But in this case, all are merely following the lead of dozens of backyard tinkerers. "We are doing a lot of testing at this point and evaluation both on the battery side and with our prototype test fleet, which is 10 vehicles" in use by agencies such as California's South Coast Air Quality Management District, says Nortman. MORE >>

So part of the process of converting an existing hybrid, such as the Toyota Prius, into a PHEV is to add more batteries, particularly newfangled ones like lithium-ion batteries, which are lighter and hold a charge longer than lead-acid or nickel metal hydride batteries. Clean-Tech, an L.A.-based CAPTION: 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid. MORE >>

You may have heard by now that last week I told media assembled at our press event in Southern California that GM has big plans for fuel cell technology. Since April 2003, the California Air Resources Board (Carb) has given car makers the option of meeting part of their mandatory zero-emissions targets by producing fuel-cell vehicles. MORE >>

Electrovaya announced a new higher-density lithium-ion battery, which it will install in a Ford Escape Hybrid it's completing for the New York State $10M conversion program. Unlike most automakers, some of the battery makers have a distinctly high-tech sheen. See the press release at [link]. link]. See its press release at [link]. MORE >>

Frank is director of future automotive technology for the University of California at Davis. I'm driving up the California coast to visit two key players in the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) world. built a hybrid car using all lead-acid batteries. Lead-acid batteries were all that was available back then. MORE >>