Hybrid News | Hybrid Automotive Technologies

Apr 18 2017 by rbrown

10 Most Eco-Friendly Cars for Earth Day 2017

Just ahead of Earth Day this year, Kelley Blue Book has named its top picks of eco-friendly cars costing less than $40,000.
Here is the list of the top 10 hybrid vehicles:

2017 Toyota Prius: $25,570
2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid: $23,035
2017 Honda Accord Hybrid: $30,480
2017 Kia Niro: $23,785
2017 Kia Optima Hybrid: $26,890
2017 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: $26,835
2017 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid: $29,990
2017 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid: $28,750
2017 Toyota Camry Hybrid: $27,675
2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid: $37,230

Apr 12 2017 by rbrown

Honda Clarity plug-in hybrid introduced at NY Auto Show

GreenCarCongress reports that Honda has high hopes for the new Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, Clarity Electric and Clarity Fuel Cell. The automaker hopes to sell 75,000 Clarity vehicles in U.S. during the model’s first four years as part of its plan to have two-thirds of its global automobile sales come from electrified vehicles by 2030.

The 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, available at US dealerships later this year, is expected to have an all-electric range of 42 miles and an EPA fuel economy rating of 105 MPGe combined.

Apr 10 2017 by rbrown

New Ford police is car is green — and fast

Bloomberg says that Ford Motor Co. has found a way for cops to chase down bad guys in a speeding police cruiser while helping the environment at the same time.

Ford’s new Police Responder hybrid sedan, a modified Fusion, is the first gasoline-electric cop car to be “pursuit-rated,” meaning it can race through city streets while navigating crowded intersections or hopping curbs.

The cruiser will average 38 miles per gallon combined, more than twice what the current Police Interceptor model gets with a 3.7-liter V-6 engine. Ford calculates fuel savings of $3,877 per car annually. For big-city police forces that can have more than 1,000 cruisers in their fleet, that can translate to yearly savings approaching $4 million.

Apr 10 2017 by rbrown

Ford introduces hybrid police car

police-responder-hybrid-sedan-8 Ford has introduced an industry-first hybrid-electric police car that with a top speed of “well over 100 mph.”

WardsAuto reports that the Ford Police Responder Hybrid, a beefed-up Fusion hybrid midsize sedan, could reduce per-vehicle fleet fuel costs by $3,900 a year “while still going after the bad guys.” In a high-speed pursuit, the car automatically switches to maximum performance, with the engine and battery working at peak acceleration levels.

Ford plans to introduce a second hybrid police vehicle soon. The latest hybrid is part of a $4.5 billion Ford investment that will spawn 13 electrified vehicles over the next five years.

Apr 07 2017 by rbrown

Review: 2017 Cadillac CT6 Plug-In Hybrid

Automobile magazine took the 2017 Cadillac CT6 Plug-In Hybrid for a test drive and came away impressed. The review noted that the drive was exceptionally quiet and smooth.

However, the magazine noted that “full-size plug-in hybrid luxury sedans are a peculiar breed” that don’t make much sense given their hefty cost. The 2017 Cadillac CT6 Plug-In Hybrid costs $75,095.

Apr 06 2017 by rbrown

Green Patent Blog shines spotlight on Paice vs. Ford

Eric Lane with Green Patent Blog has put posted a summary of recent activity involving Paice, including the company’s patent infringement complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission.

“Paice alleges that Ford’s hybrid vehicle powertrains and components in the Fusion Hybrid, Fusion Plug-in Hybrid, and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid infringe one or more claims of each of the patents,” Lane writes. He notes that Paice and Ford have been involved in hybrid vehicle patent litigation in the past and Ford has filed challenges with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The article also recaps Paice’s confidential settlement with Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche.

Apr 05 2017 by rbrown

Knapheide to install XL-Hybrids plug-in hybrid system on F-150

The Knapheide Manufacturing Company will start installing XL Hybrids’ XLP plug-in hybrid electric upfits on Ford F-150 half-ton pickup trucks later this year.

Apr 05 2017 by rbrown

Ford Fusion Hybrid outsells the Toyota Prius… again

HybridCars.com reports that the Ford Fusion Hybrid has outsold the Toyota Prius twice in the past three months. It is the only two times the Prius has been outsold by another hybrid in the U.S.

In March 2017, the Ford Fusion Hybrid narrowly edged out the Toyota with 5,865 sales for the Fusion to 5,798 for the Prius. A year earlier, buyer chose the Toyota Prius nearly four times as often as the Fusion Hybrid.

Apr 04 2017 by rbrown

Review: Acura MDX Sport Hybrid

2017-Acura-MDX-Hybrid-Review - 2 copy Carscoops.com recently gave rave reviews to the 2017 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid ($52,935) which is expected to start hitting U.S. showrooms later this month. The MDX hybrid offers an estimated 26 mpg city and 27 highway.

The review notes that the vehicle’s increased efficiency is combined with a boost in performance to offer thrills from the driver’s seat.

Apr 03 2017 by rbrown

2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid arrives soon

Cars.com reports that the new Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid will begin arriving at US dealerships in late April. It will be the only plug-in hybrid minivan available on the market.