Up to 30% lower fuel consumption.

40-50% reduced particle and nitrous oxide emission.

Part of new slew of hybrid trucks, busses and construction vehicles that Volvo's got in the works.

+pics, +info

http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/09/honda-developin.html

232 mpg??? People like Alison Gannett aren't waiting for automakers to deliver plug-in hybrids, so she's spending some money now that she'll make up for in the future. Gannett recently spent $35,000 converting her Ford Escape hybrid into a plug-in hybrid. The highest miles to the gallon she has gotten is 232. (wow!) She averages around 100mpg.

http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/10/plug-ins-arent.html

Think about it; most of the taxis in New York are Ford Crown Vics.  With their V8 engines and all the starting and stopping they do in the city traffic, there's no way they're getting more than 10 mpg.  That's a lot of gas, considering all the hundreds of taxis moving around every day.

Now replace all those Crown Vics with hybrid cars that would get perhaps 30 mpg.  The cost for the taxi company per mile driven is now 1/3 of what it was.  Instead of immediately thirding the per-mile cost for the customer, they could cut it back a little at a time to help recoup the cost of the hybrid cars.

This would be a MAJOR step forward.  Not only would people have a much cheaper way of getting to work and back, but it would be really good for the Earth.  Think of the carbon emissions that come from those hundreds of V8-powered smog machines every day.

There's no telling what could happen once hybrid/electric technology is applied to other forms of public transportation, including busses.  There's no better way to encourage public transportation than by making it a lot cheaper.

So yeah... if you're reading this and you're in charge of some taxi company, do it.  Thank you.

• plug-ins only (battery of at least 4 kWh, measured from 100% charge to 0% charge, with offboard recharging)
• $2500 minimum, $7500 maximum for passenger cars (battery of at least 16 kWh to qualify for the maximum)
• for vehicles sold during calendar years 2009-2014
• gradual phase-out after 250,000 vehicles sold (total, not by manufacturer)

There had been some talk this legislation was created with the Chevrolet Volt in mind. Indeed, the Volt's 16 kWh battery maxes out the credit. Early drafts keyed on the amount of pure-battery driving, which would be fine for the Volt (which drains the battery before burning any gas) but would exclude vehicles (such as Toyota's upcoming plug-in Prius) that mix gasoline and battery power from the start. Evidently, any such language has evidently been removed.

see/leave comments

I had trouble finding the actual text of the bill, so here it is in case anyone else cares:

SEC. 205. CREDIT FOR NEW QUALIFIED PLUG-IN ELECTRIC DRIVE MOTOR VEHICLES.

(a) Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit- Subpart B of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 (relating to other credits) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

`SEC. 30D. NEW QUALIFIED PLUG-IN ELECTRIC DRIVE MOTOR VEHICLES.

