Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/20/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/20/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/20/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/#commentsFiled under: , ,

HYBRID BATTERIES SURPASS ALL EXPECTATIONS

When Toyota's Prius first hit Japanese showrooms in 1997, I was highly skeptical that hybrids would catch on. Not only was the technology really expensive, I thought the nickel-metal hydride batteries would prove to be the Achilles Heel in the system. Sooner or later you'd be facing an expensive replacement bill, right?

Well, here we are more than a decade later and those batteries are proving to be amazingly reliable. Toyota now has sold over 520,000 hybrids in just the American market. Honda has sold over 300,000 worldwide. Ford is just about to break through the 100,000 mark. The only reason they could sell so many hybrids is that the technology is working exactly like it's supposed to, including the batteries.

While these batteries were designed to last 10 years or 150,000 miles, in many cases they're even doing better than that. Ford brags that some Escape hybrid taxis now have anywhere from 200,000 to 300,000 miles on them and are still running strong with the original batteries.

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autolineautoline detroitautoline on autoblogautoline-detroitautolinedetroitautolineonautoblogfeaturedhybrid batteriesHybridBatteriesjohn mcelroyJohnMcelroyFri, 20 Feb 2009 13:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Ironic legislation: CARB ruling to kill aftermarket plug-in hybrids?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/ironic-legislation-carb-ruling-to-kill-aftermarket-plug-in-hybr/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/ironic-legislation-carb-ruling-to-kill-aftermarket-plug-in-hybr/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/ironic-legislation-carb-ruling-to-kill-aftermarket-plug-in-hybr/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The uncertain future of the alternative-powered and alternative-fueled vehicle is being decided by a confluence of old and new technology, big business and start-ups, marketing, vested interests, and public perception. It is no surprise, then, that when it comes to government regulation, we are bound to end up with some conflicting decisions. A company in California that converts regular hybrids to plug-in hybrids has found itself smack in the middle of one of those conflicts.

Last year, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) cut its mandated amount of electric vehicle sales in California by 70%. Some thought that might leave an exploitable opening for plug-in hybrids to gain serious market share. A number of start-ups have been established that install additional batteries into cars like the Toyota Prius, rendering them all electric below 34 mph, and allowing them to be recharged in 4 hours from a standard 3-prong outlet. The retrofit turns the 40+ mpg Prius into a 100+ mpg dromedary.

A new CARB proposal would require those start-ups to put their cars through smog tests that run about $25,000 per car, and to warranty their conversions for 10 years or 150,000 miles. The smog test issue has to do with a pollutant buildup issue in the catalytic converter and the gas vapor canister on cars that do a lot of cold starts and that might not use their internal combustion engines for more than three days. The warranty terms are the same as those mandated for any company that sells hybrids in California.

The start-ups say the pollutant issue has already been tested and solved by battery provider A123 systems, and it was approved in Massachusetts, a state that follows the same emissions standards as California. As for the warranty, the start-ups say they aren't altering the Prius, they are adding aftermarket batteries, so it doesn't make sense to force them to match the Prius' warranty. Besides that, the batteries they install are not expected to last ten years, so the warranty would be pointless anyway. The new regulations are expected to come into force next week anyway. Hat tip to reader Daniel

[Source: East Bay Express]

Ironic legislation: CARB ruling to kill aftermarket plug-in hybrids? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3prong power3prongPowera123 systemsA123Systemsalternativecaliforniacalifornia air resources boardCaliforniaAirResourcesBoardcarbgovernmentgreenhybridhybrid batteriesHybridBatterieslegalpriusregulationtechTue, 20 Jan 2009 19:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota to build hybrid batteries in North America]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/08/toyota-to-build-hybrid-batteries-in-north-america/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/08/toyota-to-build-hybrid-batteries-in-north-america/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/08/toyota-to-build-hybrid-batteries-in-north-america/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Even with the $5,000 difference between the Prius and non-hybrid Toyotas, there was a time when Toyota lost money on the car. Even when the car entered the black, and even though they halved the cost of the hybrid system from one generation to the next, Toyota still didn't make the margins on it that they did with their go-to sedans. Yet with plans to start making batteries for the Hybrid Synergy Drive in the U.S., Toyota says it should be able to halve costs again, and bring the next-gen Prius profit to near parity with the Corolla.

Toyota doesn't know where or when it will start building batteries in the States. The company says "it's difficult to make the main parts of batteries outside of Japan," but didn't explain why that was the case. From 2010, the Prius will be manufactured in Toyota's Mississippi plant, however, that doesn't mean the battery plant will be nearby.

Toyota moved up the date to offer the plug-in Priuses to government and fleet operators to the end of 2009. Right now, Toyota says the Prius gets 13 miles on battery power alone. If the plug-in Prius does arrive in a year or so, and with a substantially higher range -- and that is a ginormous "if" -- then it has a chance of upstaging the Chevy Volt, which appears to be what Toyota is aiming for.

