Where Do Hybrids Fit In The Big Picture?

Considering hybrids, those with “inverted” fuel economy ratings – better city mileage than highway mileage – are consumer superstars. These hybrids account for about half of the hybrid models available today and garner a lot of press attention for their eye-popping MPG ratings. Is the manufacturer of a hybrid vehicle that achieves a conventional city/hwy mileage doing something wrong?

No, and likely, the manufacturer is doing something right. There are a variety of hybrid technologies that manufacturers employ, and the mileage rating is the result of the balance between highway and city driving. If your driving is predominantly highway oriented, you should look for a hybrid whose highway mileage is better than its city mileage. The benefit in these models comes from improved carbon emissions and a 20-25% reduction in operating costs.

Certain hybrid technologies produce an equal city/hwy MPG rating. This kind of hybrid offers value as well, for drivers whose mileage is equally split between city and highway travel and for drivers who need larger vehicles.

CAFE regulations get a lot of press because they’re often revised upward. In short, CAFE regulations require an automaker’s products to achieve a certain “average” fuel economy across its entire product line. Trucks are usually given a bit of a pass, but require the manufacturer to produce more highly efficient small cars to make up this difference. There is a real place for hybrid technology in terms of CAFE regulations.

In the coming years, hybrid trucks and SUVs will offer automakers the ability to continue building these products – which, like it or not, appeal to a certain segment of the market – and still achieve reasonable fuel economy ratings. Trucks legitimately appeal to small business owners, largely for their hauling and towing capacities.

Often, a self-employed contractor relies on his (or her) truck to get or retain employment. Reducing the operating costs of these vehicles – for which there are no replacements – will help this segment of the self-employed remain self-sufficient. For this consumer segment, the maintenance, mileage and operating costs of these vehicles are considered part of the cost of doing business, and are eligible for tax deductions and credits.

At the same time, mere “average” fuel economy, even from hybrid versions of trucks and SUVs will discourage the more cost-conscious consumer segment that has gravitated toward this market in recent years. For this segment, there are no tax breaks, so they bear the full operating cost of these vehicles. In the face of rising fuel costs, there are fewer practical reasons for most consumers to buy or drive these vehicles.

Hybrid technologies for pickups and SUVs will enable the automakers to produce cleaner, more efficient work vehicles, while reducing the vehicles’ overall market share. Fewer trucks and more fuel-conscious consumers who opt for smaller, safer and more economical passenger cars are long overdue.

Do We Have To Say Goodbye To The SUV?

It’s no secret that the size of a vehicle has something to do with its fuel economy. When you’re looking ways to increase gas mileage more than what your current vehicle offers, it’s easy to think about trading in your SUV for a 2-door Speck. But does it really have to come to that?

The answer - which is a very definite “Maybe Not” - may surprise you. Using current EPA mileage estimates on some of the more popular hybrid SUVs, a quick check of the numbers show that fuel efficiency is high on the priority list of the auto manufacturers.

The overall winner among SUVs in terms of fuel economy, average fuel costs and CO2 emissions is the Ford Escape Hybrid. Also marketed as the Mazda Tribute Hybrid and the Mercury Mariner Hybrid, these vehicles achieve 34 mpg in the city and 31 on the highway, assuming 15,000 miles per year, 8,250 of which are city miles. The operational costs of these vehicles per 100 miles is $12.84, assuming a gasoline cost of $4.11/gallon.

How do these vehicles perform if you shift the ratio of city to highway miles to 75% city driving? The combined mileage rating increases to 32 mpg, the cost to operate actually drops by about $60, and the CO2 emissions also drop by .1 tons/year. If you recalculate using a 75% highway driving ratio, your combined average fuel economy drops to 31 mpg, your CO2 emissions increase by .2 tons per year and your cost to operate rises by $70 per year.

It’s a bit difficult to compare the mileage rating of the Ford Escape Hybrid (et al) to other vehicles because the typical city/hwy mileage ratings are inverted for this vehicle. The more city driving you do, the better your mileage gets - a condition you won’t encounter on conventional vehicles. In fact, it’s a condition you won’t encounter with many hybrid SUVs either.

Roughly, the Escape Hybrid compares favorably to the VW Jetta. Again, the comparison is very rough because the Jetta has a diesel engine. While the Jetta’s city miles are lower, it’s highway mileage is rated at 40 mpg, giving it a combined MPG of 32 - the same as the Ford Escape Hybrid. The Escape Hybrid wins the comparison on city mileage, annual fuel costs and carbon emissions.

Comparing gasoline engines, the closest competitors - based on combined average fuel economy - would be the Toyota Corolla and the Chevy Aveo. The Escape Hybrid offers better combined average fuel economy, lower operating costs and better carbon emissions. It also offers more interior room than either of these models.

