Plugs and Cars

JANUARY 4, 2007

GM today announced two contracts to "design and test lithium-ion batteries" for use in the Saturn Vue Plug-in Hybrid announced last month at the LA Auto Show. While the future may belong to Lithium, a case can easily be made for the early roll-0ut of NiMH plug-ins. A partnership of Cobasys (Chevron/ECD) and A123 got the second.

VUE 100

VUE Saturn Plug-in Nickel Metal Hydride 100

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 9, 2012

Ford unveiled the new 2013 Ford Fusion midsize sedan, with conventional gasoline engine; hybrid featuring a next-generation of Ford’s hybrid system; and plug-in hybrid versions at the Detroit Auto Show—the first production sedan to offer that trio of options. The new Fusion also points to the next Ford Mondeo for world markets.

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Fusion Plug-in Hybrid Ford 236

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 18, 2014

In addition to the vehicle’s introduction in Japan, Toyota launched the Mirai—a four-door, mid-size fuel cell sedan with performance that fully competes with traditional internal combustion engines—in Los Angeles on the eve of the Los Angeles Auto Show. Toyota FC Stack. Click to enlarge. Mirai powertrain.

Prius 296

Prius Toyota Hydrogen Carbon Fiber 296

Plugs and Cars

MARCH 23, 2007

But there it is in a Detroit News Autos Insider piece today. The Volt grabbed headlines, lit up online chat boards and dominated the buzz at the auto show in Detroit. The auto industry has disappointed before when it comes to green technology. There's just one problem: The Volt may never get built.

Volt 100

Volt GM Plug-in Plug 100

Green Cars News

APRIL 19, 2009

Again this is true as the batteries used were originally NiMH but are now progressing to lithium-ion with some even able to hit 0-60mph in four seconds. The NiMH batteries used in most hybrid cars currently are fully recyclable. The replacement cost of a NiMH battery pack is typically $2,500-$3,000 but they rarely need to be replaced.

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Hybrid NiMH Cars Lithium Ion 36

Plugs and Cars

JULY 26, 2007

See my 7/12 post Plug-in Hybrid Bills in Congress Scare Auto Makers ) With the addition of the A123 battery module, a Prius gets between 125 and 175 mpg. Lately Goldman has been driving one around DC, meeting with policy makers and pushing for consumer incentives for hybrid conversions.

Convert 100

Convert Prius Plug-in Civic Hybrid 100

Clean Fleet Report

AUGUST 25, 2022

MG 1 starts the gasoline engine and charges the nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery, while MG2 drives the front wheels and regenerates the battery during braking and coasting, and MGR drives the rear wheels and also regenerates the battery. The audio system is compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa. It isn’t!).

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Lexus Fuel Economy Hybrid Nickel Metal Hydride 94

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 10, 2011

Toyota Motor Sales, USA Inc., unveiled the Prius family of vehicles today at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The third-generation Prius, which reached dealerships in June 2009, has become the third-best selling Toyota passenger car in the US. The Prius (left) and the new Prius v (right). with VVT-i.

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Prius Toyota MPG Fuel Economy 236

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 21, 2009

Both Toyota and Ford are now producing a few prototype conversions of their own Priuses and Escapes for research purposes.) As for warranties , there is legal precedent that original auto warranties cannot be voided completely by modifications — only the part(s) affected by retrofit will have their warranties affected.

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Plug-in Plug Hybrid Nickel Metal Hydride 41

Plugs and Cars

APRIL 22, 2007

With NiMH batteries - those that provide energy to every hybrid on the road and thousands of all-electric cars - the Volt plug-in hybrid could go into production today. My Toyota RAV4 EV was only produced because of the California Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate, and every day it proves electric cars are viable now.

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Volt NiMH GM Plug-in 100

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 21, 2009

Our PRIUS+ Project Photos PHEV Resources Global Warming Take Action News and Events Contact Us How Carmakers are Responding to the Plug-In Hybrid Opportunity If you ask, "have major auto-makers come around on PHEVs?", 2010 Prius designed to be manufactured with NiMH or Lithium batteries. todays answer is "Yes -- but not yet."

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Plug-in Plug Hybrid PHEV 45

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 21, 2009

Heres our roundup of auto-maker comments in the media recently. Toyotas Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries are considered "non-hazardous waste" [See "high voltage electrical systems" ]. Lithium-Ion batteries share many characteristics with NiMH. See our Global Warming page. What do car companies say about PHEVs?

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PHEV Nickel Metal Hydride Prius EPRI 37

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 21, 2009

Below is a chronology of hybrid Toyota Priuses and Ford Escapes that have been converted. Ryan Fulcher of Seattle Electric Auto Association, April 2006 CalCars and Maker Faire team ("PriusBlue" EAA-PHEV method later modified by Manzanita Micro as "PiPrius" testbed) King County, WA Contact Ryan Fulcher at webguy2007(at)eaa-phev(dot)org.

Prius 48

Prius Conversion Plug-in Plug 48

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 16, 2009

The car came straight to Omaha from the Detroit auto show. BYDs breakthrough all-electric E6, photographed at this years Detroit auto show. In October a BYD sedan called the F3 became the bestselling sedan in China, topping well-known brands like the Volkswagen Jetta and Toyota ( TM ) Corolla. On a trip to the U.S.,

BYD 62

BYD 2009 Companies Electric Cars 62

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 16, 2009

Furthermore, changing the battery pack on say a Toyota Prius often costs a fortune, at least in most European countries, so such cars better be VERY cheap, but they’re not. Even so, most next gen EV manufacturers are focused on lithium ion (and to a lesser extent NiMH) as the core technology to power their cars.

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Oregon Green Electric Cars Lead Acid 58