• `(a) Allowance of Credit-
  • `(1) IN GENERAL- There shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this chapter for the taxable year an amount equal to the applicable amount with respect to each new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle placed in service by the taxpayer during the taxable year.
  • `(2) APPLICABLE AMOUNT- For purposes of paragraph (1), the applicable amount is sum of--
    • `(A) $2,500, plus
    • `(B) $417 for each kilowatt hour of traction battery capacity in excess of 4 kilowatt hours.
• `(b) Limitations-
  • `(1) LIMITATION BASED ON WEIGHT- The amount of the credit allowed under subsection (a) by reason of subsection (a)(2) shall not exceed--
    • `(A) $7,500, in the case of any new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of not more than 10,000 pounds,
    • `(B) $10,000, in the case of any new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds but not more than 14,000 pounds,
    • `(C) $12,500, in the case of any new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 14,000 pounds but not more than 26,000 pounds, and
    • `(D) $15,000, in the case of any new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 26,000 pounds.
  • `(2) LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF PASSENGER VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS ELIGIBLE FOR CREDIT-
  • `(A) IN GENERAL- In the case of a new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle sold during the phaseout period, only the applicable percentage of the credit otherwise allowable under subsection (a) shall be allowed.
  • `(B) PHASEOUT PERIOD- For purposes of this subsection, the phaseout period is the period beginning with the second calendar quarter following the calendar quarter which includes the first date on which the total number of such new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles sold for use in the United States after December 31, 2008, is at least 250,000.
  • `(C) APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE- For purposes of subparagraph (A), the applicable percentage is--
    • `(i) 50 percent for the first 2 calendar quarters of the phaseout period,
    • `(ii) 25 percent for the 3d and 4th calendar quarters of the phaseout period, and
    • `(iii) 0 percent for each calendar quarter thereafter.
  • `(D) CONTROLLED GROUPS- Rules similar to the rules of section 30B(f)(4) shall apply for purposes of this subsection.
• `(c) New Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle- For purposes of this section, the term `new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle' means a motor vehicle--
  • `(1) which draws propulsion using a traction battery with at least 4 kilowatt hours of capacity,
  • `(2) which uses an offboard source of energy to recharge such battery,
  • `(3) which, in the case of a passenger vehicle or light truck which has a gross vehicle weight rating of not more than 8,500 pounds, has received a certificate of conformity under the Clean Air Act and meets or exceeds the equivalent qualifying California low emission vehicle standard under section 243(e)(2) of the Clean Air Act for that make and model year, and
    • `(A) in the case of a vehicle having a gross vehicle weight rating of 6,000 pounds or less, the Bin 5 Tier II emission standard established in regulations prescribed by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under section 202(i) of the Clean Air Act for that make and model year vehicle, and
    • `(B) in the case of a vehicle having a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 6,000 pounds but not more than 8,500 pounds, the Bin 8 Tier II emission standard which is so established,
  • `(4) the original use of which commences with the taxpayer,
  • `(5) which is acquired for use or lease by the taxpayer and not for resale, and
  • `(6) which is made by a manufacturer.
• `(d) Application With Other Credits-
  • `(1) BUSINESS CREDIT TREATED AS PART OF GENERAL BUSINESS CREDIT- So much of the credit which would be allowed under subsection (a) for any taxable year (determined without regard to this subsection) that is attributable to property of a character subject to an allowance for depreciation shall be treated as a credit listed in section 38(b) for such taxable year (and not allowed under subsection (a)).
  • `(2) PERSONAL CREDIT-
    • `(A) IN GENERAL- For purposes of this title, the credit allowed under subsection (a) for any taxable year (determined after application of paragraph (1)) shall be treated as a credit allowable under subpart A for such taxable year.
    • `(B) LIMITATION BASED ON AMOUNT OF TAX- In the case of a taxable year to which section 26(a)(2) does not apply, the credit allowed under subsection (a) for any taxable year (determined after application of paragraph (1)) shall not exceed the excess of--
      • `(i) the sum of the regular tax liability (as defined in section 26(b)) plus the tax imposed by section 55, over
      • `(ii) the sum of the credits allowable under subpart A (other than this section and sections 23 and 25D) and section 27 for the taxable year.
• `(e) Other Definitions and Special Rules- For purposes of this section--
  • `(1) MOTOR VEHICLE- The term `motor vehicle' has the meaning given such term by section 30(c)(2).
  • `(2) OTHER TERMS- The terms `passenger automobile', `light truck', and `manufacturer' have the meanings given such terms in regulations prescribed by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for purposes of the administration of title II of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7521 et seq.).
  • `(3) TRACTION BATTERY CAPACITY- Traction battery capacity shall be measured in kilowatt hours from a 100 percent state of charge to a zero percent state of charge.
  • `(4) REDUCTION IN BASIS- For purposes of this subtitle, the basis of any property for which a credit is allowable under subsection (a) shall be reduced by the amount of such credit so allowed.
  • `(5) NO DOUBLE BENEFIT- The amount of any deduction or other credit allowable under this chapter for a new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle shall be reduced by the amount of credit allowed under subsection (a) for such vehicle for the taxable year.
  • `(6) PROPERTY USED BY TAX-EXEMPT ENTITY- In the case of a vehicle the use of which is described in paragraph (3) or (4) of section 50(b) and which is not subject to a lease, the person who sold such vehicle to the person or entity using such vehicle shall be treated as the taxpayer that placed such vehicle in service, but only if such person clearly discloses to such person or entity in a document the amount of any credit allowable under subsection (a) with respect to such vehicle (determined without regard to subsection (b)(2)).
  • `(7) PROPERTY USED OUTSIDE UNITED STATES, ETC., NOT QUALIFIED- No credit shall be allowable under subsection (a) with respect to any property referred to in section 50(b)(1) or with respect to the portion of the cost of any property taken into account under section 179.
  • `(8) RECAPTURE- The Secretary shall, by regulations, provide for recapturing the benefit of any credit allowable under subsection (a) with respect to any property which ceases to be property eligible for such credit (including recapture in the case of a lease period of less than the economic life of a vehicle).
  • `(9) ELECTION TO NOT TAKE CREDIT- No credit shall be allowed under subsection (a) for any vehicle if the taxpayer elects not to have this section apply to such vehicle.
  • `(10) INTERACTION WITH AIR QUALITY AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS- Unless otherwise provided in this section, a motor vehicle shall not be considered eligible for a credit under this section unless such vehicle is in compliance with--
    • `(A) the applicable provisions of the Clean Air Act for the applicable make and model year of the vehicle (or applicable air quality provisions of State law in the case of a State which has adopted such provision under a waiver under section 209(b) of the Clean Air Act), and
    • `(B) the motor vehicle safety provisions of sections 30101 through 30169 of title 49, United States Code.
• `(f) Regulations-
  • `(1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall promulgate such regulations as necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
  • `(2) COORDINATION IN PRESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN REGULATIONS- The Secretary of the Treasury, in coordination with the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall prescribe such regulations as necessary to determine whether a motor vehicle meets the requirements to be eligible for a credit under this section.
• `(g) Termination- This section shall not apply to property purchased after December 31, 2014.'.

