Hybrid

GM's Blames Slow-Selling Hybrid SUVs on Low Profile

You may recall that GM recently blamed Saturn's rapidly sinking sales on the brand's " awareness problem." The spin that started there has spiraled over to G…

Robert Farago Jun 09, 2008

Green Babes Go for EcoGeeks

Once it was big shiny convertibles that caught the ladies' eyes. Then it was Corvettes, Lambos or anything else low, fast and expensive. But the times they a…

Frank Williams Jun 06, 2008

Moneybags GM to Buy Cobasys

That RenCen money tree must be producing a bumper crop this spring. The custody battle over Cobasys between parents Chevron and Energy Conservation Devices (…

Frank Williams Jun 06, 2008

Commercial Auto Dealers Annoyed at TTAC's B&B

I was wrong. In spite of indications to the contrary, the GMC salesman blogger defending your right to suck-up fuel and clog the roadways with oversized tr…

Frank Williams Jun 05, 2008

Volt Birth Watch 53: GM Wants More Tax Breaks

Not only does GM want the U.S. taxpayer and the Chinese government to subsidize development and sale of the Volt, now they're reaching into Michigan taxpayer…

Frank Williams Jun 03, 2008

Honda, Toyota Drop Replacement Battery Prices

Toyota and Honda want to drive down then total cost of ownership of their hybrids. Autobloggreen reports that the Japanese automakers are dropping the price…

Frank Williams Jun 03, 2008

GM Recalls Hybrids Because of Leaking Batteries

GM's plans to sell 27k light hybrid vehicles this year have hit a snag. They've had to use one third of the battery packs earmarked for new car production to…

Frank Williams Jun 02, 2008

Toyota Might Just Build Prius in California

Everyone's familiar with New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc., right? Also known as NUMMI, the plant is a joint venture between General Motors and Toyota. Wh…

Jonny Lieberman May 30, 2008

Chrysler Decides Hybrid Cars Might Be Worth Looking Into

Chrysler is strangely intrigued by those "hybrid" cars you keep hearing about these days. And by cars, we mostly mean trucks and SUVs, as that's all Chrysler…

Edward Niedermeyer May 30, 2008

Hybrids Are OK, as Long as GMC Makes Them

Apparently the GMC dealer unknown writer posting on the Commercial Auto Dealers web site had a change of heart about hybrids. After warning everyone about…

Frank Williams May 29, 2008

Why Trucks Are WAY Better Than Hybrids

Truck buyers shouldn't feel like eco-pariahs just because they want to use huge trucks as commuter cars or SUVs as grocery-getters. An unknown writer on Comm…

Frank Williams May 27, 2008

Alfa SUV In The Works

In an interview with Auto Motor und Sport, Alfa-Romeo boss Luca De Meo revealed plans to relaunch as a global brand, an effort which involves offering a new…

Edward Niedermeyer May 23, 2008

Toyota Juicing Up Battery Production

Automotive News (sub) reports that Toyota is investing $673m in new Japanese battery facilities, with the goal of building one million batteries per year by…

Edward Niedermeyer May 23, 2008

Honda Shooting for 500k Hybrids Yearly

Honda has long played second fiddle to Toyota in the hybrid powertrain department, especially from a public relations standpoint, but also in terms of techno…

Richard Chen May 21, 2008

VW's TDI Prius Killer DOA

Expectations for VW's 2009 "60mpg" TDI Jetta "Prius killer" ran high. And VW threw plenty of (diesel) fuel on the heated passions of oil burner fans. Press m…

Paul Niedermeyer May 21, 2008

GM's Dual Mode Hybrid SUVs Are a Flop

MSNBC reports on dismal sales of the overhyped Dual Mode Yukotahoe Hybrid, currently running hundreds of units per month. Given its $50k+ price tag and comp…

Richard Chen May 21, 2008

Toyota Sells 1 Millionth Prius

Break out your recyclable paper party hats! Toyota's just sold it's one millionth sorta cute, kinda ugly sensible hatchback with Hybrid Synergy Drive. While…

Jonny Lieberman May 15, 2008

GM Hybrid Outlook: From 'suck' to 'wretched'

From TTAC commentator KixStart: "I don't know if you listened to the GM April Sales and Production Conference Call… I did. There's an hour of my life…

Robert Farago May 02, 2008

New Prius Hybrid Engine "Cheaper Than a Modern Diesel"

New Prius looks set to continue its domination of the U.S. hybrid market.

Paul Niedermeyer Apr 30, 2008

Next-gen Prius Bigger, More Powerful

While I don't care for the Prius, I can't deny that it has been successful in America. Not just at sales or income for Toyota, but for having one of the high…

Justin Berkowitz Apr 28, 2008

NYT: "Fear, but Few Facts, on Hybrid [E.M.F.] Risk"

Hybrids pose E.M.F. risk. Or not.

