Loading ...Wired News: Toyota Says Hybrids Can Be Cheap: “Toyota Motor showed off the production site of its gasoline-electric hybrid cars to journalists for the first time Thursday with a powerful message: The fuel-saving autos don’t have to be expensive to make.
Not long ago, many leading automakers, including the world’s biggest, General Motors, questioned the benefit of developing hybrid cars, arguing that the gas-sipping autos are merely an interim solution before zero-emission fuel-cell vehicles take over.
Hybrids use electric motors and battery packs to improve fuel efficiency, adding power during acceleration and reclaiming energy when braking and coasting. A hybrid switches automatically between its gasoline engine and its electric motor to produce the most efficient and ecological ride. The new Prius gets as much as 84 miles per gallon for driving in Japan, and its mileage is 55 miles per gallon under U.S. driving conditions, according to Toyota. ”
GM and Ford Motor are planning to introduce their first hybrid vehicles later this year. But with Ford admitting to doing so at a loss initially, it could be a while before Detroit can emulate Toyota’s success.
I have a 2000 Honda Insight that I absolutely love. You can see the webpage at www.MixedPower.com - it’s nice to see the hybrids are becoming more mainstream and geting more positive publicity!