(b) Coordination With Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit- Section 30B(d)(3) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

• `(D) EXCLUSION OF PLUG-IN VEHICLES- Any vehicle with respect to which a credit is allowable under section 30D (determined without regard to subsection (d) thereof) shall not be taken into account under this section.'.

(c) Credit Made Part of General Business Credit- Section 38(b), as amended by this Act, is amended by striking `plus' at the end of paragraph (33), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (34) and inserting `plus', and by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

• `(35) the portion of the new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle credit to which section 30D(d)(1) applies.'.

(d) Conforming Amendments-

• (1)
  • (A) Section 24(b)(3)(B), as amended by section 106, is amended by striking `and 25D' and inserting `25D, and 30D'.
  • (B) Section 25(e)(1)(C)(ii) is amended by inserting `30D,' after `25D,'.
  • (C) Section 25B(g)(2), as amended by section 106, is amended by striking `and 25D' and inserting `, 25D, and 30D'.
  • (D) Section 26(a)(1), as amended by section 106, is amended by striking `and 25D' and inserting `25D, and 30D'.
  • (E) Section 1400C(d)(2) is amended by striking `and 25D' and inserting `25D, and 30D'.
• (2) Section 1016(a) is amended by striking `and' at the end of paragraph (35), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (36) and inserting `, and', and by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
  • `(37) to the extent provided in section 30D(e)(4).'.
• (3) Section 6501(m) is amended by inserting `30D(e)(9),' after `30C(e)(5),'.
• (4) The table of sections for subpart B of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
  • `Sec. 30D. New qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles.'.

(e) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2008.

(f) Application of EGTRRA Sunset- The amendment made by subsection (d)(1)(A) shall be subject to title IX of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 in the same manner as the provision of such Act to which such amendment relates.

Cyclist-enthusiast Stefan Gulas invented the man-power hybrid motorcycle eROCKIT, which combines the sport of motorcycle and ecological benefits of a bicycle. The bicycle-motorcycle is able to travel at a speed of 80 km/h. The cost of a hybrid motorcycle is approximately 25 thousand euros.

Apparently to keep the power on the person riding the has to keep turning the pedals. The bike multiplies the the human power by about to a factor of 50. (A top cyclist produces 1/4 horse power and the eROCKIT can produce up to 12 hp)

[HowStuffWorks, Funfuse, eROCKIT]

CNN's Jim Boulden takes a spin in Mercedes-Benz's first hybrid being introduced at the Paris Motor Show.

CNN

Drill Baby Drill - Perhaps we won't need that now!

A top-to-bottom insulation system incorporating stator insulators and other components allows the motors to withstand internal temperatures up to 130C. The hybrid steppers include three models with step resolutions of 1.8 (200 steps per rev) in full-step mode. Holding torques (bipolar) of 770 oz-in, 1062 oz-in, or 1416 oz-in can be achieved, depending on the model.

All versions are available in standard NEMA34 mounting configuration and are manufactured according to EN 60034-1:1995-02 specifications. They feature precision-honed stators and ground rotors for tight air-gap and maximum performance, single- or double-ended shaft extensions and high-temperature grade neodymium iron bore magnets. These motors can be equipped with gearboxes, encoders, shaft details, leadwire connector assemblies and other options.

They are calculated individually for each application. In addition to the magnetic clamping, the chuck jaws can also be used to assist the clamping force. The sealed Rota NCM hybrid chuck is available in sizes from 400 to 1600mm. It uses magnets to clamp the workpiece over a large surface, avoiding any distortion. The Rota NCM centres the workpiece in seconds. Previously, operators had to align workpieces manually with a dial gauge in a complex operation.

