<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><br><div><br><div>Begin forwarded message:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family:'Helvetica'; font-size:medium; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);"><b>From: </b></span><span style="font-family:'Helvetica'; font-size:medium;">"Bradley Berman - <a href="http://HybridCars.com">HybridCars.com</a>" <<a href="mailto:brad@hybridcars.com">brad@hybridcars.com</a>><br></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family:'Helvetica'; font-size:medium; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);"><b>Date: </b></span><span style="font-family:'Helvetica'; font-size:medium;">16 March 2010 6:12:42 AM AEDT<br></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family:'Helvetica'; font-size:medium; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);"><b>To: </b></span><span style="font-family:'Helvetica'; font-size:medium;"><a href="mailto:tony@tony-barry.emu.id.au">tony@tony-barry.emu.id.au</a><br></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family:'Helvetica'; font-size:medium; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);"><b>Subject: </b></span><span style="font-family:'Helvetica'; font-size:medium;"><b>Hybrid Cars Newsletter (056): Balloon-Boy-Prius-Man, Geography and Coda</b><br></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family:'Helvetica'; font-size:medium; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);"><b>Reply-To: </b></span><span style="font-family:'Helvetica'; font-size:medium;"><<a href="mailto:bounce-live-964921012-60615130@ezinedirector.net">bounce-live-964921012-60615130@ezinedirector.net</a>><br></span></div><br>
<div><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> <strong>~~~ Hybrid Cars
Newsletter: Issue No. 0056 ~~~<br>
Moderator: Bradley Berman [brad@hybridcars.com]</strong></font></p><p><strong><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">IN THIS ISSUE:</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Prius Runaway Story
Raises Suspicion</font></strong><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br>
Should Prius drivers be alarmed by the recent story of a man and his runaway Prius in
San Diego. Or is he the latest balloon boy?<br>
<br>
<strong>Toyota Confirms US Launch of Compact Lexus Hybrid</strong><br>
In recent weeks, Toyota officials confirmed that the Lexus CT 200h,
a premium hybrid hatchback, and the RAV4 Hybrid are both coming soon.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>VW Promises to Lead on Hybrids
and Electric Cars</strong><br>
After years of arguing that clean diesel is a better efficiency strategy compared
to hybrids, Volkswagen is aiming to “take the hybrid out of its niche
status.” Audi plug-in hybrids and EVs are also on VW’s roadmap.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>Geography, Oil and
the Coda Electric Car<br>
</strong>Fans of electric vehicles might celebrate Coda’s independent
approach—but that’s being undermined by questions about the manufacturing
origins of the Coda all-electric sedan.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>Honda’s Hybrid
Comeback: Hybrid Minivans and SUVs<br>
</strong>Big is big again. Honda is developing a hybrid system suitable for
larger cars such as the Odyssey minivan the Pilot sports utility vehicle. </font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>BMW Moves Methodically
Toward Electric Cars<br>
</strong>BMW is developing the knowledge and capacity to deliver a small all-electric
car by 2013. The company's next test platform is the ActiveE, an all-electric
version of the 1-series.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>Report: GM Drops
Cadillac Converj to Focus on Cheaper Plug-In Hybrids<br>
</strong>General Motors stopped work on the Cadillac Converj, a sleek electric-drive
coupe, to focus on cheaper plug-in hybrids for its luxury brand. What does that
say about battery cost?</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</strong></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Greetings, Hybrid Car Enthusiasts,<br>
Despite the media hysteria associated with new reports of Prius unintended acceleration,
the auto industry is picking up the pace for production of future hybrids and
electric-drive vehicles. We’ve been tracking the exciting and overwhelming
number of product announcements. Shameless promotion: If you like the service
we’ve been providing, please vote for <a href="http://HybridCars.com">HybridCars.com</a>
as the “Best Transportation Website” in TreeHugger’s “Best
of Green” Awards:</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3594213&s=60615130">http://www.treehugger.com/best-of-green/cars-transportation/index.php</a></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">FYI. You can vote once a
day from now through April 2. Thanks!</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> <strong>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</strong></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>Prius Runaway Story
Raises Suspicion<br>
</strong><a href="http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3594214&s=60615130">http://www.hybridcars.com/news/prius-runaway-story-raises-suspicion-27469.html</a></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">James Sikes, a 61-year-old
San Diego-based real estate executive, made national news last week when he
claimed that his 2008 Toyota Prius sped out of control on California’s
Interstate 8. Sikes said, “I pushed the gas pedal to pass a car and it
did something kind of funny…it jumped and it just stuck there." Speaking
at a news conference, Sikes said, "I was trying the brakes...it
wasn't stopping, it wasn't doing anything and it just kept speeding up."