Robert Farago Apr 28, 2008

Volt Birth Watch 43: Death of the Fuel Cell? An EV is Born!

GM Car Czar Maximum Bob Lutz says GM might be building an EV Volt.

Frank Williams Apr 28, 2008

GM's Historical "No Hybrids Here" Decision Revealed

AutoWeek's Earth Day issue is a GM love fest.

Robert Farago Apr 25, 2008

Volt Birth Watch 43: BusinessWeek Vs. WSJ in Hybrid Smackdown

BusinessWeek and the Wall Street Journal don't see eye-to-eye on the Chevrolet Volt.

Frank Williams Apr 25, 2008

Volt Birth Watch 42: It's a CAFE Conspiracy!

The Wall Street Journal sees the gas - electric Chevy Volt as a CAFE conspiracy.

Frank Williams Apr 24, 2008

VW Diesel Hybrid Kaput; Golf VI Details Revealed

VW kills the diesel hybrid and reveals deatail of the next Golf

Paul Niedermeyer Apr 22, 2008

No Surprise There: Hybrid Sales Up

U.S. hybrid sales are up.

Glenn Swanson Apr 21, 2008

Volt Birth Watch 40: Rust Never Sleeps

A TTAC reader sends the website a picture of a rusty Chevrolet Volt prototype

Frank Williams Apr 15, 2008

Fiat Goes Hybrid, Entry Level

MotorAuthority has it on good, um, authority that Fiat will be offering gas and diesel-electric hybrid drivetrains by 2011. Research on the powerplants is s…

Edward Niedermeyer Apr 14, 2008

The S.A.E. Hearts GM's Two-Mode Hybrid

The S.A.E. gives GM's slow-selling two-mode hybrid system an award.

Edward Niedermeyer Apr 14, 2008

Researchers Reveal Non-Flammable Li-Ion Battery for Hybrids, EVs

German researchers claim to have invented an inflammable li-ion battery for hyrbids and EVs.

Martin Schwoerer Apr 14, 2008

GM Car Czar Bob Lutz: Spinmeister or Forgetful Jones?

Bob Lutz speaks to Auto Motor und Sport

Paul Niedermeyer Apr 11, 2008

Toyota Talks Down PHEV Impact

Toyota says its Prius PHEV won't deliver a significant increase in MPGs.

Edward Niedermeyer Apr 10, 2008

Enterprise Rent-a-Car Opens Atlanta "Green" Branches

Enterprise adds "green stores" in Atlanta

Frank Williams Apr 09, 2008

BYD Targets Europe For Hybrid Sales

Say what you want about Chrysler's new marketing slogan, at least their name isn't Build Your Dreams. Automotive News (sub) reports that the Chinese manufact…

Edward Niedermeyer Apr 08, 2008

Volt Birth Watch 39: The Line Forms at the Rear

Those of you in Chicago, Dallas, or Boston who are anxiously awaiting your Chevy Volt can just keep waiting. In an email to the Detroit Free Press yesterday,…

Frank Williams Apr 08, 2008

Hybrid Camry May Be Produced in Australia

In our latest editorial on Australia's tanking car industry, I noted that a government report emphasizes future production of large vehicles with green powe…

Edward Niedermeyer Apr 07, 2008

Volt Birth Watch 38: Sex, Lies and Videotape (well, Maybe Two Out of Three…)

Since Bob Lutz revealed the Volt concept that made the rounds at the auto shows is more aerodynamically efficient going backwards than forwards, we've known there was much work to be done in the wind tunnel (and no, we don't mean the marketing depatment). CBS auto beat reporter Jeff Gilbert got a look inside the Volt development center, and brings us some of the first images of a camouflaged one-third scale model of what just might be the production Volt. Gilbert doesn't think the model is "all that exciting," saying it looks like little more than a Pontiac G6 or (inexplicably) a Chevy Camaro. But lack of enthusiasm for the mock-up doesn't mean Gilbert won't regurgitate GM's ~~lies~~ marketing playbook verbatim, incredulously spouting such obvious untruths as the long-abandoned $30k pricetag. In fact the "GM wants to sell 100k Volts at $30k by 2010" pablum comes immediately after GM's chief engineer for hybrid electric vehicle programs refuses to say that things look good for the 2010 goal. "Well, it's very clear what our target is, and leadership has asked us 'what do you need to make it happen?' and we have not been turned down once," says the sultan of sliderules. Gosh, that sounds like the development process of every $30k car, doesn't it?