Problems With Future Plug-In Hybrids

Ah, the plug-in hybrid! It has been long-heralded as the answer to the oil problem and the release of some of the first models has been hotly anticipated by serious hybrid enthusiasts.

So, what exactly is the difference between the hybrids currently on the road and plug-in hybrids?
Basically, the hybrids on the road today use their electric power when they can, and use gas as the primary fuel source. The fuel efficiency when compared to a standard vehicle is still amazing, but when the hybrid becomes a plug-in hybrid, the reported fuel economy shoots sky high. Plug-ins use electric power first and then fuel. The batteries are built to hold more electric power and so can use electricity for more powerful work.

What are the potential problems?
In the next few years, an abundance of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) will be hitting the showrooms and the roads of America. Almost every major automaker is getting in on the game because they anticipate that PHEVs will begin to account for an increasing percentage of sales in the coming years. The short-list of who’s bringing a plug-in to the table:

* General Motors (the Volt)
* Chrysler has three in the works
* Nissan (EV-02)
* Mitsubishi (iMiev)
* Tesla (Roadster)
* Toyota (Plug-in Prius)
* Ford (Plug-In Hybrid Ford Escape)

Like any new technology, early adopters of the plug-in hybrids will probably experience a few kinks in the performance of their cars. However, if the early adopters don’t buy the new plug-ins and help generate a mainstream demand as they did with current hybrids, the whole technology could disappear from showroom floors as auto manufacturers see that no one is buying.

The potential problems those early buyers may face fall into three main categories:

1. Cost. Current lithium-ion batteries don’t respond well to large swings in charging cycles. The plug-in hybrid concept depends on a battery that can handle large swings well. Large lithium-ions can handle them better, but often, the huge size can be prohibitive to keeping the design of the car small and light. Lithium-ion batteries are very expensive so if the original battery is not built to withstand large charge cycle swings, battery replacement may have to occur more frequently than with other types of cars.
2. Life-span. This excerpt from Popular Mechanics best explains this potential pit-fall:
The current Prius, which uses nickel-metal-hydride batteries, has a 10-year warranty on the battery pack, but Toyota’s Reinert admitted that such a guarantee would be very difficult to offer on the electrified version. “If the warranty is only three years, are customers going to accept that?” he asked. Unless battery life can be improved, plug-in cars might succeed in reducing fuel cost per mile, only to transfer the burden of capital costs of imported batteries to the owner.
3. Available Technology. As more and more PHEVs hit the road, more and more people will need to charge them at home or at work. This could overwhelm an electric grid if it is not properly prepared,

It seems to me that PHEVs are indeed the wave of the future, but I suspect we might all be better off if automakers spent the next few years perfecting their design and campaigning for a solid infrastructure. That would improve the odds for success of these cars when they do start selling. What do you think?

Paris Auto Show Features More Hybrids

Updates and wrap up from the Paris Auto Show

Paris Auto Show 2008Last week, automakers from around the world converged in Paris to showcase their newest concept cars and innovations. Today (October 19th) is the last day of the show and it is evident that small is in and that hybrids are all the rage. The Paris Auto Show comes on the heels of major economic downturn in the United States, thereby making small, fuel-efficient cars even more appealing to consumers who have watched gas prices rise, stocks tumble and the government bicker over how to solve the situation.

Here are just a few things that have the industry buzzing in Paris:

* Honda’s new Insight. Due in the U.S. in 2010, the latest reincarnation of the Insight will again be going head-to-head with Toyota’s Prius. Priced around $20,000, the Insight will be about $3,000 cheaper than the Prius, and will be roomier than the earlier version. Rather than seating just two, the 2010 Insight will hold five passengers.
* Mercedes S-class mild hybrid. When this luxury vehicle arrives in the U.S. in 2009, it may just be the most affordable luxury vehicle yet. Though the hybrid technology is not full, the presence of a lithium-ion battery does increase fuel efficiency.
* A green Lamborghini? A new Lamborghini four-door concept, the Estoque, may or may not be a hybrid when it goes into production next year. The top-of-the-line automaker is remaining mum on whether the new car will feature hybrid technology or high-performance diesel.
* Audi gets 62 miles per gallon. The new Audi concept car is boasting high performance and high fuel efficiency. The Sportback is shooting to go about 62 miles in electric only mode – a feat not yet conquered by any other hybrid on the market.

One thing is for sure, there are more hybrid and green technologies on display at the Paris auto show than we have ever seen before. The trend toward a more fuel-efficient and eco-friendly vehicle is here to stay. This has brought changes in what’s under the hood as well as design changes. Increased aerodynamics and lighter frames are bringing even larger cars and SUVs into the green future.

