Hybrids

General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner conceded that there’s no one solution to providing fuel-efficient cars during his speech at the L.A. Auto Show on Wednesday. However, the GM boss is backing vehicles that could be charged by plugging it into a standard electrical outlet. In fact, GM wants to be...

Saturn has launched its European designed compact five-door crossover, showcasing the brand's new design character and intensified focus on driving characteristics. Labeled the VUE, the new crossover will go on sale in the second quarter of 2007 and is Saturn's fourth all-new model since the...

Nissan has fallen behind its main Japanese rivals in the technology stakes, and to make up for lost ground the company is rumored to be developing electric powered cars that will hit the markets in three years. Reuters reports that Nissan will also develop a range of gas-electric hybrid cars by...

Previous rumors suggested that Tesla Motors, the maker of the famous electric Elise-based roadster, would develop several other models to expand its lineup. The company has received financial support from many celebrities including George Clooney and the founders of Google, and is confident of...

Toyota will utilize its new found partnership with Isuzu to release its first ever diesel hybrid vehicle by 2010. Diesel engines by themselves already offer extremely frugal motoring, and when combined with an electric motor will offer even better mileage rates in addition to reduced emission...

China’s Chery Automobile has introduced the country’s first production-ready hybrid vehicle at Beijing’s International Auto Show. Based on its popular A5 sedan, the hybrid A5 ISG can run solely on an electric motor in low demand situations and utilizes regenerative braking to...

We now have high-res images of the BMW Hydrogen 7 that was launched in Munich this week. Based on the long-wheelbase 760 Li saloon, the Hydrogen 7 is virtually emission-free and still develops 260hp (191kW). This is enough to propel the big limo to 100km/h from rest in 9.5 seconds and reach an...

China's Chery Automobile Company has announced that it will be displaying its own hybrid vehicle at next week's Auto China 2006 event in Beijing. Previous reports have suggested that Chery was working closely with UK engineering firm Ricardo on a hybrid drivetrain, but local sources claim that the...

General Motors has caught the electric bug and is now rumored to be unveiling a prototype plug-in hybrid at next year’s Detroit Auto Show as part of the company’s rekindled interest in the electric car. The Detroit News is reporting that GM CEO Rick Wagoner is set to deliver a speech at...

General Motors has announced today that it plans to build hybrid-electric cars in China by 2008 at one of its plants in Shanghai. GM will be working in a joint venture with the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp to build a new cost effective and highly flexible hybrid system that was co-developed...

Vehicle parts supplier Delphi will be working more closely with manufacturers to provide hybrid electrical powertrain systems technologies to feature in upcoming vehicles. The first automaker to outsource major hybrid components to Delphi will be Ford, who’ll use Delphi’s battery pack...

We have a video of the documentary film that explores the birth, limited commercialization, and subsequent death of the battery electric vehicle in the US. The movie goes further and addresses issues that include conspiracies about the involvement of the auto manufacturers, oil industry and the US...

Lexus already has one of the most extensive ranges of hybrid vehicles on the market, and the company sees the technology as a way for it to differentiate itself in the luxury segment. The average hybrid buyer’s income level is relatively high, and vehicles like Toyota’s Prius...

Toyota is set to launch a US built Camry hybrid with production of the vehicle set to start today at its Toyota’s plant in Georgetown, Ky. The Camry’s 400,000 sales annually in the US alone make it the top selling car over here and this is pegged to improve with the introduction of the...

The popularity of hybrid vehicles will depend on whether or not US auto sales increase beyond its current levels, according to a statement from Audi engineer Marius Lehna to Reuters. Despite rising fuel prices, the German car maker will only expand its hybrid range if the market development...

Despite hybrid technology being regarded as one of the most technological and innovative new trends to sweep the motor industry, in real-world conditions, simple diesel powered vehicles are achieving mileage rates similar to and in some cases better than their hybrid counterparts. Diesel technology...

While the domestic carmakers are experiencing such terrible performance, Toyota is simply moving from strength to strength. Tokyo’s MarketWatch reports that the Japanese giant plans to cut the cost of its hybrid technology in half over the next three years. Further, Toyota’s head of...

The alliance formed by three of the world’s largest car manufacturers to co-develop a range of hybrid drivetrains is already making great strides in progress. General Motors, BMW and DaimlerChrysler entered the joint-venture so that they could pool their talent and resources to fast-track the...

We’ve produced several posts now on Tesla’s unique electric car and the amazing performance numbers and low running costs of its electric motor. However, few details have been mentioned about the unique safety and abuse-prevention features that’s included with the roadster. A...

Yes, you read that correctly. The cars in this video run on nothing but compressed air and can drive almost 200km on a single fill. The video showcases French manufacturer, MDI’s air-driven cars, which work by using the pressure of compressed gas to move the pistons inside the engine. Most...