Now, about the price…

FCX Clarity Hits The Road, Port Authority Detours BMW Hydrogen 7

Honda has begun to deliver its FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to customers in California. The company hand-picked about 200 notable customers to receive the car, which is available only as a lease through just three dealerships in that state. The FCV program is more of a demonstration than a money-maker for Honda, and the company cites the climate and environment as the primary motivators behind the Clarity.

The FCX Clarity offers the functional equivalent of 74 mpg and a 280-mile range between refueling. The first FCX Clarity drivers must live within a defined distance of a hydrogen refilling station. Currently, there are 46 stations in the US, most of which are in the western part of the country. The Clarity is a zero-emission vehicle but low production numbers are expected to minimize the first vehicles’ impact on the environment.

Hydrogen FCVs face an uphill battle in terms of consumer acceptance. As indicated by the low number of filling stations, driving the car will always be problematic until the infrastructure catches up with the technology. The cost is also a factor. Right now, the vehicle is too expensive for most consumers to consider. The current monthly lease cost of a FCX Clarity is $600 on a three-year agreement.

Recently, in New York, the issue of hydrogen FCV safety came to a head when the Port Authority in New York City forbade the New York Times from test driving the BMW Hydrogen 7 through the Lincoln and Holland tunnels and across the lower deck of the George Washington Bridge. The chilly reception is the product of fears that the highly explosive hydrogen poses a genuine threat to public safety with regard to roadways and infrastructure. To date, California has not posed similar restrictions on the FCX Clarity.

Prius Taxi Tops 341,000-mi Mark Before Requiring Battery Replacement

The owner of Black And White Taxi service in Cairns, Queensland Australia reports that two of his 32 Toyota Prius Hybrid taxis exceeded the 200,000 mile mark before requiring battery replacement. One of the vehicles accumulated 341,000 on its original battery pack, while the other hit the 218,000 mile mark on its original battery cells. The owner also reports that the most serious consequence of the battery failures was a low-voltage reading.

The revelation should quell concerns about the overall longevity of the Prius battery pack. The fleet owner says that the cars log about 125,000 miles per year as taxis. That represents highly abnormal use for an individual driver, but depending upon how the usage is calculated, a Prius driver could expect to get 15-20 years or more of normal use from the vehicle’s original battery pack.

Prius critics note that Toyota does not have sufficient data to suggest when the multi-thousand dollar batteries for the vehicle would need replacement, giving rise to fears of expensive non-warranty repairs after several years of use. The accelerated usage figures indicate that a single battery pack may successfully serve the vehicle throughout its entire useful life.

The endurance testing only covers mileage and doesn’t exactly duplicate other types of wear (e.g., cold weather, exposure to the elements) that the battery might experience that could diminish its performance or life expectancy. The owner of the taxi fleet has ordered eight more Priuses, to bring his total fleet to 40. Even so, Toyota maintains that the car was never designed for fleet use.

Volkswagen Plant In TN May Build Hybrid, Diesel Engines

Automotive News has reported that VW will build a range of new power trains and engines at its just-announced assembly plant in Chattanooga, TN. The company has not publicly identified the vehicle programs and components that will be assembled there, except to say that the company will produce a mid-sized sedan specifically for the North American market by 2011.

Speculation focuses on hybrid and diesel technologies that would help the company meet increasingly strict fleet-average vehicle emissions standards scheduled to take effect in 2012. Last month, VW introduced its zero-emission Tiguan to the North American market.

The site reports that VW will assemble diesel engines in the new plant to take advantage of the favorable exchange rate. VW is also considering the construction of a new transmission plant in Mexico, as part of its previously announced $3B investment in its Mexican production operations. Overall, the company’s goal is to sell 800,000 units in the North American market by 2018.

Source: Automotive News via Motor Authority
Photo: Volkswagen

Toyota Using Noise-Cancellation On Crown Hybrid

Toyota is using “active noise control” in its Crown Hybrid model. The system relies on three microphones embedded in the vehicle’s interior to detect noise coming from the engine. When engine noise is picked up, three speakers emit sound waves that are 180° out of phase to the noise, providing effective cancellation. This technique is commonly used in noise and echo cancellation.

The always-on system provides an overall interior noise reduction of 5dB to 8dB, and was deemed necessary after the vehicle’s engine proved noisier than expected. The system is tuned to provide optimal cancellation at ear-level.

The Crown Hybrid and the Lexus GS share the same hybrid system, but the Crown Hybrid’s engine operates at a lower rotational frequency in low-speed driving. The adjustment gives the Crown Hybrid better mileage but creates more interior noise.

Source: Gizmag
Photo: Toyota

Nissan To Have All Electric Vehicle On The Market By 2010, ZEVs By 2012

Nissan confirmed its plans to build an all-electric vehicle for sale in US dealerships by 2010. The company also pledged to sell only zero-emission vehicles by 2012. The company and its partner, Renault SA, have also made plans to market electric vehicles in Denmark and Israel.

