This Plug-in Hybrid Guide Will Help You Choose The Right Vehicle

As their name suggests, the folks at Plugin Cars have an agenda. They like cars with plugs. Recently, they published a plug-in hybrid guide for people interested in buying or leasing a PHEV. It is so well done, I decided to share it with our readers as a primer on how to go about selecting the right plug-in hybrid for their needs. Author Brad Berman groups his suggestions into four categories. Let’s unpack each one and see what we can learn.

All-Electric Range

Berman suggests the most important factor in his plug-in hybrid guide is how far will that shiny new plug-in hybrid go on electric power alone? After all, the main reason to get a PHEV is to drive with zero tailpipe emissions as much as possible. If you commute 50 miles a day but your car only has 20 miles of range, you will be relying on an old-fashioned internal combustion engine for the majority of your journey (assuming you’re not recharging at work during the day).

The Chevy Volt is the champion today. With 53 miles of range on a full battery, it can handle most people’s daily driving needs without using a drop of gasoline. Several Gas2 readers own a Volt and confirm that the gasoline engine rarely turns on while they are driving. In fact, Chevrolet programs the engine to start automatically every few months just to slosh the oil around to all those critical spaces inside so that it will be ready for use when called on.

By comparison, the Toyota Prius Prime has an all-electric range less than half that of the Volt but lists for nearly $10,000 less. The new Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is better at 30 miles — pretty good for a large family hauler. Plugin Cars has a handy guide that you can use to sort through the offerings available (not all are sold in every state) to compare prices and features at a glance. It might be a useful tool to bookmark. Gas2 sister site CleanTechnica has a similar EV guide, by the way, but with more filters and European prices as well as US ones. However, you can’t filter by pure EV vs PHEV — you can just sort by total electric range and/or filter by minimum range (100 km vs 200 km vs 300 km), which has a similar effect.

Pick The Car That Fits Your Driving Needs

What is your typical driving day like? Yes, we all want to dream of chucking it all and driving to the West Coast if we feel like it, and yes, we may drive the kiddies to Disney World every few years, but how do you use your car on a daily basis? It might be a good idea to start a log and write down how far you drive every day for a month. That would help you analyze your actual driving needs. If you only drive 15 to 20 miles a day, that makes more plug-in cars suitable for your use without relying on a gasoline engine.

Study your charging options at work. What kind of chargers are available? How are they used? If there is only one and a colleague gets to work early and stays plugged in all day — that won’t do you much good. Does your employer allow workers to go outside during the workday to connect and disconnect from the chargers?

Are there chargers available along your route? If you shop a few days a week on your way home from work, you might be able to plug in while you’re inside and extend your range. Plug-in hybrids usually have small batteries that require less time to charge than the battery in an all-electric car. A little planning could go a long way in helping you decide which plug-in car is best suited to your needs and budget.

How Efficient Is That Plug-in After The Engine Starts?

If your driving needs mean that you will be using the gasoline engine in your plug-in hybrid regularly, it is important to know how efficient it is once battery power is depleted. The Prius Prime gets 54 miles per gallon, making it one of the most efficient cars on the road. It is rated by the EPA at 133 MPGe. The higher the number, the better. By comparison, the Chevy Volt is rated at 42 mpg and has an MPGe rating of 106, which means it will burn more gasoline than the Prius Prime once the engine kicks in. The EPA has a very useful tool that lists the efficiency ratings of all plug-in cars. Once again, it may be worthy of a bookmark if you are in the market for a plug-in car and want to compare one to another.

There is no substitute for a test drive. Some gas-powered range-extender engines may be noisy during operation, which can be annoying after enjoying the quietness of all-electric driving. In my own experience, the engine in the Chevy Volt is almost impossible to detect when it is running.

