March 17, 2004
Hybrid cars taking off
Nice article from technology review regarding the future of hybrid cars and manufacturers current plans. Hybrids can save $5000 in GAS over the life of the car and could reduce US foreign oil dependancies.
Toyota seems to be the company to beat. The most complex part of the technology is the batteries - life maintenance etc. Capturing the lost energy from breaking is more trivial, the electric motor switches roles and serves as a generator, using the car’s kinetic energy to recharge the batteries. Still, "When it comes to engineering the system as a whole ...Toyota has three, four years’ advantage over the others". I believe US firms will catch up if they want to. European firms (VW) seem to be focused more on Diesel and biodiesel.
DaimlerChrysler
Began fleet sales of mild-hybrid diesel-electric Ram pickup in 2004; experimenting with full-hybrid diesel-electrics
Ford Motor
Canceled Explorer SUV hybrid introduction in 2001; full-hybrid Escape SUV now due out this summer; full-hybrid option promised for Futura sedan, which debuts in 2005
General Motors
Canceled full-hybrid VUE SUV promised for 2005; mild-hybrid Silverado and Sierra pickups to debut this year, the VUE in 2006; promising full hybrids, including a Malibu sedan and Tahoe and Yukon SUVs in 2007, and Silverado and Sierra pickups in 2008
Honda Motor
Insight two-seater, a mild hybrid, was first hybrid to reach the U.S. market in 1999; now sells Insight and mild-hybrid Civic worldwide; adding mild-hybrid Accord sedan this fall
Nissan Motor
Test-marketed hybrid Tino compact car with proprietary lithium battery in Japan in 2000; licensing Toyota technology for a possible 2006 full-hybrid Altima mid-size sedan
Toyota Motor
Launched first hybrid car in 1997; sells full-hybrid Prius worldwide and six other hybrids in Japan; full-hybrid Lexus and Highlander SUVs promised for export by fall 2004 and early 2005; considering full-size hybrid pickup trucks and Camry