M&M’s senior vice-president (product development), automotive sector, Arun Jaura revealed that the company is test-piloting Scorpio’s mild-hybrid variant and full-hybrid variant and have plans to launch them early next year. No misgivings that both variants would be priced higher than the existing Scorpio petrol and diesel models.

Just like other hybrids, the full-hybrid version of Scorpio will run on electricity and petrol. In the mild-hybrid version, the engine will have the option of being turned off whenever the car is braking or stopped, however able to revive quickly and cleanly. When the engine is off, accessories can run on electrical power.

Honda Siel Cars India is also offering its premium Civic hybrid in India next year. The cars would be imported as completely built units (CBU). Again, the engine would run on electricity-petrol combination.

Auto-giants like Toyota and Ford are dotty about bringing their models in India. However the speculations are that it can happen only if Government is ready to provide subsidies to hybrid vehicle makers. Arvind Mathew, managing director, Ford India said that the company will continue to monitor market demand in India before they launch any hybrid vehicle.

The Society of Automobile Manufacturers Association India (SIAM) has urged the Government to increase the use of hybrid vehicles. To reduce the cost, the support from the Government could come by cutback in taxes or other alternative fuel vehicles.

The Automakers believe the Government would provide manufacturing support to players for hybrid vehicles and also extend some tax sops if hybrids are imported as CBUs. The Government is also expected to widen its support providing enough CNG, LPG, clean fuels and electric charging stations.

In many countries, hybrid car owners are offered exemptions when they file income-tax. Such initiatives give customers a reason to buy the hybrid making them more aware to the environment.

Courtesy: Economictimes

From its looks any one will interpret Toyotas newest of hybrids as another one of those boxy looking things which comes with tyres attached, one of those of which the market looks fed up with from the past some time.

But, once you take a peak deeper into the box, you will see that Toyota has came up with pretty new innovations, which have been put inside to please the youth around.

The new Hi-CT Plug-in hybrid comes with a drivetrain of 1.5L engine accompanied with an electric motor deriving its power from a lithium-ion battery.

The whole arrangement is hidden underneath the floor which helps to make the most of the interior space and also enhances the dynamics with a low center of gravity.

The car comes with a detachable trunk and a deck which offers lots of space for keeping equipment like bicycles, surfboats and the like.

This made for two can unquestionably be a concept for a bigger car for a jam-packed urban area. All that remains merely an idea, until Toyota formally announces that this one will be making it to the production lineup or not.

[Source: MotorAuthority]

Japanese automaker Toyota is fanatical to fortify its hybrid Prius sales not just for the fame but is marking a milestone by launching a new ’standard’ version of its gas-electric hybrid for 2008 model year.

The new-fangled model would cost around $20,950, exclusive of destination charges. This is by the way $1,225 cheaper compared to the lowest-cost 2007 model. However the customers would be able to choose from a listing of equipments to get installed on this version which is standard on the existing variants.

Bill Kwong, a spokesman for Toyota Motor Sales USA cited in a statement on the need to launch this cheaper Prius:

We’re just trying to make it available for everybody.

The budge by Toyota has an endorsement by the market analysts. According to them, this is not exactly a move by the company to boost the sales of the car as it is immensely popular in the market.

[Via:Techwhack]

[Image:Toyota]

With a capability of running 100km on electric power, Volvo believes owners of the ReCharge would rarely have to go to a filling station. Batteries of the Concept can be recharged through a standard electric outlet, and the batteries are powerful enough to light up an entire villa if the owner should need a backup!

The driver has independence to choose the source of power; he may select to drive on the batteries or the Flexifuel engine. Top speed of the concept stands at 160kmph and it takes 9 seconds to reach 100kmph from a standing start.

Tyres for ReCharge have been specially designed by Michelin to accommodate the wheel motors. With motors for every wheel, ReCharge does not need conventional transmission systems because there is no need for a gear lever. This in turn translates into lower friction and increased efficiency.

[Courtesy: Volvo]

This one has been in the rumor mill for long and has finally made its way out of the mill, with a badge saying ‘its true’. Prius is on its way to become a brand for Toyota. Toyota envisages the Prius marque to span an entire lineup of hybrid vehicles, with a distinctive styling that will yell loudly about the vehicles’ green credentials.