Choose The Car That Fits Your Lifestyle

Don’t get caught up in statistics. Things like interior room, number of passengers, and how the car feels to drive are still important. Some may like higher seats or need 7 passenger versatility. A car that goes 100 miles on a single charge is no good if it’s uncomfortable or doesn’t satisfy your needs. Take into account factors like price, handling, and cargo capacity. Connectivity is becoming an increasingly important consideration for many drivers. Do you need wireless cell phone chargers, extra cup holders, or a rear-seat screen for children to watch? Are the controls laid out intelligently and do they operate intuitively?

In the end, buying a plug-in hybrid is a commitment to a lifestyle. Hopefully, this plug-in hybrid guide will be useful to you. Do your research, test drive all the cars that fit your requirements, then relax and enjoy the fact that you have made a choice that will help reduce pollution from fossil fuels. Good for  you!

Source: Plug In Cars | Photo by the author

Ford Unveils Its Long Term Electric Vehicle Strategy

It costs more to build an electric car than a conventional car. Not only that, passenger cars are rapidly losing market share to SUVs, crossovers, and light pickup trucks. Rather than beat its head against a wall trying to sell hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or battery electric sedans, Ford has a better idea. It will electrify is best selling, highest profit models instead.

Last week at its annual Investors Day, Ford told its shareholders what its plans for the electric vehicle future will be. CEO Mark Fields said, “We want to become a top player in electrified solutions, and I call it moving from a compliance mind set to one of leading where we can win, such as with our commercial vehicles.” The translation? Ford will put its efforts into making electrified powertrains for the vehicles it sells the most of, namely SUVs and light duty trucks.

Ford’s product chief, Raj Nair, then took to the podium to say, “The view is by 2030, we will reach a tipping point where the number of electrified product offerings will be greater than the internal combustion engine. Ford is choosing to invest today to be prepared for this eventual outcome.

“Let me elaborate on how we’re building on our early efforts, to lay the foundation for long term success once we reach this tipping point. There are really four key elements to our strategy. The first one Mark touched on, playing to our strength — electing to compete in areas where we know where we have a dominant position in the marketplace. Commercial vehicles, trucks, utilities, and performance: These are sectors where we have iconic nameplate brands, tremendous favorable opinion, and more pricing power.

“It’s also going to allow our product development and marketing teams to take a different approach, in terms of how we go to market and start to showcase the full benefits of electrification beyond just fuel efficiency.

“Trucks, commercial vehicles, sport-utilities, and performance vehicles are all parts of the market where Ford has a strong position, and where it currently generates big profit margins. Those are the segments where Ford will focus its electrification efforts, on the theory that those customers are most likely to buy into Ford’s innovations — and are most willing to pay for them.”

In other words, rather than building an electric sedan just to satisfy regulatory requirements, Ford is planning to bring electric drivetrains to market in ways that will make customers feel they add significant value. That may mean a plug-in hybrid F150 that can use the instant torque of an electric motor to get heavy loads moving from rest. It could also mean SUV’s with an electric motor at each wheel to give superb road holding in slippery conditions.

It also could mean a plug-in hybrid Mustang that runs on electric batteries in normal driving but can rely on a powerful V8 engine when the driver whistles down to the engine room for maximum power. Or imagine commercial delivery vans that operate quietly and cleanly on battery power. They might never need fuel, only a nightly recharge.

Will Ford’s plan give it the flexibility to electrify its fleet without suffering economic losses? It’s a novel strategy and one that just might work. Check back in 2030 to see how this all turns out.

Source: The Motley Fool  Image credit: Ford

2018 Honda CR-V Will Have Plug-in Hybrid Option

When the next version of the Honda CR-V is introduced next year, it will be built on the same platform as the 10th generation Honda Civic that went on sale last fall. It will also offer a plug-in hybrid option according to multiple news sources, including Digital Trends and Left Lane News. The popular crossover vehicle from Honda is expected to take its styling cues from the new Civic as well.

Honda CR-V Hybrid Rendering

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Japanese website Response reports the CR-V will be offered with an optional plug-in hybrid drivetrain consisting of a 2.0 liter four cylinder gas engine and at least two electric motors. The 2.4 liter gasoline engine found in the current AWD CR-V will continue to be offered as well as a smaller turbocharged four cylinder engine.

