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As we've noted before, so-called sudden acceleration is a confusing, messy, and very uncertain subject. Now a certain San Diego citizen seems to be caught in the cross-hairs of media scrutiny over what is and isn't technically possible in a Toyota Prius--let alone smart to do--if the driver claims the car is accelerating out of control. Welcome to the strange saga of Mr. Sikes and his Seemingly Suddenly Accelerating Prius. Media frenzy There's been more media coverage of the Sikes case than we could possibly do justice to. But in one sentence: There seems to be a growing possibility that Jim...
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Green-Car Tip: Hybrid Vehicles Get Discounts, Incentives TooWhile the auto industry in general offers an average incentive of more than $1,000 off the sticker price of any new vehicle, many buyers somehow assume this doesn't apply to hybrids. Oh, but it does. You can get money off pretty much any hybrid out there at the moment, since gasoline prices are far...
John Voelcker -
2010 Toyota Prius Reigns As Japan Sales Champ Despite RecallsUnlike some of its Toyota brethren, the 2010 Prius hybrid was never pulled off sale due to recalls. But U.S. sales fell 6.1% in February anyway, against the previous month, though they rose versus February 2009, when the new 2010 model hadn't yet hit dealers. Currently, the 2010 Prius is the...
John Voelcker -
GM Planning Engineless All-Electric Cars To Follow the VoltBob Lutz, the retiring eminence grise of General Motors, is known for pithiness and plain speaking. Yesterday, he tossed off a nugget of news: GM is working on a range of pure electric cars, without range-extending engines, that will follow the 2011 Chevrolet Volt--most likely a few years hence...
John Voelcker -
Clunkers Program Worked, Didn't Hurt Car Sales, Study SaysA new study concludes that last summer's government-funded "Cash For Clunkers" program didn't hurt car sales rates in future months, and in fact did just what it set out to do: get old, low-mileage cars off the road and stimulate auto sales in the U.S. An analysis by Maritz Research refutes one of...
John Voelcker -
Too Many Lithium Batteries and Battery Makers By 2014?On numerous occasions in the recent past, reports have stated that lithium-ion and batteries made with this material would be in short supply for the near future. The reasoning behind the shortage is simple, battery makers simply don't have the capacity right now to churn out these batteries at a...
Eric Loveday -
We're eagerly waiting to get our hands on a 2011 Honda CR-Z for a test drive. The two-seat coupe, Honda's latest dedicated hybrid, is the spiritual successor to the 1983-1991 Honda Civic CRX, and we're devoutly hoping it's as fun to drive as its predecessor. The performance numbers aren't particularly stellar, with acceleration from 0 to 60 mph quoted at 9.7 seconds, and projected fuel economy ratings of 36 mpg city, 38 mpg highway when fitted with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). But small cars that aren't very fast can still be major fun to drive. If Honda can duplicate the CRX's...
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GM Plug-In Hybrid Program Underway, Vehicle Still UnconfirmedRecent spy shots posted by our sister site Motor Authority show that despite delays, General Motors is continuing to develop the plug-in version of its Two-Mode Hybrid system. While the system is being tested in a discontinued Saturn Vue crossover, it now seems likely to appear in a version of...
John Voelcker -
Is Radiation From Hybrid Vehicles Cause for Concern?Could hybrid cars actually be dangerous to drivers? It seems like an unfounded question. How could hybrids actually hurt their occupants? A study conducted by a research committee funded by the Environmental Protection group of Israel suggests that hybrid could actually be harmful to the...
Eric Loveday -
2004-2009 Toyota Prius Recall Will Reshape Accelerator PedalOwners of Toyota's iconic Prius hybrid model who thought they'd escaped the rash of Toyota recalls need to think again. The company is working on a fix to reshape accelerator pedals so that they cannot be trapped by floor mats, and will issue details within weeks. The upcoming recall took center...
John Voelcker -
Update: BMW To Release More Than 200 Active E Protoypes Here In U.S., At Least 450 ComingWord circulated around the car blogs a few days ago about the upcoming release of the next in line BMW ActiveE prototype electric vehicle. Many reports, including our own, incorrectly stated the amount of ActiveE prototypes coming here to the states. BMW has responded with a press release...
Eric Loveday -
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid Continues Conquest CampaignJust yesterday, we reported on Ford's first-ever 300 hp/30 mpg ratings for the 2011 Mustang. The company has vowed to achieve best-in-class fuel economy numbers for every new model it launches. Certainly the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid clears that bar, trouncing any other mid-size sedan with an EPA...