The story was picked up by major national media and ricocheted around the Internet.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">According to Sikes, he was
unable to shift into neutral, power down the car, or apply the parking brake—but
he did manage to call 911. While Sikes was on the call, which lasted 23 minutes,
a California Highway Patrol officer raced to the side of the speeding car. The
patrolman used a loudspeaker to advise Sikes to apply the parking brake and
foot brake simultaneously, and thereby successfully stopped the car. There are
conflicting reports about whether or not Sikes tried to put the Prius into neutral
during the early part of the incident.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">James Sikes was identified
in a 2006 newspaper story as a longtime lottery player who won $55,000 and auditioned
to appear on a California Lottery TV game show. Another report indicates
that Sikes filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2008, and faced federal and state tax
liens.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Toyota dispatched a field
technical specialist to San Diego to investigate the report and offer assistance.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also examined the Prius.
So far, there's no conclusive evidence of a technical problem with the vehicle.
As the story rippled throughout the Internet, web readers repeatedly expressed
doubts about the veracity of Sikes’s story.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Read the whole story, watch
the video, and share your assessment:<br>
<a href="http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3594215&s=60615130">http://www.hybridcars.com/news/prius-runaway-story-raises-suspicion-27469.html</a></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>Also check out:<br>
Hysteria Trumps Reason in Prius Acceleration Story</strong><br>
<a href="http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3594216&s=60615130">http://www.hybridcars.com/safety/hysteria-trumps-reason-prius-acceleration-story-27481.html</a></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</strong></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> <strong>Toyota Confirms
US Launch of Compact Lexus Hybrid<br>
</strong><a href="http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3594217&s=60615130">http://www.hybridcars.com/vehicle/lexus-ct250h.html<br>
</a><a href="http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3594218&s=60615130">http://www.hybridcars.com/news/toyota-confirms-rav4-hybrid-27338.html</a></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Toyota officials confirmed
that the Lexus CT 200h, a premium hybrid hatchback, is coming to the United
States, according to a report in Automotive News. The CT 200h would be Lexus’s
first compact car, and the first compact hybrid sold by Toyota in the U.S.<br><br>
The car was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month, but until
recently the company insisted that the compact hybrid would be sold only in
Europe. According to Automotive News, Lexus executives pleaded with Japan to
bring to the car to the U.S.—partly in hopes that the smaller Lexus would
appeal to a younger demographic. "When the all-new Lexus CT 200h enters
the market it will be the only hybrid vehicle in the emerging premium compact
segment," said Mark Templin, Lexus Division group vice president and general
manager.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The recipe for the CT 200h
is to place a Prius-type hybrid system—featuring a 1.8-liter gas engine
with variable valve timing, and energy storage with a nickel-metal hydride battery
pack—into small relatively affordable premium compact car. While fuel
economy numbers have not been announced, the CT 200h’s small size and
aerodynamics should push its mileage ahead of the 50-mpg 2010 Toyota Prius,
currently the highest rated car for mpg. </font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Toyota is not stopping there.