It is expected the new CR-V will be available with front wheel drive and four wheel drive powertrains. There are also rumors that a long wheel base version with seating for 7 passengers will be offered, although whether that configuration will be available in the American market is not known at this time. All CR=V’s will be equipped with automatic transmissions.

Since it was first introduced, the CR-V has been identified with vertical tail lights mounted high at the rear of the car. In line with its new Civic based architecture, the 2018 car will have more conventional tail lights with C shaped LED inserts. All manufacturers are focused on building as many models as possible on a single platform. That reduced development costs and maximizes flexibility at the factory to meet shifting trends in the marketplace.

Honda likes to reveal its next genearation cars as lightly disguised concepts shortly before they go into production. That way, it can benefit from any feedback it gets from the public and the press to make any changes it deems necessary before final production values are confirmed. Expect to see a CR-V concept either at the Los Angeles auto show in December of this year, or else the Detroit auto show in January of 2017.

Honda Says Two Thirds Of All Its Cars Will Be Electric By 2030

Does it seem that Honda suffers from a bit of schizophrenia when it comes to electric cars? It was one of the first companies to introduced a hybrid vehicle when it brought the original Insight to market in 1999. That car was a three passenger hatchback that was optimized for aerodynamic efficiency and it introduced America to the word “hybrid.” Toyota followed soon with the first Prius.

While the Prius has been very successful for Toyota, the Insight was just too goofy for mainstream drivers. It looked weird and it drove weird. Honda then went on to stumble its way forward with a Civic Hybrid that started off full of promise but crashed after issues with battery life surfaced. The company had to re-tune the car to save the battery, but that made it no more efficient than an ordinary Civic, even though it cost $5,000 more. Sales plummeted to near zero.

Next, Honda brought out an all new Insight. This one didn’t look so strange, but it did look exactly like a Prius. It sold in the dozens. Next up was the CR-Z, billed as the world’s first hybrid sports car. It had the looks, but its leisurely performance to 60 mph was measured in furlongs per fortnight rather than miles per hour. It too evoked only the most tepid response from shoppers.

Honda finally wised up and brought a very good Accord Hybrid to market. As soon as customers realized what a good car it was and started demanding more, the company stopped selling them. What’s up with that?

But now, Honda says it has gotten religion when it comes to hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery electric cars, and hydrogen fuel cell cars. During the annual State of the Company speech in Japan recently, CEO Takahiro Hachigo told the audience that two thirds of all Honda cars will have an electric motor by the year 2030, according to AutoBlog. “We will make a plug-in hybrid type available for our major models and increase the number of models sequentially.”

The Clarity fuel cell sedan goes on sale in Japan this spring. It should be available in the US about 12 months later. Honda says it will use the same chassis to manufacture a plug-in hybrid car for 2108. Is Honda really ready to get off the schneid when it comes to electrified cars? It better be, if it expects to remain in business very long.

Honda Partnering With GM On Plug-in Hybrid Cars

Honda and General Motors are already working together on hydrogen fuel cell technology. Now, they are prepared to expand their working relationship to focus also on plug-in hybrid cars. While EV enthusiasts decline to recognize plug-ins as real electric cars, most manufacturers see them as the bridge between the conventional cars of today and the zero emissions battery electric cars of the future. The International Energy Agency estimates that plug-in hybrids will account for 5% of new car sales worldwide in 2020. It expects that number to rise to 35% in 2050, according to the Chicago  Tribune.

Plug-ins avoid many of the problems restricting the growth of the electric car market at present. Range anxiety is eliminated. If the battery is completely depleted, the onboard engine simply takes over. They have smaller batteries than fully electric vehicles, which means they can sell for thousands less than true electric vehicles. The best example is the Chevy Bolt, which will cost $37,500 and have a maximum range of 200 miles. Chevy’s plug-in hybrid, the Volt, is a larger car that sells for $4,500 less but can travel more than 300 miles before needing to stop for fuel.

