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Carmakers Find Ways to Make Cheaper Hybrids

Technology Review -- The fuel-sipping cars have typically been pricier than conventional counterparts, but technological advances are changing that.

As automakers work to comply with fuel-economy standards, they're increasingly turning to hybrids. Last week, for example, Toyota announced that it would make 21 hybrid models by 2015, up from 12 now (see "Toyota Scales Back Electric Vehicle Plans" and "Stringent CAFE Standards Push Automakers"). Automakers have grown more enthusiastic about hybrids because the cost of making them has plummeted. Several years ago, Toyota's Prius hybrid cost the consumer about $6,000 more than an equivalent conventional car—and even at that price, the company was losing money on every one it sold. The difference is now $2,500, and the car is profitable, says Mike Omotoso,...

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Submitted Oct 01, 2012 By: NOTSOGRN

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,599 Points:1,607,570 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 5, 2012 10:50:08 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse so far, hybrids are costly, but w/ more being bought, the price comes down.
flagtown25 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,177 Points:491,355 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Oct 2, 2012 11:39:40 PM Ignore flagtown25 Report Abuse Good.
flyfast Champion Author Kansas City Posts:9,238 Points:1,823,885 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Oct 2, 2012 8:23:18 PM Ignore flyfast Report Abuse still cost to much
bston Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:1,810 Points:640,325 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Oct 2, 2012 2:57:38 PM Ignore bston Report Abuse Very happy with our Camry hybrid we've had nearly 5 years; it runs like a well oiled machine!
sparky808 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:2,993 Points:596,760 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Oct 2, 2012 11:25:26 AM Ignore sparky808 Report Abuse Thank you for posting.
jrs4125 Champion Author Indiana Posts:2,748 Points:589,795 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Oct 2, 2012 7:53:14 AM Ignore jrs4125 Report Abuse Alrighty then
TruthMatters Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,520 Points:532,485 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Oct 2, 2012 7:21:12 AM Ignore TruthMatters Report Abuse Good for consumers and the earth
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:6,953 Points:2,115,440 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Oct 2, 2012 6:53:41 AM Ignore remay Report Abuse Bring em on!
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:9,841 Points:1,611,050 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 10:19:30 PM Ignore jrsva Report Abuse “The batteries are charged by braking.” Ummm, not exactly. If the car has regenerative braking, the batteries will be charged when you decelerate without braking, such as rolling up to a stop light or down a hill with your foot off the gas pedal. When you apply the brakes the energy is dissipated as heat in the brakes and does not go into the batteries.
bluegrasser1 Champion Author Richmond Posts:15,923 Points:2,613,670 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 10:12:36 PM Ignore bluegrasser1 Report Abuse ok
N5EXY Champion Author Austin Posts:5,482 Points:1,508,430 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 10:09:55 PM Ignore N5EXY Report Abuse If you want economy you just pay for it later - -
VanIsleLes All-Star Author British Columbia Posts:898 Points:275,345 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 10:09:36 PM Ignore VanIsleLes Report Abuse Baby steps ...
rahcat Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:2,458 Points:661,000 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 10:07:56 PM Ignore rahcat Report Abuse Don't want one.
judgemobile Champion Author Ohio Posts:7,560 Points:2,443,185 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 10:06:47 PM Ignore judgemobile Report Abuse I think I will just throw my eaten up corn cobs in the gas tank and wait for them to ferment.
regout Champion Author Quebec Posts:2,945 Points:830,755 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 10:06:04 PM Ignore regout Report Abuse Good and in 10 years will see more and more of thesr cars.
bababooey2 Champion Author Hartford Posts:6,342 Points:1,300,890 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 10:03:04 PM Ignore bababooey2 Report Abuse Good
langolera Champion Author Akron Posts:1,751 Points:664,030 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 10:02:36 PM Ignore langolera Report Abuse we need the mileage
ron98146 Champion Author Seattle Posts:1,579 Points:963,355 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:59:02 PM Ignore ron98146 Report Abuse keep the cost going down and mileage up. maybe someday but not for me now.
Yankee829 Champion Author Dallas Posts:2,196 Points:557,640 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:52:47 PM Ignore Yankee829 Report Abuse Ok
wcp3rd All-Star Author New Jersey Posts:724 Points:359,675 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:51:57 PM Ignore wcp3rd Report Abuse ok
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,795 Points:411,815 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:51:35 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse For the record, @camel1, hybrids don't need to be plugged in. The batteries are charged by braking.
Ticoman54 Champion Author Miami Posts:7,036 Points:1,490,070 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:49:58 PM Ignore Ticoman54 Report Abuse Good to see...
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,795 Points:411,815 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:49:30 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse They were talking about hybrids, @clermont40miles, not electric vehicles. Right now, hybrids are the same price as diesels.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,795 Points:411,815 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:48:01 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Why stop at a V8 engine, @OGW? Why not just go for a V12?
clermont40miles Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:10,554 Points:1,770,090 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:47:16 PM Ignore clermont40miles Report Abuse CheapER does not mean cheap. EV's are not affordable. Fix that.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,795 Points:411,815 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:46:52 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Volkswagen has been working on a diesel hybrid, @zdcatc12, but just understand that diesel engines already are more expensive than gasoline engines. Then you would have to add the hybrid technology on top of that. Therefore, a diesel hybrid car would be even more expensive.
