News on hybrid vehicles, fuel cell cars, and the future of automobiles

If yes, are other companies that manufacture SUVs with a 3rd row seat planning to launch a hybrid anytime soon??? Thanks.

No, their is the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, Chrysler Aspen, Dodge Durango, Chevy Tahoe (GMC Yukon) Hybrids all with 3rd row seating.

can you explain the steps in solving this. thanks

Convert 25.0 gallons to liters
25.0*3.785 = 94.64 L
Then multiply:
13.9 km/L * 94.64 L = 1315.5 km
Then convert km to miles
1315.5*0.621 = 816.93 miles

I was thinking about buying a hybrid (gas + elec.) but what I really want is a zero carbon emmission vehicle. What is taking the manufacturing industry so long to have them available to the public? How soon can we get truely green vehicles on the roads? Is this killing you like it is on me?

Just remember that there are various types of emissions from vehicles, besides just CO2.

You can buy several types of vehicles that are already rated as PZEV (partial zero emission vehicles), in that they meet the CA SULEV (super ultra low emission vehicle) emission standards, have no evaporative emissions (no hydrocarbons escape from the vehicle while it is sitting stationary/off), and a long emissions warranty. Most, but not all, hybrids are PZEV, and there are many traditional gasoline only cars that also meet this low emission standard, besides some CNG and other alternative fueled vehicles.

http://www.driveclean.ca.gov/en/gv/home/index.asp

Assuming that you are currently driving a vehicle, you might as well "upgrade" it to be the cleanest vehicle that you can find that meets your needs. You’ll put out that much less emissions while waiting for your ultimate perfect vehicle.

http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicle/

NONE of the currently commercially available hybrids have the ability to plug into an electrical outlet. The only source of power is conventional gasoline. The gasoline engine provides power to the hybrid battery through one of the electric motors acting as a generator. Some of the lost kinetic energy in braking is recaptured through regenerative braking (wheels spin a generator, slowing down the vehicle), which also reduces wear on the conventional brake pads.

There are no commercially-available plug-in hybrids on the market so far, unfortunately. Some hobbiests and aftermarket companies have been altering a few hybrids (Prius, Ford Escape Hybrid/Mercury Mariner Hybrid) to make them plug-in capable. Typically this requires adding additional hybrid batteries, besides the ability to charge off the mains.
For more information, check out http://www.calcars.org/vehicles.html
(I’ll note that some of the manufacturers are looking into having a plug-in hybrid available in the future (2010 or so), such as the Toyota Prius and the Chevy Volt.)

For cost reasons, unless you are a fleet owner or other high-mileage driver it probably will not be worth the cost of the PHEV conversion for you. (When the hybrid battery pack is depleted to a certain point the vehicle reverts back to its original hybrid self and runs on a combination of the gasoline engine (which will also recharge the battery) and the electric motor. A PHEV would add a greater all-electric range to the existing hybrid, besides the ability (but not the requirement!) to plug it into an electric source.

Depending on the source for electricity in your area, a BEV (battery electric vehicle) may or may not put out more greenhouse gas emissions than a 55MPG HEV (hybrid electric vehicle). Mainly, if the primary source for electricity in your area is coal, your HEV is cleaner than a BEV running on coal-powered electricity. However, if your electricity source is natural gas, the BEV is usually cleaner than the HEV (depending on the method used for natural gas->electricity conversion), and it gets even better for the BEV if you are using a hydroelectric or other renewable electric source. In comparisons with a generic 17MPG SUV, an average 26MPG vehicle, and a high-efficiency 38MPG vehicle, the 38MPG vehicle still will beat the coal-powered BEV, but isn’t as clean as the HEV (and gas and renewables powered BEVs are much better than the 38MPG vehicle).
see: "Battery-Powered Electric and Hybrid Electric Vehicle Projects to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Resource Guide for Project Development," July 2002

http://www.netl.doe.gov/products/ccps/pubs/resguide.pdf

http://www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/international/pdfs/hev_ev_ghgreductions.pdf

mainly section 4.3

(and that’s besides the arguements that it’s easier to manage emissions from a handful of electric plants, as opposed to millions of independently-owned cars… typically, electric charging rates (especially the off-peak charging times which would use otherwise lost power and level the loads) are still cheaper than petroleum rates, too. Of course, there are still emissions to worry about other than just greenhouse gas emissions, too.)

and yes, about 50% of the US’ electric energy generation is from coal, but for your local power outlet depends on your power company and the local mix: http://www.eia.doe.gov/fuelelectric.html

And, of course, there’s some emissions created when the vehicle is produced, as well… Electric vehicles may have better or worse carbon emissions, depending on your electric source. Hydrogen vehicles usually have worse carbon emissions when taking into account the energy expenditure to make the hydrogen. Ethanol, depending on the source plant material, may take more energy to make than recouped when used as fuel, too…

Heck, even if you just decided to walk (so no added emissions or material use to provide you with a transportation device), you still have to get your energy by eating (vegetarian is more fuel efficient than animal/meat products, BTW), and then there’s your own emissions to deal with…

Help me decide which hybrid car I should get (including if there’s another one you think is better).

Ok…if you dont have kid you can buy the Lexus GS 450h or RX400h for the Lexus…If for toyota you can buy the new Camry V6 or Prius…I m sure you want a better design than the Prius…..If you have kids, go buy the GS 450h(only when you dont go for a camp) or else go buy the RX400h……But with due to weather this century, go buy the Lexus RX 400h Hi-Spec…..Thanx for Reading

I am planning to buy the new Mighty Muscular Scorpio with Micro Hybrid Technology. I want to know the details of Micro Hybrid Technology installed in Scorpio. I would like to know the type of system, its life cycle, technical specifications, working procedure and problems if any.

Ok looks like the micro-hybrid is the normal scorpio with the mHawk engine, which switches off the engine after a preset amount of time. On pressing the clutch pedal the engine restarts and this process conserves fuel at idling time.
I’ve heard that the battery for this system is a special once and will last 100,000 kms or 2yrs minimum. Apart from some extra electronics added on the car has remained the same.

The technical specs are yet to be revealed for this start and stop system apart from that the SUV’s pretty much the same. The only problem was that in really slow start and stop traffic if we switch on the AC for some comfort, the engine’s still going to switch off after a while.

If you want the real hybrid then go for the scorpio hydro-electric(HEV). Now that is actually a hybrid heard that the Govt. will introduce benefits for the hydro-electric model.