A few weeks ago, UK’s Autocar website reported that Jim Lentz, president
of Toyota Motors Sales, confirmed development of a hybrid gas-electric version
of the company’s RAV4 crossover SUV. Lentz added that Toyota’s 1.8-liter
hybrid system will become the company’s “core powertrain.”
The RAV4 Hybrid is due in spring 2012, but only the five-door model will get
the hybrid option.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">There are also rumors that
the Toyota Auris Hybrid, a small hybrid hatchback built on the Scion xB platform,
will head to the US. </font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Get the details:<br>
<a href="http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3594219&s=60615130">http://www.hybridcars.com/vehicle/lexus-ct250h.html</a><br>
<a href="http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3594220&s=60615130">http://www.hybridcars.com/news/toyota-confirms-rav4-hybrid-27338.html</a></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> <strong>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</strong></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>Your Support</strong><br>
Check out the Hybrid Cars Store for hybrid accessories: <br>
<a href="http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3594221&s=60615130">http://store.hybridcars.com</a></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</strong></font></p><p><strong><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> VW Promises to
Lead on Hybrids and Electric Cars<br>
</font></strong><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3594222&s=60615130">http://www.hybridcars.com/news/vw-promises-lead-hybrids-and-evs-27370.html</a></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">After years of arguing that
clean diesel is a better efficiency strategy compared to hybrids, Volkswagen
is switching gears. In a statement issued on the eve of the 2010 Geneva Motor
Show, Martin Winterkorn, VW chairman of the board, said, "We will take
the hybrid out of its niche status with our high-volume models. In the future,
the heart of the brand will also beat with electricity."</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>VW's Electric-Drive
Roll Out</strong></font></p>
<ul>
<li><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">A hybrid Jetta will be
offered in the US in 2012</font></li>
<li><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> In August 2013, the
Passat Hybrid will be introduced, followed by a Golf Hybrid two months later</font></li>
<li><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> Starting in 2013, VW
will begin rolling out pure electric cars, starting with the e-up! minicar,
followed by an all-electric Golf, and other electric vehicles yet to be named</font></li>
<li><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> VW's luxury brand Audi
will also launch hybrids, beginning with an Audi Q5 Hybrid in early 2011,
and a limited introduction of the electric e-tron in 2012</font></li>
</ul><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The Volkswagen press release
states: “Starting in 2013, the high-volume Golf and Jetta models of the
Volkswagen brand are expected to dominate the hybrid and electric vehicle market.”</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Read more:<br>
<a href="http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3594223&s=60615130">http://www.hybridcars.com/news/vw-promises-lead-hybrids-and-evs-27370.html</a></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</strong></font></p><p><strong><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> Geography, Oil
and the Coda Electric Car<br>
</font></strong><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3594224&s=60615130">http://www.hybridcars.com/economics/geography-oil-and-coda-electric-car-27380.html</a></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The Coda all-electric sedan,
due late this year, is the underdog in the race for an affordable mass-market
pure electric car. As a start-up, it doesn’t have the financial and marketing
resources that Nissan and General Motors are putting behind the Leaf and Volt.
Unlike Tesla and Fisker, Coda hasn’t received big government loans. So,
Coda is playing the role of a small, smart and scrappy start-up electric car
company, using every means possible to bring a practical, petroleum-free car
to the United States.<br><br>
Fans of electric vehicles, and supporters of good old-fashioned American entrepreneurialism,
might celebrate Coda’s rugged and independent approach—but that’s
being undermined by questions about the manufacturing origins of the Coda sedan.
Critics say the car is manufactured in China, so it’s a Chinese car. Full
stop. Forget for a moment that nearly every manufactured good we use today comes
from China. An analysis of the nationality of the Coda is complex—considering
the global nature of the automotive industry.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> Where does the Code really
come from? Connect the dots:</font></p>
<ul>
<li><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The car is adapted from
a gas-powered car from Chinese state-owned Hafei Motor Co. The chassis of
that car was licensed from Japan’s Mitsubishi.</font></li>
<li><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The Coda visual design
comes from Pininfarina, the legendary Italian sports car designer. Coda's
U.S. engineers put in more changes to meet U.S. performance and safety specs.