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Coming in 2010

It’s no secret that the hybrid car market is heating up these days. Consumers have to be wait-listed for the privilege of owning some breeds of the green vehicle and auto manufacturers can barely keep up with demand. The technology of it all is brimming with possibilities and each month brings a new advance in the quest for a cleaner, more efficient vehicle.

Hyundai has, for the past few years, sat back and observed the hybrid race as other auto giants compete for sales. Now, it seems the time is right for Hyundai to finally join the fray. Starting with a hybrid version of the best-selling sedan, the Sonata in 2010, Hyundai is hoping to offer something unique to the U.S. hybrid market.

The hybrid Sonata will feature a lithium-ion battery, similar to the ones currently used in cell phones and laptops and the one that will power Chevy’s plug-in hybrid to be released in 2010, the Volt. This will make the Sonata hybrid the first mass-produced vehicle to feature the lithium-ion battery, which some say is more efficient. A lot will depend on how quickly this battery technology can be readied, and then upon availability.

Hyundai plans to roll the car out at the Los Angeles Auto Show this November and have the car for sale in lots by 2010. Though the car will feature the same battery as the Chevy Volt, the technology that runs the car will be different. While the Chevy is a plug-in hybrid, the Sonata hybrid will run on a parallel hybrid system. An electric motor and gas-burning engine will work in concert to increase fuel economy.

Once the Sonata enters the market, further increasing competition and encouraging all auto-makers to do something really different, Hyundai plans to keep up much better than they have in the decade since the first hybrid rolled off the lot. Hyundai’s chief technology officer Lee Hyun-soon has said that Hyundai hopes to release a plug-in hybrid of its own soon after 2013. Hyundai already has deals with several battery and technology firms, including LG Chem, SK Energy and SB LiMotive to develop high-quality batteries that will allow a Hyundia plug-in to surpass the efficiency of the Chevy model.

I myself am quite partial to Hyundais, and if this is successful I would expect them to follow with a hybrid Accent, Elantra, Tucson or Santa Fe next. Seeing all this news, though, I wonder if I would jump at their first hybrid or wait for their plug-in model in 2013. Definitely worth watching. Still no word on this cars price, but with the 2009 Sonata between $19,000 and $25,000 I’d have to guess the hybrid version might have an MSRP approaching $30,000. Gas mileage is also being kept under wraps, but if the Korean manufacturer can muster a 25% improvement, expect it to average over 30 mpg.

Toyota Camry Hybrid

The 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid is quickly developing a reputation as one of the most comfortable, reliable, and stylish green cars on the market today. We had an opportunity to experience, first hand, the driveability and fuel consumption of this carryover sedan.

The Camry Hybrid is powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 147 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. It's also equipped with a 40 horsepower electric motor, bringing the total output to 187 horsepower, which is more than enough for virtually all traffic and driving conditions. The Camry Hybrid almost never feels short on power, and grants near-perfect throttle response. This is ideal for highway on-ramps, and launches from zero when red goes to green. On the other side, the Camry rarely comes on too strong when driving in lower-speed situations. It's a controlled and balanced four-door, slotting comfortably between family sedan and sports sedan.

Government Fuel Economy for the new Camry is 33 city/34 highway. To test its real-world efficiency we took the Camry Hybrid on a 122 mile round-trip from Aberdeen, Maryland to York, Pennsylvania and back. The mixed-driving route was comprised of small in-town roads, two-lane byways and country roads, and approximately 40 miles on Interstate 83. We achieved combined gas mileage of 35.2 miles per gallon, slightly exceeding government estimates—as well as our own expectations.

Found within the gauge cluster, and directly behind the steering wheel, the Camry offers a very well-placed center-console screen, which allows the driver to keep track of how the hybrid powertrain is operating. The clever animation scheme represents the gas engine, the electric power, and the regenerative braking, as well as an arrow indicating the flow of energy—two arrows when the gas engine and electric motor are working in conjunction. To the left of this display is an analog-style consumption meter which displays the instantaneous miles-per-gallon reading. It is unclear how accurate this gauge actually is.

As far as handling goes, the Camry is more than competent. It corners well and offers plenty of driver feedback—as we experienced on the switchback roads of northern Maryland and southern Pennsylvania. But the Camry is best known for its ride quality. It offers a smooth and compliant road feel that makes it an ideal vehicle for long trips and daily commuting. Furthermore, the transition from gas engine to electric motor and back again, is one of the most seamless we’ve seen so far.