Schunk's hybrid chuck now completes this task in a fraction of the time and with maximum precision. This rules out operator errors, increases reliability and improves the workpiece quality. Productivity can be increased considerably due to reduced machine downtimes. This chuck enables completely automated grinding machine operations. It opens the way for rational mass production and is also suitable for hard and precision turning.

The workpiece is inserted manually or automatically, precisely centred to a reference value by three or six chuck jaws and then securely clamped by the electro-permanent magnets. An electrical current is all that is required to activate and deactivate the magnets. During the machining, the permanent radial pole magnets provide a completely secure grip on the workpiece without any electrical current. The magnets can be activated with varying output categories so the entire clamping process can be fully automated.

                                                              Hybrid automobiles for a world rocked by wallet-emptying gas prices will be front and center at the 2008 Paris auto show, a trade publication reported Sunday

                2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid Review

Honda Motor Co will unveil a prototype of its eagerly awaited low-cost hybrid car due for launch in early 2009 at the Paris auto show next month, Japan's No.2 automaker said on Thursday.

2009 Honda Hybrid FCX Concept Spyshots

American Honda Motor Co., Inc., today announced that Ron Yerxa and Annette Ballester took delivery of their hydrogen fuel cell-powered FCX Clarity on Friday, July 25, 2008 at Honda of Santa Monica, one of three dealerships in Southern California that are part of the first fuel cell vehicle dealership network. Yerxa and Ballester are the world's first FCX Clarity customers and the first of approximately 200 customers who will lease the vehicle in the United States and Japan over the next three years, with the vast majority of vehicles being leased in Southern California.

"The FCX Clarity lease program is one more step toward meeting the societal goals of climate stability, renewable energy supplies and zero-emissions transportation," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda. "With this key step, we are advancing toward the goal of broader commercialization," Mendel added. "Establishing a dedicated sales network and service infrastructure provides customers with the best balance of convenience and the highest level of satisfaction."

Significant advances over Honda's previous generation FCX include a 25 percent increase in combined fuel economy to 72 miles/kg-H2* (74 mpg GGE <miles per gasoline gallon equivalent>) and a greater than 30 percent increase in driving range up to 280 miles*. The FCX Clarity is a next-generation, hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle. Propelled by an electric motor that runs on electricity generated in the fuel cell, the vehicle's only emission is water, and its fuel efficiency is three times that of a modern gasoline-powered automobile.

*Based on official 2008 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

Foto_honda_logo

Originally uploaded by www.autodescuento.com

HONDA opened the concept model of "INSIGHT" of the hybrid car to the public for the first time in the Paris auto show on October 2.

I hear that HONDA will put "INSIGHT" on the market in Japan-U.S.-Euro next spring and expect sales of 200,000 a year.

I hear that the price will assume about two million yen.

Submitted by Josh.

USA Today: Honda unveiled an "affordable" hybrid family car at the Paris Motor Show.

MORE HERE!

El recurso es muy sencillo, sin embargo considero que no es predecible y nos deja con una buena percepción sobre los esfuerzos de la marca:

Como siempre, en este sitio creemos que la publicidad encaminada a mejorar las condiciones de vida de quienes habitamos este mundo debe ser catalogada y archivada en otra categoría, y si es creativa, pues qué mejor. Afortunadamente el protagonista nunca saca una manguera y riega su Silverado, con lo que el detalle de lavar su reluciente pick-up con un cubito de agua le da un buen detalle.

La idea corrió a cargo de la gente de Spotlab, una Agencia con sede en Los Ángeles de la que ya hemos visto algunos buenos trabajos en el pasado, y será transmitida en localidades donde se comercializa el vehículo híbrido de la marca, tales como el sur de USA y Canadá a partir de esta semana.

Buen esfuerzo que mezcla la creatividad con la conciencia social, que de alguna manera resuelve el hecho de "limpiar" un poco el medio ambiente que ellos mismos han ensuciado.

Honda is betting that the five-passenger hatchback, set to go on sale next spring, will steal away Prius buyers by delivering greenness for fewer greenbacks. Honda has yet to disclose many details about the car or its cost, and it calls the car to be shown in Paris a concept, but it says Insight "will be priced significantly lower than hybrids available today." Analysts expect the model will cost less than $20,000, undercutting the current $22,000 starting price of the Prius.

