tax Credit combine to total between $5,700 and $6,350 in tax relief.
2. Colorado, where the $1,950 – $2,600 federal tax credit is supplemented by the Colorado Alternative Fuel Vehicle tax credit, for a total of $4,806 to $5,358 in tax relief. In addition, the city of Aspen offers a $100 license registration discount, and free municipal parking.
3. Oregon and Louisiana (tie), where the $1,950 – $2,600 federal tax credit is supplemented by $1500 in tax relief from either the Louisiana Alternative Fuel for Motor Vehicles tax credit or the Oregon Residential Tax Credit, for a total of $3,450 to $4,100 in government incentives.
In these states, tax incentives more than offset the higher MSRP (approximately $3,500) of an Escape Hybrid or Mariner Hybrid over its gasoline-powered counterpart.
The hotline will be continually updated with information sourced from both government and government-support agencies. Consumers looking for more information on incentives in their area are encouraged to contact their local Ford or Mercury dealers. In addition, consumers are advised to confirm processes and eligible redemption amounts with a tax advisor, or the IRS.
In a side note on taxes, consumers who purchase hybrid cars may also be interested in upgrading their heating or other appliances in order to receive a 'green' tax break. Take a look at the article from Bloomberg discussing the possibilities, for example, of installing solar panels and getting a tax break next year.
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