plug-in hybrid Archives – The Green Optimistic

2017 Ford Fusion Energi Showcases Huge Updates

Samantha Joe — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 18:50:03 +0000

Ford looks to make a statement with Energi. Originally introduced three years ago, the 2017 Ford Fusion Energi hybrid underwent a major refresh. It’s still a plug-in model, but it has undergone both aesthetic and technologic changes. Both the interior and exterior were updated, as well as a slew of high-tech features added. Ford called it […]

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Chevy Volt Hypermilers Rejoice, 2016 Volt Offers 53 Miles Emissions-Free!

Benji Jerew — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 16:10:58 +0000

General Motors asked what Chevy Volt owners wanted more of, and the overwhelming response was “more range!” With the introduction of the 2016 Chevy Volt, everything is better, particularly range and fuel economy. First, General Motors upgraded the 17.1 kWh lithium-ion battery pack to 18.4 kWh. According to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) estimates, this gives […]

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BMW To Implement Plug-In Hybrid Tech Across the Board

Benji Jerew — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 15:13:46 +0000

Globally, there are just over one billion vehicles on the roads, and they all share one common thing. Whether conventional, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or extended-range electric, they all have an internal combustion engine. Of course, I left out battery electric vehicles, which make up less than 1% of all vehicles on the planet. Clearly, the […]

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Electric Vehicles Top Best Fuel Economy Charts – Well, duh!

Benji Jerew — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 18:15:33 +0000

Considering that a gallon of gas has the equivalent energy of 33.7 kWh of electricity, this makes it fairly easy to compare fuel economy of different vehicles, in spite of the fact they may use entirely different fuels. Whereas convention vehicles have been, for decades, ranked their fuel economy in miles per gallon, it may […]

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FEV Introduces New Two-Speed Plug-In Hybrid Transmission

Benji Jerew — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 18:18:20 +0000

As automakers pursue higher fuel efficiency, one method, such as in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, is to reduce powertrain power output and weight. At the same time, however, drivers have a hard time adapting to less-powerful powertrains, so plug-in hybrid automakers are trying to squeeze every last bit of power out of smaller and lighter […]

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Ferrari Is All About Hybrids, Not The Plug-ins, Though

Mila Luleva — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 20:23:57 +0000

How far will Ferrari go in order to please all these wealthy and at the same time environmental oriented buyers? Many have wondered this exact thing, as the new LaFerrari hybrid has been quite successful since it hit the market. Well, the answer is- not too far. Hybrids yes, but electric plug-in’s no. It is […]

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2015 Audi A4 Plug-In Hybrid Coming, at Least to the EU

Benji Jerew — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 18:43:30 +0000

Luxury cars don’t have to be gas guzzlers in order to deliver power and performance. Would most people interested in vehicles like the Audi A4 even consider it if it couldn’t get out of its own way on the highway? The next generation of the Audi A4, due to be released in 2015 in the […]

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Plug-In Hybrid Bailey Blade EVR: New Muscle or Fisker Repeat?

Benji Jerew — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:16:29 +0000

Very few people have the vision and business sense to get any invention out of the garage and into production. Nowhere is this more true than the budding electric vehicle market. Case in point: Tesla Model S and Fisker Karma, an electric vehicle and extended-range electric vehicle, respectively. With its undeniably sexy body and zero […]

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Volvo V60 PHEV, First Premium Plug-In Diesel Hybrid, Ramping up Production

Benji Jerew — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 20:27:40 +0000

The world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid electric vehicle [PHEV], the Volvo V60 PHEV, is also the world’s first luxury PHEV of any kind. “We are first in the industry to integrate a plug-in hybrid in an established production flow together with other car models,” says Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development at Volvo […]

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Toyota Prius is Now an Emergency Backup Generator

Benji Jerew — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 18:00:38 +0000