"It will be the first affordable hybrid for everyone," says Tatsuo Yoshida, an analyst for UBS Securities Research in Tokyo.

New hybrid models are also on the way from Nissan Motor Co., Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp., among others. But Honda and Toyota have an advantage thanks to their substantial lead in developing hybrid technology, analysts say. Toyota, including its luxury brand Lexus, had a 79% share of the U.S. hybrid car and light-truck market in the January-August period this year, according to Autodata Corp. Honda was a distant second with 11% of the market, followed by Ford with 6%.

Other auto companies are also coming up with different fuel-efficient technologies, such as GM's Volt, a plug-in hybrid, and Nissan's planned pure electric vehicle. Chrysler recently announced plans to release an electric vehicle by the end of 2010. But these newer technologies are still untested, expensive and will be available only in small volumes at first, compared with the basic gas-electric hybrids like the Prius and the new Insight.

Toyota says it aims to sell about 160,000 Priuses in the U.S. this year, while Honda expects to sell about 100,000 Insights domestically in that model's first year.

Like the Prius, the Insight only will be available as a hybrid. That appeals to consumers who want to emphasize their ecofriendly credentials. By contrast, the hybrid versions of the Honda Civic, Ford Escape and Toyota Highlander look just like their gasoline-powered counterparts except for small badges saying "hybrid" on the side panels or rear.

Toyota and Honda designed different hybrid systems, each with different strengths. Toyota's "full" hybrid setup weds a battery-powered vehicle with a gasoline engine. At slower speeds, the Prius can run on battery power alone. At higher speeds it switches mainly to gas power. In stop-and-go traffic in the city, the battery power gives it better mileage than on the highway.

Honda's Insight will use a "mild" hybrid system. Its main power source will be a highly efficient, lightweight gasoline engine, but it will be assisted by battery power. Honda hasn't released the projected mileage of the Insight, but it is expected to be higher than the Honda Civic hybrid, which gets 45 miles per gallon on the highway and 40 mpg in the city, according to Environmental Protection Agency ratings. The Prius also gets 45 mpg on the highway, but has a substantial edge in city driving with an EPA rating of 48 mpg.

Bruce Smith, a retired retailer in Orange County, Calif., who is a longtime owner of BMWs, drives 135 miles four times a week to look after his grandson, and wanted a fuel-efficient car. After doing research on the Prius and Honda's Civic hybrid, which uses technology similar to what will be deployed in the Insight, he opted for the Toyota because it drives on battery power more than Honda's offering.

"In stop-and-go traffic on our LA freeways, you can be going for five, 10 minutes or more just cruising along and the [gasoline] engine never starts" in the Prius, says the 55-year-old Mr. Smith. He says he gets 52 mpg on the highway and 54 mpg if traffic is heavy.

Toyota hasn't been able to sate the market's demand for the Prius and that should help Honda sell its Insight, says Aaron Bragman, an auto analyst at market researcher Global Insight Inc. "I think they'll sell every one they make," Mr. Bragman says.

For its part, Toyota says it welcomes the competition. "Any contribution heightening public awareness of alternative powertrains is welcome," says Paul Nolasco, a spokesman for Toyota in Tokyo.

Honda was the first auto maker to introduce a hybrid to the U.S. with a two-seater, also called the Insight, in 1999. But it didn't catch on like the four-seat Prius, and Honda eventually stopped producing the model.

Honda plans to introduce hybrid versions of other models, including a sporty compact car, with a goal of selling 500,000 hybrids a year world-wide by early next decade. Toyota, meanwhile, aims to reach annual sales of one million hybrids globally by the same time.

Der Subkompakte, den die Ingolstädter auf dem Pariser Autosalon zeigen wird zum uneingeschränkten Herrscher unter den Kleinwagen.
Typisch kühles Audi-Design verfeinert mit runder Haube und knackigem Heck und fertig ist das schärfste Auto der 4-Meter-Klasse.

Aber nicht nur das schärfste, sondern auch das innovativste: Plug-In-Vollhybrid mit Lithium-Ionen Akku, kombiniert mit einem 1.4 Liter TFSI Motor und S-tronic Doppelkupplungsgetriebe. In Zahlen ausgedrückt bedeutet das 150 Benziner-PS, die die Unterstützung von 20 elektrischen Kilowatt (27PS) erhalten. Vor allem aber die ab Nulldrehzahl anliegenden 150Nm des Elektromotors helfen dem kleinen Audi gehörig auf die Sprünge. Damit der Frontantrieb nicht überfordert wird kümmert sich das 7-Gang Getriebe um clevere Gangwahl und wird dabei von einer neuen Vorderachs-Quersperre unterstützt.
Der ganze Aufwand lohnt sich, denn der A1 kann nicht nur 100km rein elektrisch fahren, durch die Start-Stop-Funktion soll der Hybrid im Vergleich zum konventionellen Antrieb im normalen Fahrbetrieb bis zu 30% weniger verbrauchen. 3.9 Liter Super gibt Audi für den neuen Kleinen an und das ist angesichts von munteren 177PS eine echte Ansage.

