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

I like the Toyota Highlander hybrid with the 3rd row seat; can’t afford an Escalade hybrid. Other thoughts on hybrid suvs with a 3rd row seat?

Not that I’ve heard of. I think Honda is looking into diesels for their larger SUVs/truck, but not Hybrids. Your options are somewhat limited for hybrid suvs with 3rd row seats. If it was me, I’d get the Toyota.

If you read the MPG for the SUVs they suck!!!!

There are certain people who really NEED an SUV; whether it’s for hauling soccer balls or bringing home groceries, there are people who really need those things. And SUV buyers tend to be environmentally conscious suburbanites, so they feel the lower gas consumption can’t hurt.

if not, point out the inaccuracy…….

hybrids cost a little more than the average car, so do SUV’s

the difference is why consumers have chosen one or the other-

hybrid owners choose to spend the extra money in an effort to reduce emissions and gas consumption, hoping the savings on gas will in the long run help to pay for the extra cost.

SUV owners spend more on the vehicle, and they pay more for gas. im not against SUVs, some people need them. those who live in cold climates or have jobs that require 4 wheel drive, but the vast majority of them never leave dry pavement. that vast majority are paying more and using more……for what?…..safety? sure, but their own safety comes at the expense of other vehicles. by driving larger vehicles that sit higher up, they put others at risk.

so it boils down to spending more, and then getting in return lower emissions, and lower gas consumption or safefy at the expense of others.

how is this not accurate?

Emission laws have been softened by the Republican party that believes not in Global Warming to protect their right to drive SUV’s. I think that is a sign of selfishness myself with no concern to to our planets ecology and environment.

I like the idea of big cars morphing into fuel conserving, green hybrids. I’m looking forward to when more SUV’s like the Chevy Tahoe come to the marketplace.

Do you know of any more large SUV hybrids that we will be able to buy soon?

Escalade

CHECK OUT THE X6 HYBRID SPY ARTICLE:

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/GeneralFuture/articleId=129486?tid=edmunds.il.futurelanding.latestnews..4.*

First shown as a concept at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show, the 2010 BMW X6 Hybrid is now headed for production. Far from a fuel-sipping economy car, this gasoline-electric hybrid is designed to take the edge off fuel costs without giving up much in the way of SUV practicality or performance.

Prototypes spotted in Death Valley reveal few significant styling changes from the recently introduced X6 other than an obvious bulge in the hood. Subsequent photos show a maze of electrical connections beneath the protruding sheet metal. All the extra hardware is necessary to control what’s expected to be a two-mode hybrid system similar to what’s found in GM’s current Tahoe and Escalade hybrid suvs. BMW partnered with GM and Daimler in the development of the system.

The two-mode system essentially combines electric motors with a sophisticated automatic transmission and traditional gasoline engine. It is able to provide pure electric power like a Prius, but most of the time it’s a mix of both gasoline and electric power. A fuel mileage improvement of around 10-15 percent is about all you can expect given the added weight of the hybrid system’s batteries combined with the X6’s already substantial curb weight.

With full production of the V8-powered X6 just now starting to ramp up to full speed, the introduction of the 2010 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid (as BMW calls it) is probably at least a year away. Expect a substantial price bump, one that could put this hybrid BMW’s base price in the $70,000 range. So much for saving money on gas.

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Since Tesla is coming out with a sedan in a few years to follow up its sports car, it makes sense to follow this route to what so many Americans want to buy.

Similarly, a full electric version seems to make more sense even than the hybrids that GM, Dodge, etc. are going to put out (much greater efficiency) and there is plenty of capacity for the battery packs required.

Doesn’t that seem a logical step for the majority?

(I am not counting high mileage delivery vehicles or those who actually go to the backwoods here)
I did specifically exclude those who take their SUVs long distance (most people don’t tow boats to Florida).

Also, anyone who understands much about Tesla knows they’re not underpowered (though a moderately larger motor would be called for, it would still be much smaller than a conventional engine. This leaves plenty of room for batteries to take it a few hundred miles). Max torque available a 0 RPM – not one conventional truck engine can match that.

Since these auto companies currently make cars with internal combustion engines, the logical next step is to make gas-electric hybrids. Then the next step is to make a plug-in hybrid like the Chevy Volt (and soon after Toyota will make a plug-in version of the Prius). The Volt will be able to go 40 miles purely on electric power before supplementing it with an internal combustion engine.

Eventually the next step for the auto companies will be to build purely electric vehicles. Smaller companies like Tesla as you mentioned and also ZAP and Phoenix Motorcars are able to produce electric vehicles because that’s where they’ve focused their research and development. The big auto companies are on their way with hybrids, and eventually I think they’ll get to electric vehicles.