According to Japan News, the partnership will help each company bring plug-in hybrid models to market sooner than they could if they worked individually. It will also help them negotiate more favorable prices from suppliers, who will be anxious to sharpen their pencils in order to sell more of their products.

Honda expected to introduce its own plug-in hybrid in America in 2018, but believes by working with GM it can move that project forward a year. There is also the possibility that GM and Honda may decide to build plug-in and fuel cell cars together, much as GM built cars together with Toyota for many years. For its part, General Motors expects the collaboration with Honda will help it compete more effectively with Toyota.

Honda is believed to be ahead of General Motors in fuel cell technology, but GM is thought to be ahead of Honda in plug-in hybrid systems. Let’s hope this joint working relationship turns out better for Honda than its ill-fated collaboration with Ford, which ended badly for Honda.

Naked Hyundai Ioniq Spied In The Wild

Little is known about the technical specifications for the car, other than the hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the Ioniq will both use a 1.6 liter 4 cylinder engine. There are no range specifications for the plug-in or the battery version of the car available at this time.

The good news is that the car is clearly a crossover SUV style vehicle. That just happens to be the hottest part of the automobile market right now, so Hyundai is doing itself a favor by positioning the ioniq to compete in that segment. The bad news is that Hyundai — which has some of the best looking cars on the road — seems to have recorded a swing and a miss with the styling of this car.

In essence, it is the same type vehicle as the Tesla Model X — a 4 door sport utility vehicle with a hatchback. But it does not look nearly as appealing as the Model X. The front is ordinary in a way that other current Hyundai models are not. From the rear doors back, the car bears an unfortunate resemblance to the late and largely unlamented Pontiac Aztek. It’s not that there’s anything particularly wrong with the appearance of the Ioniq, but there’s not a lot that’s especially right about it, either.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, of course, and if the price is right, lots of buyers will be shopping for precisely this kind of car. From these photos, the Ioniq appears to be somewhat larger than the Prius, which will appeal to many folks. The Ioniq may be more appealing once more is known about its electronics and interior appointments.

2015 Volkswagen Passat GTE Joins The Plug-In Party

Plug-in hybrids are often considered the final stepping stone before taking the plunge into a pure electric car, and Volkswagen wants to help drivers along with the new Passat GTE. Powered by a 156 horsepower 1.4 liter engine and a 114 horsepower electric motor, the 2015 Passt GTE has a healthy 215 horsepower 295 lb-ft torque on tap to help convince drivers to go green.

While the 0 to 60 MPH time of under 8 seconds won’t light the world on fire, the top speed of 136 MPH is actually higher than even the mighty Tesla Model S. Under just electric power, the Passat GTE is good for a claimed 31 miles of driving per charge, though in America the real world range is probably closer to 20 miles. Fully charged and topped off with 13 gallons of gasoline, Volkswagen says the Passat GTE can travel up 1,000 km before recharging/refueling, or about 622 miles, which works out to about 47.8 MPG. The Toyota Prius better keep an eye out, because the Passat GTE is gunning for it.

Volkswagen is also equipping the Passat GTE with its “e-Remote” smartphone app, which allows you to operate the climate control system and even when to start or stop charging the lithium-ion battery. A standard 6.5-inch LCD touchscreen integrates many vehicle functions, including navigation, though buyers can opt up to a 8.0 inch touchscreen for those wanting a bigger centerpiece in their plug-in Passat.

Unfortunately for now, the Passat GTE, like its cousin the Volkswagen Golf GTE, is strictly for European buyers at the moment. It will, however, come in both sedan and station wagon flavors, for those of us longing to relive the epic road trips of National Lampoon’s glory days. Volkswagen is keen to offer more plug-in options to U.S. customers though, including the all-electric e-Golf. There’s good reason to believe the Passat GTE will make it to American Vdub dealerships before too long.