[Source: Automotive News, sub req'd]

Toyota to build hybrid batteries in North America originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterieshybrid batteriesHybridBatteriespriusprius batteriesprius batteryPriusBatteriesPriusBatterytoyotatoyota planttoyota plantstoyota priustoyota prius hybridtoyota prius touringToyotaPlantToyotaPlantsToyotaPriusToyotaPriusHybridToyotaPriusTouringMon, 08 Sep 2008 17:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Sen. McCain proposes $300m prize for a better battery]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/23/sen-mccain-proposes-300m-prize-for-a-better-battery/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/23/sen-mccain-proposes-300m-prize-for-a-better-battery/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/23/sen-mccain-proposes-300m-prize-for-a-better-battery/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Petroleum prices are making electric vehicles and engines which run on biofuels look more and more attractive with each passing day. That's why its likely to be a hot topic this election season as each presidential candidate sets out his own unique proposals to ease the country into a new era of lower fuel consumption. Biofuels may be the quickest path to lower petroleum usage, but it's electric vehicles which present the biggest step forward in clean auto technology looking forward.

Both biofuels and battery technology are getting some love from Senator John McCain, who's set to propose a prize of $300 million for the first company who can build a better battery. That's a large sum of money, but it won't be easy to tap considering that the goal is for a battery with "the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars." Oh yeah, and do all that with a seventy-percent reduction in cost. That shouldn't be a problem, right?

[Source: The Detroit News]

Sen. McCain proposes $300m prize for a better battery originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterybattery technologyBatteryTechnologybiofuelbiofuelscar batteryCarBatteryelectric car batteryElectricCarBatteryhybrid batterieshybrid batteryHybridBatteriesHybridBatteryjohn mccainJohnMccainmccainMon, 23 Jun 2008 14:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford's Mark Fields calls plug-in hybrids a "national priority"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/12/fords-mark-fields-calls-plug-in-hybrids-a-national-priority/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/12/fords-mark-fields-calls-plug-in-hybrids-a-national-priority/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/12/fords-mark-fields-calls-plug-in-hybrids-a-national-priority/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In these days of nearly nonexistent profits for every one of Detroit's Big Three automakers, R&D funds must be allocated very carefully. In contrast, Japanese manufacturers such as Toyota and Honda have been earning profits on a yearly basis. Not long ago, a mild spat arose regarding whether or not the Japanese government helped fund the development of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive. Even if they didn't do it in the past, Ford's President of the Americas Mark Fields indicated that they are doing it now at a conference held today in Washington, D.C. by Brookings and Google.org titled Plug-In Electric Vehicles 2008: What Role for Washington?

Fields called on the U.S. government to step up to the plate, mentioning tax breaks and incentives as one option to aid consumers who'd like to purchase these ultimately expensive vehicles one day. On the manufacturing side, Fields suggests that plug-in hybrids should be a "national priority", with Washington needing to allocate funds for research and development. Another area singled out is a domestic supply of batteries, since most of the units used in today's hybrids are being manufactured overseas.

It should be noted that General Motors already has a head start towards PHEVs with its upcoming Chevy Volt. As far as we're aware, the development costs for this vehicle and its batteries has been moving forward without direct assistance from the government. Feel free to read Field's entire speech after the break.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford's Mark Fields calls plug-in hybrids a "national priority"

Ford's Mark Fields calls plug-in hybrids a "national priority" originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteriesfordford hybridFordHybridhybrid batteriesHybridBatteriesphevplug inplug-inplug-in hybridPlug-inHybridpluginpluginsThu, 12 Jun 2008 08:26:00 EST<![CDATA[General Motors plans to purchase Cobasys outright]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/05/general-motors-plans-to-purchase-cobasys-outright/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/05/general-motors-plans-to-purchase-cobasys-outright/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/05/general-motors-plans-to-purchase-cobasys-outright/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Shortly after reports of leaky batteries coming from Cobasys, which greatly slowed the production of GM's mild hybrid vehicles, such as the Saturn Vue and Aura hybrids and Chevy Malibu hybrid, comes a report from Automotive News which suggests that General Motors may just purchase the troubled battery maker outright. That's one way to manage the problem, wouldn't you say? Though GM would own 100-percent of Cobasys, some sort of partnership is said to be in the works, though that other entity remains unknown. Before this announcement, Chevron and Energy Conversion Devices, co-owners of the battery supplier, had been fighting over ownership of the company.

What effect this news may have on GM's future hybrid plans remains unknown. Currently, Cobasys supplies nickel metal hydride batteries to the General. The upcoming Chevy Volt will use the newer lithium ion batteries. Still, General Motors recently showed off a new version of its mild hybrid technology, and therefore may have extended plans for future batteries from Cobasys.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

General Motors plans to purchase Cobasys outright originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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