Other design aspects came from global automakers, such as Porsche.</font></li>
<li><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">About 40 percent of the
components in the car, when measured by monetary value, come from U.S. manufacturers,
such as Borg Warner.</font></li>
<li><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The battery inside Coda's
sedan comes from a joint venture owned by Coda and China’s Tianjin Lishen
Battery Co. The electronics for thermal and battery management of the pack
were designed and will be produced in the U.S. and shipped to Asia.</font></li>
<li><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The car will be built
on assembly lines in China, with Coda engineers remaining full-time on the
manufacturing floor to oversee production.</font></li>
</ul><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Read about the balancing
act between U.S. Jobs and U.S. Oil Independence:<br>
<a href="http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3594225&s=60615130">http://www.hybridcars.com/economics/geography-oil-and-coda-electric-car-27380.html</a></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</strong></font></p><p><strong><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Honda’s Hybrid
Comeback: Hybrid Minivans and SUVs</font></strong><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br>
<a href="http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3594226&s=60615130">http://www.hybridcars.com/news/honda-hybrid-comeback-hybrid-minivans-and-suvs-27277.html</a></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> Honda unveiled a sleeker,
more stylish Odyssey minivan concept at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show in February.
New design elements could appear in the 2011 Odyssey. Within three years, Honda
could produce a hybrid gas-electric version of the minivan.<br><br>
Honda is developing a hybrid system suitable for larger cars such as the Odyssey
minivan the Pilot sports utility vehicle. Tomohiko Kawanabe, Honda’s chief
operating officer for automobile research and development, today told Reuters,
"We've left the research stage and entered the field of development."
Kawanabe said these vehicles could hit the U.S. market in about three years.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Honda took an early lead
in hybrid development about a decade ago, but has fallen behind Toyota and Ford
in the race for appealing, fuel-efficient, gas-electric vehicles. Honda has
been advocating a two-part efficiency strategy: diesel vehicles for larger vehicles
and hybrids for cars. However, it appears that the company might be flipping
that strategy by producing larger hybrids for the U.S. market and diesels with
smaller engines for Europe and Asia.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The prospect of a full range
of Honda hybrids, especially a Honda hybrid minivan, is expected to be well-received
by hybrid fans. Toyota’s recent quality problems could create an opportunity
for Honda to become competitive with hybrids. If Honda can succeed, a new level
playing field for hybrids could emerge, with Toyota, Ford, Honda, General Motors
and Nissan going head-to-head with electric-drive vehicles.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Read more:<br>
<a href="http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3594227&s=60615130">http://www.hybridcars.com/news/honda-hybrid-comeback-hybrid-minivans-and-suvs-27277.html</a></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</strong></font></p><p><strong><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> BMW Moves Methodically
Toward Electric Cars<br>
</font></strong><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3594228&s=60615130">http://www.hybridcars.com/news/bmw-moves-methodically-toward-electric-cars-27323.html</a></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">One step at a time—slowly
but surely—BMW is developing the knowledge and capacity to deliver a small
all-electric car by 2013. In 2009, the company began leasing an electric two-passenger
version of the Mini Cooper to about 600 drivers in California, New York, and
New Jersey. That program was designed to help BMW learn about real-world driving
and charging experiences.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> Beginning in 2011, a similar
number of drivers will lease BMW’s next electric test vehicle, the four-passenger
ActiveE—essentially an electric-drive version of the BMW 1-series. The
ActiveE will allow the company to further refine the requirements for a line
of large-volume future electric cars, as part of its “Megacity”
project. That name, the current working title for its 2013 small electric car,
is based on the idea of targeting urban commuters in, well, megacities. Although
the ActiveE will cleverly package the power electronics to allow for a decent
sized trunk, the Megacity is expected to be a four-seat, three-door hatchback—similar
in size to a Honda Fit.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The ActiveE puts out 125
kilowatts (170 horsepower), a similar amount of power as found on other 1-series
Bimmers. The ActiveE’s 32-kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery pack is slightly
smaller than the Mini E’s. All of the vehicles apparently are targeting
about 100 miles of range on a single charge—although aggressive driving
and cold weather conditions have reduced the Mini E’s range by 20 or 30
miles according to multiple reports from drivers. </font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">BMW appears to be very serious
and specific about its electric car program. For example, the company yesterday
announced it will use its plant in Lepzig to produce the electric vehicles.