Doch damit nicht genug. Das Beleuchtungssystem des A1 besteht komplett aus modernster LED-Lichtleiter Technik und so können sämtliche Funktionen der Scheinwerfer in einem Gehäuse untergebracht werden und der „Leuchtgrafik“ sind keine Grenzen mehr gesetzt.
Auch im Innenraum trumpfen die Ingolstädter auf. Neuartige Leichtbausitze unterstreichen die Ernsthaftigkeit des Sparkonzepts und das MMI-Bediensystem zeigt sich reduziert und lehnt sich mit seinem „cover flow“ Konzept an das bewährte System beliebter MP3-Player an.
Man kann nur hoffen, dass es der 200km/h-Flitzer auch in der Hybridvariante noch 2009 in den Verkauf schafft – denn wenn Sparen soviel Spaß macht, wollen wir auch unseren Teil zur Klimarettung beitragen.

[gallery]

Volkswagen Passat Wagon

Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Volkswagen Routan

Volvo XC90

Toyota Sienna

READ MORE!

Wie der Tages-Anzeiger heute in seiner online-Ausgabe berichtet, schreitet die Elektrifizierung des Antriebs immer weiter voran. Auf dem diese Woche beginnenden Autosalon in Paris (4.-19. Oktober) wird man deshalb mehr Hybridfahrzeuge und Elektroautos sehen als auf jeder anderen Messe zuvor. Erstmals sind die meisten Hybrid- und Elekroautos keine Studien und Absichtserklärungen mehr. Sondern im Rampenlicht stehen Serienmodelle, die man sofort oder zumindest in sehr naher Zukunft kaufen kann. Natürlich werden Stromer trotz allem in den nächsten Jahren noch in der Minderheit bleiben. Aber auch bei ihren konventionellen Neuheiten beweisen die Autohersteller eine gewisse Bodenhaftung: Nicht Luxuslimousinen und Spitzensportler, sondern Cityflitzer und Kompaktwagen geben an der Seine den Ton an. Gespannt ist man auch auf die Serienfassung des Chevrolet Volt, der als erstes Elektroauto in zwei Jahren auf den Markt kommen soll und den Kunden mithilfe eines eingebauten Notstromaggregates die Angst vor der Ebbe im Akku nehmen will. Er ist zwar das wichtigste, aber beileibe nicht das einzige Elektroauto auf der Messe. Bei Mercedes steht der neue Smart mit Lithium-Ionen-Akku für den Flottenversuch in Berlin, auf den Mini womöglich mit einem vergleichbaren Konzept reagiert. Und selbst der Reifenhersteller Michelin hat gemeinsam mit Sportwagenhersteller Venturi einen City-Stromer angekündigt.

Wo es noch nicht ganz für die Abkehr vom Verbrennungsmotor reicht, greift die Elektrik den Benzinern und Dieseln zumindest immer öfter unter die Arme: Hybrid-Antrieb heisst noch immer das Zauberwort, das die schleichende Abkehr vom Mineralöl vorantreibt. Während man bei Hybrid-Pionier Toyota noch immer auf den neuen Prius wartet und Honda als ewiger Zweiter mit dem Entwurf für einen preisgünstigen «Volkshybriden» einen neuen Anlauf auf die Führungsposition nimmt, setzten die Europäer jetzt endlich zum Befreiungsschlag an und zeigen selbst eine ganze Reihe von Hybrid-Modellen bis hinauf in die Oberklasse. So wollen Mercedes und BMW mit fertig entwickelten oder zumindest beinahe serienreifen Teilzeitstromern in der S-Klasse und im 7er beweisen, dass der sparsame Umgang mit Kraftstoff kein Privileg von Kleinwagen mehr ist. VW zeigt den Golf als «TwinDrive», und bei Peugeot, Citroën oder Renault gibt es kaum eine Designstudie, die nicht mit einem Hybridkonzept – vorzugsweise in Kombination mit einem Diesel – bestückt wäre.