South Caroline house approves tax credit for hybrids

According to a news report from wistv, South Carolina House subcommittee passed a House subcommittee on Tuesday. The bill, if passed, would give $500 to $700 tax break to those who purchase a car powered by a hybrid, bio-diesel, fuel cell, or other alternative engine.

WIStv.com Columbia, SC: House subcommittee approves tax credit for hybrid car buyers

Officials estimate it will cost the state $1.5 million in annual tax revenue.

GM celebrates Earth Day by featuring the Saturn Vue

From the press release:

According to the press release: GMÂ’s vehicle brands, manufacturing facilities and corporate activities are also recognizing Earth Day 2006 with a variety of initiatives. On the brand side, Saturn is sponsoring the Green Apple Music Festival in New York City featuring live music in over 30 venues around the city, and an Earth Fair showcasing environmental displays and demonstrations from a variety of organizations. SaturnÂ’s new hybrid vehicle, the 2007 Saturn VUE Green Line, will be on display and product experts will be on hand to talk with the public. The new vehicle is expected to achieve an estimated 27 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway, the best highway mileage of any SUV.

Unfortunately, as with other GM 'hybrids'. the Saturn Vue hybrid is referred to as a mild hybrid. Capable of shutting off when stopped and regenerating the battery during braking, the GM 'hybrid' falls short of the capabilities available in a full hybrid. The Saturn Vue (gas only FWD 4) has an EPA rate of 23/29 mpg with a manual transmission and 22/27 mpg with an automatic. The hybrid improves that to 27/32 mpg, which isn't a huge increase in fuel economy.

But the Vue hybrid will be a more economical hybrid. With the base MSRP being estimated at 23 - 24 thousand, its certainly cheaper than the Ford Escape Hybrid (MSRP $26,900) or the Toyota Highlander hybrid (in the low $30's). So if you're looking to make a difference, but still looking for a good price, the Saturn Vue hybrid may be what you want to look for.

CNN Money has an article on the 'tightwad' aspect of building and buying a VUE hybrid

Mercury Mariner hybrid sponsors Wild Oats Earth Day events

As part of Earth Day celebration by Wild Oats, the mercury mariner hybrid will be highlighted through test drives and product specialists providing driving tips to help maximize fuel efficiency.

Ford is also sponsoring a sweepstakes to win a Mercury Mariner Hybrids. More information can be found on the Wild Oats website and in the Wild Oats online magazine.

Mercury has also set up an online driving game for educating consumers on how to drive in urban and suburban settings. The game is an educational tool designed to help drivers maximize safety and efficiency. It is supposed to be available at www.marinerhybrid.com, but I couldn't find it there. I suppose it may not be up, yet.

Tips on maximizing fuel efficieny:

Allowing plenty of distance to slow the vehicle to a stop; a unique feature in a hybrid vehicle is the ability to recapture energy during braking, known as regenerative braking; extending the period of deceleration by decreasing the rate in which the vehicle slows down will store more energy in the high voltage battery;

Avoiding aggressive driving since quick acceleration and deceleration decreases fuel economy;

Driving at a smooth, constant speed as excessive variation in pedal input creates more operating mode changes and subsequently reduces fuel economy;

Driving at reasonable speeds (for instance, traveling at 60 mph uses approximately 20 percent less fuel than driving at 70 mph);

Storing hybrid vehicles in garages where there is less fluctuation in storage temperature ;

Keeping tires properly inflated and using only the recommended size;

Keeping wheels properly aligned;

Using recommended engine oil;

Performing all regularly scheduled maintenance.

Honda Civic Hybrid wins the 2006 World Car of the Year Award for Greenest Car

The 2006 Honda Civic hybrid won the 'World Car of the Year Award' for Greenest Car. 46 international automotive journalists were on the panel in New York.


AutoWeb - 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid Wins 'World Car of the Year Award' for Greenest Car

"Honda continues to be a leader in producing environmentally responsible vehicles that set the standard for fuel economy and low emissions," said John Mendel, Senior Vice President, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "The award-winning 2006 Civic Hybrid is the latest embodiment of Honda’s long-term commitment to the development of environmentally friendly technologies that are also fun to drive."

Prius and Civic receive top ratings in Safety

The Honda Civic received the Gold Top Safety Pick for front and side impact protection. The Toyota Prius also got top marks for front and side impact protection when outfitted with optional side airbags. Without them, however, the Prius got a "Poor" rating in side impact protection.

Insurance Institute: Safest small cars and minivans - Apr. 17, 2006

These cars received top ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for front and side impact protection.