Source: Volkswagen

Next Volkswagen Phaeton To Get Plug-In Hybrid Drivetrain

It’s been a dozen years since the Volkswagen Phaeton was first introduced to the world, but sales have never been close to what the German automaker hoped. Despite that though, the Phaeton will get a second shot at life, and this time it will offer several drivetrain options that include diesel and plug-in hybrid options making 400+ horsepower, reports Automotive News.

The VW Phaeton had a short run in America, and despite the fact that it rode on the same chassis as the Bentley Continental GT, most customers couldn’t’ be bothered by a $65,000 Volkswagen in the mid-2000s. The premiere engine option was the unique 6.0 liter W12 engine making 444 horsepower…and a few other engines nobody really cared about because they barely moved the bulky Vdub.

But while VW never offered a diesel engine to American buyers, German buyers have had the option of a 5.0 liter V10 TDI engine with up to 309 horsepower 554 lb-ft of torque, and with the next Pheaton, Volkswagen could make the TDI engine more widely available. Rumor has it a 450 horsepower V8 TDI is one of the possibilities, but even more tantalizing is the possibility of a plug-in hybrid drivetrain offering around 400 horsepower. Anchored by a V6 engine, this powerful plug-in hybrid setup could also be shared with Bentley, which has already admitted to working on a plug-in hybrid model for its elite buyers. And yes, the Pheaton is tipped to return to the US for a second go around.

Pricing will be about the same, starting at around $70,000, though this time around Volkswagen is keen to not make the same mistakes that sunk sales of the first Pheaton. I can dig it, but do you?

Source: Gas 2.

2016 Chevy Volt To Debut In January

Today GM released the first teaser image of the 2016 Chevy Volt, which will bring a litany of changes to the popular plug-in hybrid. GM also set the debut date for the Detroit Auto Show in January, with the new Volt to go on sale sometime in 2015.

Since it went on sale at the end of 2010, GM says it has sold more than 65,000 Chevy Volts in the US alone…though its European cousin, the Opel Ampera, has seen sales plummet, and will soon be discontinued. As for the teaser shot itself, it doesn’t reveal much about the new Volt, except that it will have a more-rounded rear decklid.

But the Volt will live on, and rumor has it that it will bring with it many improvements and asked-for features. Among the most-requested features among Volt owners was more range, more room, (five seats instead of the current four), and a lower price. GM could offer a Volt with as much as 200 miles of electric range if certain rumors are true, though more likely GM will offer different battery pack sizes to placate the masses who want to either pay less, or go farther between charges.

Not that the current Volt is all that bad, as 92% of current owners say they’d buy another one given the chance. It’s also one of the highest-scoring cars on the Consumer Reports customer satisfaction survey. Another key point GM likes to drive home is that more than 70% of Volt buyers are new to the Chevy brand, making it a powerful “conquest” car. Hopefully the 2016 model proves just as successful for GM, a company plagued by recall woes and questions about its corporate structure the past few months.

Perhaps the 2016 Chevy VOlt can change the conversation towards more positive vibes.

Source: GM

Volkswagen Golf GTE Is Officially A Performance Plug-in Hybrid

The Volkswagen Golf GTE is exactly what I was hoping for; an affordable, performance-oriented plug-in hybrid that lets you go fast without the gas-guzzling guilt. With a combined 258 ft-lbs of torque and a top speed higher than the Tesla Model S, this little hybrid Golf promises to be big fun without sucking down a whole lotta gas.

Just as speculation suggested, the Volkswagen Golf GTE gets a 1.4 liter turbo engine good for 148 horsepower mated to an electric motor at the front wheels with a maximum output of 101 horsepower. Combined output of both drivetrains is 201 horsepower, with 258 lovely ft-lbs of torque. Just as important though, the Golf GTE can go up to 31 miles on electric power only, up to a maximum speed of 81 MPH.

That gives the Golf GTE the equivalent of 157 MPG, though real-world numbers are likely to be a lot lower. Still, as the Chevy Volt proved, if your commute is amicable to plug-in hybrids, you can go literally thousands of miles on just a few drops of fuel…and the GTE promises to get you there quickly as well, with the shifting handled by a dual-clutch six-speed slushbox.