The new brand is likely to see an entry into dealerships by 2010. Speculations say three models, currently dubbed the Prius ‘A’, Prius B and Prius C will come with the launch of the brand.

Prius may be among the top selling hybrids yet, but with all automakers gearing for a push into this segment, with new and innovative technologies, the new brand may find itself in dire straits. Moreover, with the ‘hybrid option’ getting common across vehicle lineups, a separate marque for hybrids may not be a feasible idea.

Flipping to the other side of the coin, the marque gets a head start from the Prius name and image. Moreover, as hybrids become ubiquitous, a separate and specialized brand will be in a position to handle things better.

Speculators don’t see great merit in creating a Prius brand, but with Toyota’s capability to manufacture vehicles in a short development time, they may just pull this one through. The scenario would have been much better if Toyota had not been on a vehicle recall spree in the past months, putting a question mark on the reliability and quality of its vehicles.

[Via: Topspeed]

The Vue hybrid is 27% more fuel friendly than the non-hybrid version and is capable of running 585 miles on the highway on a single tank full of gasoline. Priced at $24,795, it is also pretty affordable. This SUV surely breaks the ‘gas guzzler’ image of the SUVs. If only there could be more SUVs like the Vue hybrid!

[Courtesy: GM]

Bricklin says his Visionary Vehicles operation retains 26 of the original 28 dealer partners as investors. Announcement for a $50 million capital would be made by the end of this month. He says he is in conversation with his Chinese partners but hopes that his hybrid is manufactured in USA. He hopes that he might get one of the recently closed factories for free from the domestic manufacturers; this will also fall in place with his low-cost production goals.

[Via: Autoweek]

This car can cover 250 miles in a full recharge. It can be recharged from a socket, and it takes only 10 minutes for a full recharge. Sounds amazing! Lightning is powered by rechargeable nine-inch high batteries that developers say will last for nearly 12 years.

Power comes from four electric motors mounted in each of the hubs of the 20-inch wheels. All motors are of the ‘Hi-Pa Drive’ units developed by UK firm PML Flightlink Ltd. This car has no gears and this saves the time because electric power is instantaneously delivered, the secret to high acceleration of this car.

Batteries are recharged during the drive in the conventional way, by capturing the lost friction energy whenever brakes are applied. Structure of this car is an aluminium honeycomb, which is both lightweight and strong. Traction control, electric doors and windows, and high-powered halogen headlamps are standard.

The buyer has a choice with the interiors and can opt for an all leather or leather and alcantara interior. A two-piece removable hardtop is also included.

Design of this car, however, cannot be called original. It reminds one of Jaguar, Aston Martin and TVR styling. The car has been developed by England based Lightning Car Company.

Lightning will be track tested later this year. This high performance plug-in will cost a whopping £150,000 but its clean credentials means that it will not be liable for road tax and London congestion tax in UK.

It is good to see cars based on alternative ‘fuel’ perform so well. Lightning could give the thrust plug-in electric cars have been waiting for.

[Via: Dailymail]

The company has made this move to alleviate fears of energy companies that if they came up with such a fuel, there wouldn’t be any engines to run. Leif Johansson added:

We are not very far from there today. There have been two concerns from the fuel industry. One has been that there won’t be any vehicles ready if they develop these fuels. We have tried to address that worry today.

[Via: Reuters]

Toyota had to take this decision due to potential safety problems with its Lithium-ion cells. Panasonic EV Energy had provided the Li-ion batteries for Toyota; the same company also provides Nickel Metal Hydride batteries for the current range of Toyota hybrids. The material used in Toyota’s Lithium ion batteries provides more power but is thermally unstable and there was a lurking danger of fire or even explosion in these batteries.

It was speculated that the Prius running on Li-ion batteries would give an impressive fuel economy of 70mpg. As of now, the next Prius will run on conventional NiMH batteries, the Lithium powered Prius is expected to make a debut in 2011, when the Prius Wagon is launched. This delay has also pushed back the launch of hybrid versions of Tundra and Sequoia.

The delay in launch of Li-ion batteries from Toyota may give an opportunity to GM. GM has been targeted for having poor hybrid technology. GM is working on its own range of Li-ion battery powered hybrids, scheduled for launch in 2009 with the Saturn Vue Green Line plug-in hybrid and the Chevrolet Volt, which is scheduled for a 2010 launch.

[Image]
[Via: Greencarcongress]