Honda Civic (Gold Top Safety Pick)

Subaru Impreza/Saab 9-2X (Gold Top Safety Pick, excludes WRX and Aero versions.)

Toyota Prius ("Marginal" for whiplash protection)

The complete review of the Toyota Prius follows. It was taken from the Insurance Institute press release. It was the first hybrid tested by the Insurance Institute. All other tests of hybrids have been of both the gas only counterpart and the hybrid version, including the Honda Civic hybrid.

First Institute test of a hybrid: The Toyota Prius was a good performer in the frontal crash test and, equipped with optional side airbags, also good in the side test. But it's rated marginal for seat/head restraint design, so it isn't a TOP SAFETY PICK. The movement of the driver dummy was reasonably well controlled during the frontal test. Although the dummy's head did hit the pillar between the doors and the roof rail, head accelerations were low. Other injury measures also were low, and the Prius's structure held up with minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment.

"The way a hybrid model earns the top rating in the frontal test is the same way any other car does," Lund says. "Its front structure has to crush to absorb crash energy, and it has to have a safety cage that stays intact so the safety belts and airbags can protect the occupants."

The Institute conducted two side tests of the Prius, with and without its optional head-protecting side airbags. Without the airbags the Prius earns the lowest rating of poor. The intruding barrier struck the driver dummy's head. Measures recorded during the crash indicate that a serious skull fracture and brain injuries would be likely to occur in a real-world crash of similar severity.

"The result for the Prius with its optional side curtain airbags was dramatically different," Lund says. "This time the airbag kept the dummy's head from being struck by the barrier, and injury measures all were low. These results show the importance of head-protecting side airbags in reducing the risks for car occupants, especially when their vehicles are struck in the side by a pickup or SUV."

Another important aspect of crashworthiness is how well seat/head restraints protect people from whiplash in rear impacts. The ones in the Prius earn the second lowest rating of marginal. They can be positioned high enough and close enough to the backs of most people's heads, but good geometry alone isn't enough to provide adequate protection from whiplash. Seats and head restraints have to work together to protect the neck, and the Institute's test indicates that in a real-world crash the seats in the Prius wouldn't keep the forces on the neck as low as in other vehicles.

When a vehicle is struck in the rear and driven forward, the vehicle seats accelerate the occupants' torsos forward. Unsupported, their heads will lag behind the forward movement of their torsos. This differential motion causes the neck to bend back and stretch. The higher the torso acceleration the more sudden the motion, the higher the forces on the neck, and the more likely a neck injury is to occur.

"If a seat is too stiff, without enough 'give' to it so a person sinks into it during a crash, then the head restraint can move back and away from the head. This can lead to higher forces on the neck, and whiplash injury is more likely," Lund notes.

For most vehicles with hybrid variants, the Institute's ratings apply to both the hybrid and conventional versions. These vehicles include the Honda Civic and Accord, Lexus RX, and Toyota Highlander. The Prius is sold only as a hybrid.

Hybrid Car Rally in Oregon

The Douglas County Global Warming Coalition will hold its 4th annual Hybrid Car Rally on April 22 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. They would like to invite all hybrid car owners out to display from 10 AM to 4 PM.

This is part of the Earth Day celebration in Oregon.

Oregon News

Information and reservation: 679-8889.

Honda worried about slow sales for the Accord hybrid

Unlike its other hybrids, the Honda Accord hybrid is a 'performance' hybrid. Designed not for fuel economy, but for power. The electric engine is mated to the V6 gasoline engine to help boost power. And consumers may not be ready to shell out so much money for a V6 hybrid Accord.

When the price differential from the Accord non-hybrid (Base $18,225 - $29,400), and the hybrid (starts at $30,990) is so great, its hard to justify buying the hybrid version. Especially when you're not talking about fuel economy, but performance. But the price difference for the Accord hybrid isn't due to the hybrid engine. Honda is trying to make the hybrid version of its Accord a luxury item, with leather interior, heated seats, XM satellite radio and dual automatic climate control.

Honda Accord hybrid sales fell from 1862 to 581 units sold from last March to this March, a 68.8% drop. And now, Honda executives may be considering cutting back on production.

"We've had to re-evaluate our position," Honda Executive Vice President Dick Colliver said. "It's having a hard time in the market."

"We're still looking at where's the best package for hybrids," Colliver said. "We're going to have to watch the market."

Colliver is the second executive to question where hybrids are in the marketplace at the New York Auto Show. Nissan chief executive Ghosn was also cautious in his comments on hybrids yesterday. But, Ghosn has always been cautious about hybrids, which is why Nissan is so far behind in the hybrid market.