The Golf GTE can go from 0 to 60 MPH in 7.6 seconds, only about a second slower than Volkswagen’s own version of the hot hatch, the Golf GTI. It can also achieve a top speed of 135 MPH given the space, a full 10 MPH more than the standard Tesla Model S (top speed, 133 MPH). It’s the latest addition to the Golf GT line that also includes the much-coveted Golf GTD turbodiesel.

The only real problem as far as I can see it? Volkswagen has no plans to bring this awesome car to America, instead giving us an electric e-Golf model to hold us over. Whomp whomp whommmmp.

Source: Volkswagen

Must-See: Jaguar C-X75 Build - VIDEO

First unveiled in 2010 as part of a joint venture between Jaguar and Formula 1 team Williams, the C-X75 Jaguar was a plug-in hybrid supercar powered by a range-extending gas-turbine engine mounted behind the seats. The car’s four electric motors, one at each wheel, each made 195 horsepower for a grand total of 780 horsepower and 1,187 ft-lbs of torque. All that power was good for an estimated top speed of just over 200 mph, and – like the ill-fated Jaguar XJ220 before it – demand for the car was huge.

Also like Jaguar’s XJ220 supercar form the 90s, the realities of the market made getting the concept to production almost totally impossible, so the C-X75 project was cancelled before it ever really began.

Cancelled or not, however, Jaguar’s C-X75 is an incredible piece of machinery that deserves every moment in the sun it gets. To that end, Jaguar and Williams have introduced a fantastic video about some of the thinking behind the C-X75 project that seems to suggest we should be looking for even more innovative plug-in vehicles from Jaguar and Land Rover in the near future. I’ll let the video’s description serves as my introduction …

For over two years we have worked to develop one of the most innovative and technologically advanced prototypes ever created. The C-X75 pushes every boundary of power, performance and even fuel efficiency. This short film details the journey to this point and gives an exciting insight into the technology which has the potential to be used in future Jaguar models.

… and advise you to check it out, and stay tuned for more!

Source: Jaguar.

UK government extends Plug-In Car Grant to vans for up to $12,300

Van buyers in the UK will be able to receive 20%—up to £8,000 (US$12,300)—off the cost of a plug-in van, UK Transport Minister Norman Baker and Business Minister Mark Prisk announced. This is an extension of the Plug-In Car Grant which offers 25%—up to £5,000 (US$7,700)—to motorists buying a new plug-in car. Ministers have also re-confirmed there is funding secured for this grant until 2015.

There are currently 10 cars eligible for the Plug-In Car Grant—5 of which came onto the market in 2011, with the other half expected to be available to purchase this year. During the first year of the scheme, 1,052 eligible vehicles were registered and, up to 31 December 2011, 892 applications were made for the Plug-In Car Grant (Quarter 1; 465; Quarter 2 215; Quarter 3 106; Quarter 4 106). Manufacturers apply for the grant following the purchase of the car hence the lag between registrations and grant applications.

The purpose of the consumer grant is to enable the purchase of ultra-low carbon vehicles which could otherwise have been unaffordable. The consumer will also benefit from lower running costs over the lifetime of the vehicle.

Electric vehicles are the arrowhead for a low carbon revolution in motoring and as more models come to market we’ll begin to see sales gather pace. Car buyers have had a year to take advantage of our grant and now it’s time for van buyers to get their chance to go electric. This is great news for businesses given the lower running costs of these vehicles—fleet buyers tell us that this is one of the most important factor influencing their decision on what to buy.

—Transport Minister Norman Baker

Only vans which meet strict performance criteria for range, tail-pipe emissions and safety will be eligible for the Plug-In Van Grant. The application process opens today and van manufacturers are invited to apply for their vehicles to become part of the scheme. Applications can be received at any time. The Department expects to confirm shortly the first vans to join the scheme, for which applications will need to be received by 31 January.

