Hybrid Drives Popping Up Everywhere at NAIAS
One of the overriding themes of the North American International Auto Show is that hybrid drives are going to be an important part of our automotive future.
Multiple 2007 and 2008 models will have hybrid options, including America's best-selling car, the Camry and other mid-sized cars like the Malibu. Several larger models like the Mazda Tribute, the Saturn Vue, and the Ford Escape also have hybrid models in the works for ‘07 and ‘08.
Even more interesting, car companies are now looking to mix alternative fuels with hybrid technology. The ridiculous looking Ford Airstream concept is designed to be a hydrogen/electric hybrid, while the concept Chevy Volt that has created so much buzz is modularly designed so that the batteries powering its electric motor can be charged by any means, from gasoline, to natural gas, to biofuels, to fuel cells.
Adding electric power storage systems to cars is not a trend that is going away any time soon. Hybrids and other alternatively-powered cars are absolutely taking over auto shows. It's becoming obvious that these technologies will expand into plug-in and even full-electric cars in the not-to-distant future.
Only one person in Detroit seems to be deriding hybrids nowadays, and that's Martin Eberhard, the CEO of Tesla Motors. In his opinion, anything less than a full electric just isn't going far enough. And I'm not sure we disagree.
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This week, Hank Green is reporting for Plenty from the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. His trip was underwritten by the General Motors Company, but he is under no obligation to write about GM or any of their products or portray them in any particular light.
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Comments
Hi, I actually like the Airstream concept, though I'm not a fan of the 4-letter word on the front. You say these alt-car technologies are taking over car shows. What's taking over the design rooms of these manufacturers? Do you think these concepts will out-weigh the oil lobby at some point?
Full electrics should definitely be the goal. 100% sustainability should always be the goal.
Posted by:Julian |January 10, 2007 2:00 PM
Aren't we ultimately burning coal to fuel the electric car? (unless you're running solar power) Shouldn't the push be for biodiesel or SVO?
Posted by:Mike |January 10, 2007 2:37 PM
Aren't we ultimately burning coal to fuel the electric car? (unless you're running solar or wind power) Shouldn't the push be for biodiesel or SVO? or is the goal to improve how electricity is produced? either way, glad it's a hot topic right now.
Posted by:Mike |January 10, 2007 2:48 PM
What Martin Eberhard had to say was aimed straight for the Prius crowd: You can drive around and feel smug in a hybrid car, he said. But youre still burning oil, dude. If we want to become independent of countries that hate us, we need to stop using oil altogether.
Posted by:EV Rider |January 10, 2007 10:39 PM
Ever heard of Nuclear power. Safe nuclear technology has come a long way. One doesn't always have to burn oil to power a electric car. France gets 78% of its power from nuclear energy. Trickle charge the batteries over night. A.K.A. the GM Volt. And use solar panels or bio-fuels to power it during the day.
Posted by:Bill |January 11, 2007 2:57 AM
Da delo dazhe ne v goda. Kjetil Paavo.
Posted by:Kjetil Paavo |June 21, 2007 12:22 PM