The vehicle, based on Nissan’s Cube (sold in Japan) will not be a long-range electric vehicle. The Nissan vehicle destined for the US is thought to use lithium-ion batteries. To support its all-electric venture, the company is in talks with railway stations and parking lot owners to install recharging stations near commuter stations. In Japan, most commutes are short-range – about 12 miles per day.

Subaru and Mitsubishi are planning all-electric vehicles with a range of 80-100 miles between recharges, and Mitsubishi plans to test its electric vehicle in the US in 2009. GM plans to bring its mass-production Volt to market in 2010, and Honda will lease a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in California.

Source: Detroit News
Photo: Nissan

GM Says Volt Won’t Carry 2015 CAFE Requirements

GM is cautioning Federal regulators that the Volt and similar vehicles planned by other automakers will not have a profound impact on average fleet mileage by the NHTSA-established deadline of 2015. Citing high production costs and complex manufacturing requirements, GM says it will not be able to produce the Volt in numbers large enough to impact CAFE standards.

GM estimates that in the best case, fewer than 500,000 Volts will have been sold by 2015. Further, it remains to be seen whether the Volt will be a commercial success, given that the vehicle will carry a price tag between $30,000 and $40,000. Other manufacturers of hybrid and electric vehicles are facing the same challenges: high production costs push the sticker price of each vehicle upward, making it less attractive to entry-level consumers. In addition, several manufacturers, including GM and Toyota, are contending with serious battery supply and reliability problems, which have significantly reduced the number of vehicles each company can produce in relation to its maximum production potential.

GM’s comments follow earlier statements made by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which recently asked the Federal government to ease tougher proposed CAFE standards scheduled to take effect in the 2010 model year, which the group labeled as technologically unfeasible and that would come only at the cost of more than 80,000 auto industry jobs. Members of Congress have already indicated that they would like to see even tougher fuel economy and emissions standards put into place in the near future.

Public Welcome to PHEV Exhibition In San Jose

The public is invited to the Plug-In 2008 Exposition and Conference, July 22, 2008 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. Tickets are $10 each and will permit entry into the exhibit hall to see plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and PHEV technologies. Also on the agenda are speakers who will discuss PHEVs, PHEV technologies and the public’s role in bringing them to the market. The exhibition is part of a three-day larger conference event, scheduled July 22-24, 2008.

The three-day event will feature automotive manufacturers and their technology suppliers, state and Federal officials, members of the business community and representatives from the electric utilities discussing PHEVs, their current and potential impact on the automotive industry, and their potential to help consumers worldwide.

Exhibits will include state-of-the-art PHEVs, PHEV batteries, powertrains and other technologies that enhance or support the PHEV ownership experience. Exhibits will also showcase vehicle-to-home technologies and potential vehicle-to-grid applications. The event is the only portion of the conference that is open to the public. Regular conference attendees are comprised of professionals in industry organizations, governmental and non-profit groups and students. Registration for the three-day event is $675, with discounts for non-profit, government, university and student attendees.

More information about the event can be found at http://plugin2008.com

Automaker Alliance Asks Feds To Lighten Up On Proposed NHTSA Regulations

Automakers from the US, Japan and Europe are encouraging the Federal government to reduce its mandate to increase fuel economy standards by 4.5% each year through 2015. The current proposal offered by NHTSA would require automakers to adhere to fleetwide averages of nearly 36 mpg for passenger cars and nearly 29 mpg for light trucks starting in 2011.

In a 77-page response crafted by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, automakers called the regulations excessive and said that they go beyond what is technologically and economically practical. The group, which consists of GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Daimler AG, BMW, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Porsche and Volkswagen, says that implementing the proposal would result in the loss of about 82,000 jobs and would reduce vehicle sales by nearly one million units through 2015. The response also indicated that it would cost the alliance about $29 billion to implement by 2015 and would increase the consumer cost of a light truck by $4,000.

NHTSA released the proposed standards in April and acknowledged that the implementation costs would be high, but estimated that the move would create 8,000 jobs. The report was also based on the assumption that gas prices would remain constant at about $2.50 per gallon. By adjusting the report to use higher fuel cost estimates, NHTSA would need to make its proposal even tougher.

To meet the existing CAFE regulations, automakers are introducing hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles to their fleet, at a significant premium over non-hybrid models. While some consumer segments are not cost-sensitive, less than half of all auto buyers would be willing to pay $5,000 more for a hybrid vehicle, according to a recent JD Power and Associates study. Automakers are concerned they will need to increase the number of hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles, which would increase the overall average cost for their fleet and reduce buyer interest across the board. The increased cost of a new vehicle may also spur consumers to keep older, less efficient vehicles that produce greater carbon emissions on the road longer and would serve to delay, rather than accelerate, the development of cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Source: Detroit News

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