bonzoonfmb Champion Author Florida Posts:1,772 Points:642,185 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:46:25 PM Ignore bonzoonfmb Report Abuse Car manufacturers are building more hybrid models but are they cost effective?
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,795 Points:411,815 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:44:36 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse @suzmar, you have the right to live in denial all you want, but don't expect $2/gal gas to ever come back. Might as well get used to driving a car that gets better gas mileage now.
srchr Champion Author San Jose Posts:7,241 Points:1,618,060 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:43:01 PM Ignore srchr Report Abuse still a niche market - too expensive
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,795 Points:411,815 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:42:47 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Trust me, @stopforgas, you don't have to drive like a senior to get great mileage from a hybrid. Living in New York, I stomp on the gas to get a jump on the other cars in traffic. I drive with the a/c on in the summer and the heat on in the winter. With all that, I still get 42mpg combined city and highway driving with my 2007 Toyota Prius. The lowest mpg I ever got in 95,000 miles of driving was 38mpg while driving in 15 degree F. weather with the heater going full blast.
ED6 Champion Author Riverside Posts:9,474 Points:1,849,180 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:42:12 PM Ignore ED6 Report Abuse Maybe few years down the road.
Gas4Gore Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,411 Points:421,925 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:40:16 PM Ignore Gas4Gore Report Abuse Not in my lifetime.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,795 Points:411,815 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:38:02 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Thank you @Sportdeck for the great post. You're absolutely right that a MPG meter would do a lot to save gas. In order to change driving behavior, people need some method of feedback to give them positive reinforcement. The newest Honda Civic has a meter with bars that disappear, the harder you step on the accelerator. Subconsciously, you adjust how hard you stomp on the gas. After awhile, saving gas becomes a game as you try to keep the mpg meter as high as possible.
Sportdeck Champion Author Atlanta Posts:12,949 Points:2,478,515 Joined:Sep 2003	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:31:59 PM Ignore Sportdeck Report Abuse Every new car, hybrid or not, should have both an AVG MPG meter and an instantaneous MPG meter. I have a 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid and a 2013 Kia Rio eco. They both shut the engine off at street lights when stopped, but the biggest factor in both of them is the driver behind the wheel, regardless of the technology under the hood. I get 42-45 MPG in the Honda, my wife and daughter get 35-40 on most trips. The Kia has gotten over 30MPG already, with mostly city driving. I constantly look down the road for things that are going to stop me, like the light that just turned yellow 2 blocks ahead. My foot immediately comes off the gas in either car. Other cars pass me, but I catch up to them at the red light, or roll past them on the green, as I never came to a stop. Seeing the instantaneous MPG at 5 when accelerating away from a stop, makes my foot come up off of the gas most the time.
abcdMA Champion Author Worcester Posts:7,912 Points:1,573,030 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:30:47 PM Ignore abcdMA Report Abuse they will have to be financially viable
stopforgas All-Star Author Mississippi Posts:991 Points:479,880 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:30:15 PM Ignore stopforgas Report Abuse Eventually they'll be affordable and it will make sense to buy one - that is, if you have the driving habits that would allow for hybrids.
suzmar Champion Author Texas Posts:2,211 Points:870,970 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:26:05 PM Ignore suzmar Report Abuse They are going to have to be much cheaper to make them make sense economically. All of this is being driven by stupid Federal policies.
gd83goldwinger Champion Author South Bend Posts:1,428 Points:502,730 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:22:10 PM Ignore gd83goldwinger Report Abuse Ok.
DriverofRed Champion Author Calgary Posts:2,168 Points:410,160 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:19:52 PM Ignore DriverofRed Report Abuse k
v8gazguzler Champion Author Ottawa Posts:5,924 Points:882,435 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:19:51 PM Ignore v8gazguzler Report Abuse EV's or Hybrids can't tow my trailer!
kingpin6 Champion Author Arkansas Posts:2,920 Points:1,559,975 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:17:37 PM Ignore kingpin6 Report Abuse Still going to have to get a lot cheaper before I consider one!
wayoung56 Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,790 Points:816,385 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:17:07 PM Ignore wayoung56 Report Abuse Interesting article...
SpankyMI Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:2,698 Points:757,480 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:14:41 PM Ignore SpankyMI Report Abuse The price has always been the main problem with selling this technology.
zdcatc12 Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:2,147 Points:786,265 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:14:12 PM Ignore zdcatc12 Report Abuse Why don't they make a diesel hybrid? The mileage would be even better than now.
camaro_man Champion Author Kitchener-Waterloo Posts:2,222 Points:609,095 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:13:57 PM Ignore camaro_man Report Abuse thats just great
unicornIL Veteran Author Chicago Posts:446 Points:383,445 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:12:37 PM Ignore unicornIL Report Abuse we'll see
ace12012 Champion Author Phoenix Posts:1,660 Points:323,860 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:11:16 PM Ignore ace12012 Report Abuse even with lower prices I dont think I would go hybrid.
jorod55 Champion Author California Posts:1,470 Points:430,000 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:09:33 PM Ignore jorod55 Report Abuse But hybrids are not the answer.
OGW Champion Author London Posts:5,324 Points:1,530,400 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:08:02 PM Ignore OGW Report Abuse Build a better gasoline V8 engine instead of wasteing time with hybrid garbage!
nztyraider Champion Author Nevada Posts:2,273 Points:692,575 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:05:39 PM Ignore nztyraider Report Abuse Good for them.