Archive for October, 2008
Ford's SmartGauge lets you view a variety of fuel economy information.
(Credit: Ford)
Earlier we reported on the 2010 Ford Fusion, with photos of the model update. Today we have news of the hybrid version of the Fusion and the 2010 Mercury Milan, due to hit dealers in the first quarter of 2009. Both cars get a new generation of the full hybrid system currently used in the Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid. Ford isn’t giving out many details about this new hybrid system beyond the fact that it will get 5 mpg more than the Toyota Camry Hybrid. However, Ford has shown off the instrument cluster for the cars, a new concept in helping driver’s learn about their cars and achieve maximum fuel economy.
We’ve long been fascinated by the power flow animations in current hybrid cars, which show when power is coming from the electric motor of gas engine. Ford takes this idea a step further, placing LCDs on either side of the speedometer. Similar to concept cars we’ve seen at many car shows, the LCDs can be configured to show different kinds of information. Ford breaks the different standard displays down like this:
- Inform: Fuel level and battery charge status
- Enlighten: Adds electric vehicle mode indicator and tachometer
- Engage: Adds engine output power and battery output power
- Empower: Adds power to wheels, engine pull-up threshold and accessory power consumption
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Originally posted at The Car Tech blog
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How to best recycle electronics is a problem I’ve had to deal with more than a few times at CNET. I have to be honest, during busy work cycles, the garbage bin has looked very appealing as an easy out when an obsolete laptop or graphics card needs discarding. …
Originally posted at Crave
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The headlong rush to create electric cars for green-minded consumers may come with a significant economic and environmental cost.
Lithium ion batteries–the same used in electronic gadgets and laptops–have become the preferred battery type for plug-in hybrids and electric cars now starting to come to market.
That swelling demand has …
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High-profile electric car company Tesla Motors has a bit of a money problem, but CEO Elon Musk says he has a plan.
In an interview with Reuters on Thursday, Musk said he expects to raise more than million in the next week to bolster its cash reserves and make …
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Filed under: Economy, Hybrids/Alternative, GM, Toyota, Rumormill
Rumors of a meeting between GM CEO Rick Wagoner and top officials from Toyota in Japan has been denied. This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, considering that it’s GM’s policy not to comment on such matters, but Toyota has no such policy and has also denied that such discussions have or will take place. The Japanese Kyodo News had started the rumors, which specifically suggested that Toyota could offer GM hybrid technology and assistance in the assembly of small cars. That seemed rather odd, especially since GM has its own sophisticated Two-Mode hybrid system that was developed along with Chrysler and BMW. Toyota and GM also already share a factory in California that builds relatively fuel efficient compact cars, so any deal between the two automakers would just be an extension of their current agreements. What’s more, General Motors is also in talks with Cerberus to make a major play on Chrysler’s automotive operations, so it would seem to be an inopportune time to discuss major deals with other automakers as well.
[Source: Reuters]
Toyota denies rumors of giving aid to GM originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Green, Ford
Over on AutoblogGreen, our man Sam has published a thorough breakdown of all the new powertrains announced for the 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan. There’s a new 2.5L four-cylinder with more power, a revised 3.0L V6 and Ford is making its 3.5L V6 available in these mid-size sedans for the first time, as well. But the most impressive may be the latest revision of Ford’s hybrid powertrain that will debut in the Fusion Hybrid and Milan Hybrid next year.
Based on the same system in the Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid, the latest version is smaller, lighter, more powerful and less expensive to produce. While it still employs nickel-metal hydride batteries, the number of cells has been reduced but the power output remains the same. The battery pack is now 30 percent smaller in volume than the Escape Hybrid’s pack and weighs 23 percent less, and this one doesn’t need its own AC system to stay cool. The main numbers that everyone wants to know is MPG. Ford expects its new hybrid sedans to achieve 38 mpg in the city, which is 5 mpg better than its most obvious competitor, the Toyota Camry Hybrid. Click here to read Sam’s explanation of what Ford did to improve its hybrid powertrain so much.
[Source: AutoblogGreen]
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid expected to get 38 mpg city originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Economy, Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Toyota, Rumormill
Click above for more images of the 2010 Toyota Prius
An “insider” at LLN has it on good authority that the oft-rumored Prius brand is, in their words, “a go.” According to their source, the goal of the spin-off is to create cheaper hybrid models that would command a marginal premium over their standard, hybrid-free counterparts.
The rumormill pot gets stirred a bit more with the claim that the 2010 Prius could achieve up to 80 mpg. Combine that with the rumblings about a Prius price cut and it’s starting to look like the Volt will have it’s work cut out for it. Informed speculation also says that the reworked Prius may be joined by an upscale five-door Prius model in the -30,000 range and that Toyota could be planning a four-door “Baby Prius” expected to sell in the mid-teens, utilizing a nickel metal hydride battery pack and coming to market in 2013.
[Source: LLN]
Prius rumors abound: Separate brand, 80 mpg, 3 different models originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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