The UK Government has made provision of more than £400 million (US$614 million) to promote the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicle technologies. This includes approximately £80 million (US$123 million) supporting research and development activities; £30 million (US$46 million) for the installation of infrastructure; and, £300 million (US$460 million) to support consumer incentives for the life of the Parliament.

The Government’s assessment is that the number of installed chargepoints in the UK is more than 2,500, of which 765 have been delivered (to 14 October 2011) through the Government’s Plugged-In Places trials and the remainder through private sector organisations’ investment. The private sector organisations have commitments to deliver approximately a further 4,000 points across the UK by the end of 2012.

Source: Green Car Congress

2013 Toyota Prius C Hybrid Concept

Among the concept cars and pre-production prototypes being unveiled at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show this week, there were a handful of production-ready cars quietly making their public debut.

Among them was Toyota’s 2013 Prius C hybrid hatchback. Smaller than the 2012 Prius, the 2013 Prius C compact is the fourth car in Toyota’s ever-expanding Prius family, alongside the 2012 Toyota Prius, 2012 Prius V wagon and 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid.

Aimed primarily at younger buyers who want a sportier and more straight-forward car, the 2013 Prius C’s design tries to make being gas-frugal a lot more fun. Inside, a conventional gear lever and parking brake replace the larger Prius’ unorthodox gear selector, while a simple dash and choice of hot-hatch inspired trim gives it a more youthful appeal.

The 2013 Toyota Prius C will go on sale this month in Japan where it will be known as the Toyota Aqua, but isn’t due to go on sale in the U.S. until the latter half of 2012.

With an expected fuel economy of between 65 and 70 mpg, the 2013 Toyota Prius C will debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show next month. In the meantime, please enjoy our 2013 Toyota Prius C live gallery and make sure you follow our continued 2011 Tokyo Motorshow coverage to keep up-to-date with the very latest from the show.

Source: Green Car Reports

A Converted F-150 Pickup By EMC Yields Plug-In Hybrid

Teaser Photo of the EMC F-150 Plug-In Hybrid







Here is a cool company that is converting F-150's to plug-in power. Imagine if all pickup trucks could get 100 to 200 mpg. Considering the fact that such a large percentage of new vehicles being sold are pickups, this technology is extremely apropos.

From Pickuptrucks.com:

Electric Motors Corporation's new teaser photo of the Flash, the first of two plug-in serial hybrid trucks that it plans to start building next year, shows that it has unconventional styling to match its unconventional powertrain.

“You’re familiar with how the Prius is different from a typical car -- the Flash is like that for a pickup truck. It’s that kind of different,” Wil Cashen, CEO of EMC, said yesterday.

EMC hopes to build the plug-ins in Indiana with manufacturing partner and RV maker Gulf Stream Coach. The EMC Flash pickup is based on the Ford F-150 and is intended for families and personal-use truck buyers.

“It’s an electric truck with an onboard range-extender generator system,” Cashen said. “We’ve taken an F-150 and have done something similar to Tesla, where they used a Lotus sports car for the underpinnings of their electric car. We’re using an American-made vehicle for [the underpinnings] of our truck.”

The Flash will use an electric motor to drive the wheels, while a small 1.2-liter gas engine is used as an on-board generator to recharge the batteries when power levels drop below a certain point, the same approach that GM is using with the Chevy Volt.

Cashen said that the Flash will have three different battery options: The smallest, least-expensive configuration is expected to get the equivalent of 40 mpg. Adding a second layer of batteries is estimated to get up to 100 mpg and adding a third set, Cashen said, will return up to 250 mpg. The batteries are mounted in-between the truck’s frame rails.

“We’re building a vehicle that doesn’t force the customer to edit their lifestyle,” Cashen said. “The unique thing about a truck is that [battery] packaging isn’t an issue like it is for cars.”

The Flash is expected to have the same work capabilities of the 4.2-liter six-cylinder Ford F-150 model that was discontinued last year. That truck could tow up to 5,700 pounds and carry up to 1,940 pounds. However, it won’t be able to handle many off-road scenarios. Cashen said it’s primarily designed as an on-road truck.