World’s First Hybrid SUV Stretch Limo

It’s not the first hybrid stretch limousine, because a Canadian firm converted a Prius into a 10-seater last year. But it does appear to be the first stretch limo built from the body of a hybrid SUV, making it the world’s largest hybrid gas-electric vehicle—if it were not for hybrid buses and locomotives which have been around for years.

GM Models That Achieve 30 mpg Plus

For 2009, General Motors offers 18 models in the U.S. that get 30 miles per gallon on the highway, more than is expected of any other automaker. They include cars, crossovers and SUVs from GM’s Chevrolet, Pontiac and Saturn brands.
Chevrolet, GM’s largest brand, leads with eight, along with five each from Pontiac and Saturn. Four-cylinder, six-speed models of the Chevrolet Malibu and Saturn Aura lead among midsize sedans with 33 mpg highway, along with the Pontiac G6. The Chevy Cobalt XFE and Pontiac G5 XFE win among, gasoline-fueled subcompacts at 37 mpg highway.

Here are the models, along with their EPA-estimated highway fuel economy:

Chevrolet: Aveo sedan, Aveo5 (34 mpg with automatic or manual); Cobalt coupe and sedan (30 mpg for SS Turbocharged; 33 mpg for 2.2L automatic); Cobalt XFE (37); Malibu 2.4L (30 mpg with four-speed automatic; 33 mpg with six-speed); Malibu Hybrid (34), HHR (30 mpg with 2.2L and automatic or manual) and HHR Panel (30 mpg with 2.2L and automatic or manual).

Pontiac: G5 (33 mpg automatic, 35 mpg manual); G5 GT (32 mpg automatic, 35 mpg manual), G5 XFE coupe (37); G6 2.4L sedan (30 mpg with four-speed automatic, 33 mpg with six-speed); Vibe (1.8L model, 31 with automatic, 32 mpg with manual).

Saturn: Astra 5-Door; Astra 3-Door (all 30 mpg with automatic, 32 with manual); Aura four-cylinder (33); Aura Hybrid (34); and Vue Hybrid (32).

Australian Toyota Supplier for Hybrid Cars on the Brink of Collapse

A CAR component manufacturer with a contract to supply parts for the new hybrid Toyota Camry is on the brink of collapse with more than 100 jobs at risk.

Teson Trims, the largest employer in the Victorian town of Euroa, is struggling, and threatens to become another victim of the car industry slowdown.

Strathbogie Shire Council Mayor Gregory Carlson said yesterday he expected the future of the company, a car interior manufacturer, to be resolved by early next week.

“We’ll find out what the facts are when we meet with the company on Monday,” he said. “But you have got to be upfront. The prospects look rather dim. We all know about the car components industry. It has not been a font of good news for some time.”

Mr Carlson said closure of Teson Trims would have a potentially devastating impact on the town, which has a population of 3300. He said the number of workers employed by the company ranged between 70 and 150 at peak periods. “The cost (to Euroa) would be equivalent to a regional centre losing thousands of jobs,” he said.

It is believed negotiations have been held about appointing an administrator to the company in a bid to have it trade its way out of the predicament.

The company declined to comment, but the National Union of Workers called on Teson’s major customers to work to save Teson, which has operated in Euroa since the early 1970s.

Antony Thow, the union’s Victorian secretary, said: “We are hopeful that the business can trade out of its current situation. We’re asking major customers to support a great Australian company that’s been in Euroa for decades.”

Victorian Industry Minister Theo Theophanous said he understood Teson was in difficulty and the Government was in discussions with the company.

Meanwhile, hostilities have broken out between Mr Theophanous and unions over the direction of the Government’s manufacturing policy.

Mr Theophanous has criticised Steve Dargavel, the state secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, after the union official said his attempts to provide input into Labor’s overdue manufacturing statement had been rebuffed.

In a letter obtained by the ABC’s Stateline program, Mr Theophanous said Mr Dargavel’s comments, reported in The Australian, were ill-informed.

But union leaders last night appeared on the program attacking Mr Theophanous. Trades Hall Council secretary Brian Boyd said he believed the Government had “missed the boat in terms of protecting the manufacturing industry in general in Victoria and also protecting very important Victorian jobs”.

Michele O’Neil, assistant national secretary of the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union, said former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett had been more outspoken in defending the textile industry than John Brumby or Mr Theophanous. She said it was not good enough that the Government’s Manufacturing Industry Consultative Council had not met for 16 months.