The inside story is that BMW executives believe that zero-emission electric
cars, and fuel cells for that matter, are a must—that is, if the company
is going to meet stricter guidelines for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in
the world’s major global auto markets.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Learn more:<br>
<a href="http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3594229&s=60615130">http://www.hybridcars.com/news/bmw-moves-methodically-toward-electric-cars-27323.html</a></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</strong></font></p><p><strong><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> Report: GM Drops
Cadillac Converj to Focus on Cheaper Plug-In Hybrids<br>
</font></strong><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3594230&s=60615130">http://www.hybridcars.com/news/report-gm-drops-cadillac-converj-focus-cheaper-plug-hybrids-27366.html</a></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Bloomberg is reporting that
General Motors stopped work on the Cadillac Converj, a sleek electric-drive
coupe, to focus on cheaper plug-in hybrids for its luxury brand. The report
is based on comments from two GM executives who asked not to be identified because
the details aren’t public.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The decision, if verified
by GM, represents an acknowledgement of the high cost of producing plug-in hybrids
that run for long distances without using any gasoline—rather than the
type of plug-in hybrids that can use smaller and therefore less expensive battery
packs. The Cadillac Converj was intended to follow the design of the Chevy Volt—referred
to as an extended-range electric vehicle or plug-in series hybrid—which
runs up to 40 miles before the gas engine is used to maintain the vehicle’s
range.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Cost is a major factor.
GM has insisted that 40 miles of range, without using a single drop of gasoline,
is critical. However, Toyota plans to offer a plug-in version of the Prius with
about 13 miles of all-electric range, and Ford’s Escape Plug-in Hybrid
will provide around 30 electric miles—with both vehicles expected to put
the internal combustion engine to some use throughout the drive cycle, if it
means overall greater efficiency. This approach is sometimes called a "blended"
strategy. GM’s own plug-in hybrid SUV in the works is reportedly aiming
for approximately 10 miles of electric-only range.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">“The future lies in
plug-in hybrids with smaller electric range,” Eric Noble, president of
CarLab, an Orange, California-based automotive consultant, told Bloomberg. Dropping
the Converj is “a tacit admission from GM that they over-batteried the
Volt.”</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Additional info:<br>
<a href="http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3594231&s=60615130">http://www.hybridcars.com/news/report-gm-drops-cadillac-converj-focus-cheaper-plug-hybrids-27366.html</a></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</strong></font></p><p><strong><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">WRAP-UP<br>
</font></strong><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Add up all
these stories and you get a pretty impressive array of hybrids, plug-in hybrids
and EVs in the coming years. Bring it on! </font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Don’t forget to vote
for <a href="http://HybridCars.com">HybridCars.com</a> as the “Best Transportation Website” in TreeHugger’s
“Best of Green” Awards:<br>
<a href="http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3594232&s=60615130">http://www.treehugger.com/best-of-green/cars-transportation/index.php</a></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Thanks and Happy Driving,<br>
Bradley Berman<br>
<a href="mailto:brad@hybridcars.com">brad@hybridcars.com</a></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> The Hybrid Cars Newsletter
is a free email-based newsletter discussing the latest news and information
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