John Voelcker -
The Nissan Leaf is coming this fall and is perhaps one of the most highly anticipated vehicles in decades. With it's release, Nissan dealers will be faced with a newfound challenge. How do you sell an electric vehicle? EVs are unchartered waters for the company and for dealers nationwide. So how do you prepare to sell a vehicle that is entirely different than anything else in the automakers lineup? A report coming in from Automotive News suggests that Nissan dealers may not be prepared for the sale of this vehicle. The Automotive News quotes a source who attended the Auto Dealers...
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2011 Ford Mustang V-6 With 305 HP Rated At 31 MPG HighwayFord's on a roll lately, selling more cars in the U.S. than General Motors last month. And it's vowed to achieve best-in-class fuel economy numbers for every new model it launches. So the news today that its revised 2011 Ford Mustang with the 3.7-liter V-6 engine has been rated at 19 mpg city, 31...
John Voelcker -
Planar Energy Displays Breakthrough Battery Technology, Fully Tested By UCF ResearchersFrom time to time we here about breakthroughs or potential breakthroughs in battery technology for electric vehicles. Some breakthroughs become a reality such as large format lithium-ion technology, where as other possible breakthroughs never see the light of day. A company called Planar Energy...
Eric Loveday -
2010 Geneva Motor Show: Green Car Concepts RoundupYesterday we covered the new green production cars at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, now underway in snowy Switzerland. Today, we get to cover the cooler, sexier side of the show: concept cars! So, here's our roundup of notable green and advanced-technology concept cars at Geneva. Audi A1 e-tron...
John Voelcker -
Volkswagen Will Dominate the World of Electric Cars. Got That?Maybe it's just the translation. But auto writers often chuckle at announcements from German manufacturers that come across as just a touch bombastic. Latest case in point: Volkswagen's long-term plans for vehicle electrification, released at the Geneva Motor Show this week. Key excerpt...
John Voelcker -
Nissan Leaf Slammed By Forbes, Destined For Failure?On this site, general consensus shows that many readers do like the Nissan Leaf. By most accounts, readers feel that the vehicle will be priced well, offer adequate performance, and be a sales success. However, this is a site dedicated to electric vehicle and as such, our readers have developed...
Eric Loveday -
No, sadly, we're not at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, underway this week in Switzerland. But we've been keeping close tabs on the introductions via our colleagues throughout the High Gear Media network. Here's our list of the green cars shown at Geneva that are headed for production. Most of them (except where noted) are headed for the U.S. market. We'll follow up with a similar roundup of the greenest concept cars from Geneva. 2012 Audi A8 Hybrid While its various e-tron electric concepts got more attention at Geneva, Audi's first production hybrid vehicle also debuted. The 2012 Audi A8...
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Geneva Motor Show Preview: 2012 Ford Focus Station WagonThe 2012 Ford Focus four-door sedan and five-door hatchback were probably the most important cars unveiled at January's Detroit Auto Show. And Ford has many more compact vehicles to come, one of which is this striking Ford Focus station wagon, which will be shown at this week's Geneva Motor Show...
John Voelcker -
Geneva Motor Show Preview: 2011 Fisker Karma Space FrameWhile no journalist has yet driven a 2011 Fisker Karma with just nine months left before launch, the company will show the plug-in extended-range electric luxury sports sedan's aluminum space frame at this week's Geneva Motor Show. Designed to distribute elements of the car's plug-in hybrid...
John Voelcker -
Smart Partners With Renault-Nissan For Next Gen ForTwo, Upcoming EV, and MoreThe Smart brand with its eye catching ForTwo had strong sales numbers for awhile, but the cute appeal appears to have worn off and the brand is searching for sales now. What the brand needs is a replacement minicar, one that outdoes the current one. In the small car class there few better to...
Eric Loveday -
Volvo C30 EV Not Coming to U.S.After all of the talk, and hype, and auto show appearances, Volvo has decided to pull the plug on the electric C30, at least here in the states. It's yet another case of a potentially great car that we won't see on this side of the pond. Volvo has officially announced that the electric C30 will...
Eric Loveday -
2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid: First Details of 28-MPG CrossoverAfter more than three years, Porsche has taken the wraps off its first-ever hybrid-electric vehicle, the 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid. It's one of several models in a totally redesigned version of its controversial but profitable crossover. But if any brand should have a hybrid, it's Porsche. The...
John Voelcker