“We’re starting out with the simplest unit first to get people used to them and get them out on the road,” Cashen said. “We could easily make the truck make a lot of horsepower, but if the customer has to pay for $90,000 in batteries, we’ve wasted our time. Over time, that could change as more battery manufacturing capacity comes online and prices hopefully start to fall.”

EMC hopes to keep the Flash’s starting cost under $50,000. Buyers may be able to qualify for a $7,500 federal tax credit.

A second, commercial truck will follow the Flash's full debut in November, called the Thunderbolt, Cashen said. The Thunderbolt will be aimed at the construction, emergency vehicle and motion picture industries. It is expected to have greater battery capacity than the Flash, and should be able to function as a power generating solution at job sites. It’s also expected to operate as a mobile communications platform, with high-speed wireless Internet access, acting as a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The Flash made its sneak preview debut this evening at the Green Jobs for American Exposition at EMC's Wakarusa, Ind., headquarters, where the Flash and Thunderbolt are expected to be built.

A Breakdown of OEM Plug-in Hybrid Vehicels (PHEV's) part 2

Here is second part of the OEM PHEV's breakdown that we will see soon. Actually, the Mercedes Sprinter is already in existence, albeit in very limited numbers. Also, the Saturn Vue plug-in was originally going to be released late this year but it now looks like it won't be until late in 2010.

Aptera 2h

Basically the same as its electric sibling, the Aptera 2h is a plug-in electric hybrid that boasts a 330 mpg fuel economy. The 2h uses a small gasoline engine in conjunction with the electric drivetrain to produce these numbers. The electric motor drives the single rear wheel and the gasoline engine drives the front two wheels, which makes it an all wheel drive. The hybrid mode Aptera will travel about 60 miles on electricity before the gas genset kicks on.

Opel Ampera

The Opel Ampera is basically a Chevy Volt that will be marketed in Europe. All of its specifications are the same as the Volt and so I will not repeat them. The difference will be exterior styling cues that make it look much more "edgy" than the Volt.

Persu Hybrid

Here is cool concept. The Persu is a three wheeled PHEV that allows the body of the vehicle to tilt into a turn, much like a motorcycle. The rear two wheels stay on the ground and the suspension allows the rest of the bike to tilt up to a 45 degree angle. The Persu (formerly Venture) will have a top speed of 100 mph and is expected to be rated at 75 mpg fuel economy. The Persu will have an estimated MSRP between $20,000 and $25,000 and will be available in 2010.

VW Hybrid

Volkswagen has entered the PHEV fray with their plug in offering, the VW hybrid. Powered by VW's "Twin Drive" system, the VW will travel 31 miles in all electric mode before the gas generator kicks on. The car will be based on the Golf model and utilize a 122-horsepower diesel engine, twinned with an 82-horsepower electric motor. Plenty of power there. Look for the VW hybrid to be available in 2010 with an MSRP to be determined.





Mercedes Sprinter hybrid

The Sprinter was the first plug-in hybrid ever to be offered by an OEM. The Sprinter is great for in town deliveries as it can travel roughly 20 miles on electric power alone. It is coupled in parallel with either a gasoline or diesel engine that drives the wheels and charges the battery. The electric motor's output is 70 kW's and the NiMH battery pack provides 14 kWh of juice. Imagine if all the delivery services in the world used this technology, how much fuel could be saved.




Saturn Vue

The Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid variant was one of the first to be announced by a major auto manufacturer. Originally publicized to be available in 2009, the Vue is now said to be ready by late 2010. With Saturn's future in question, even this date may slip. The Vue PHEV is going to use a smaller battery pack and offer only 10 miles of electric range before the genset kicks in. It would be configured as a parallel hybrid, like the Prius and offer significant fuel economy gains. Let's hope this car makes it to market, although I would like to see Saturn increase the electric range to 20 miles.

Well, there you have it. My abridged listing of the PHEV's we will like see in showrooms soon. If I missed a model, please post a comment so I can add to the list.