Power inverters have been available for years now, and they make it possible to provide power to equipment and devices on a regular 120 volt circuit. In a typical vehicle, the inverter takes 12 V DC current input, and provides 120 V AC current. Laptops, radios, and even televisions can run off this kind of […]

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Engineer’s Plug-In Hybrid Retrofit Kit Can Double Any Car’s Mileage

Maria Reyes — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 15:51:20 +0000

Dr. Charles Perry, former IBM engineer, had devised a kit that turns any car into a plug-in hybrid for as low as $3,000. He and his team at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) retrofitted a 1994 Honda station wagon and reported gas mileage increased from 50 to 100 percent. According to Perry, the key aspect […]

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New 2012 Prius V Plug-In Hybrid Features Neat EV-Only Mode and Much More

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:36:25 +0000

Toyota has been keeping people waiting for their new plug-in Prius for a long time now. Consumesearch drove a prototype of the Prius V set to enter the market in 2012 and made a list of the enhancements it will feature compared to a present-day non-plug-in Prius.

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Lack of Spare Tire an Issue With Existing and Future Electric Cars

Ovidiu Sandru — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 17:24:17 +0000

I never though about it, but it seems (and it makes sense to be so) that current electric and plug-in hybrid cars don't feature a spare tire anymore. Every other car on the road has it, and only I can tell a few instances when I was literally saved by the spare tire in my trunk, although it's that small model.

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Ford Undecided Where to Place Charging Sockets in Future EVs and Plug-In Hybrids

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 09:40:45 +0000

Well... when the only remaining issue before producing electric cars isn't what battery they should use or what the charging technology will be, then for Ford it's where will they put the charging socket to satisfy most of the customers in Europe and the U.S.

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Electric Cars Will Account For 70% Reduction of Chronic Lung Illnesses

Ovidiu Sandru — Fri, 13 May 2011 07:31:21 +0000

The impact electric cars will have on humanity and our lifestyles will not only be at an economical level, but it will also change our state of health, a new report by the American Lung Association states. This means that besides saving $6 billion in health and fuel costs, the electric car will make us live longer - and probably better.

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Plug-In EVs and Hybrids Could Help Reduce Health-Damaging Ozone, Study Says

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:39:36 +0000

A recent study performed by University of Texas researchers shows the advantages of using plug-in hybrid vehicles such as the upcoming Prius over the ozone. The scenario in which the ozone layer is badly affected by pollution is already well documented, but the basics fact is that the gas is formed when hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides react with sunlight. For humans, though, breathing ozone in high quantities can be damaging for health by causing respiratory problems.

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South Korea Government Plans to Start Producing 1.2 Million Hybrid and Electric Cars

Mike Sandru — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:36:41 +0000

As part of the Government's plan, made public in September, the country will export 900,000 vehicles in its attempt to raise the domestic market share up to 21% by 2015, according to an e-mailed statement from the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and the Ministry of Environment.

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Ford Estimating 25% of Their Fleet to be Electric or Hybrid by 2020

Cristi — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:52:42 +0000

Ford recently disclosed their long term plan coming to align with governmental laws related with fuel efficiency: by 2020, at least 25% of Ford's new cars will be either electric or hybrid vehicles. In North America, 7 of 10 vehicles will be gasoline-electric hybrids, such as the current Fusion hybrid version.

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Prius Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) Present at Tokyo Motor Show

Cristi — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:02:05 +0000

A long time ago, Toyota Motor Corporation has started its green thinking trend with hybrid cars which revolutionized fuel consumption. Now they found a way to combine electric vehicles with hybrid ones and they presented their concept just days before the Tokyo Motor Show.

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Ford Transit Connect the Electric Compact Van Goes on the US Market in 2010

Cristi — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:03:10 +0000

Ford Motor Co announced the collaboration with Smith Electric Vehicles on their first electric vehicle which will be released on the US market by 2010. The electric car will be based on Ford Transit Connect compact van.

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Ford hybrid and electric cars vs GM Volt electric car

Florin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:52:56 +0000

Nowadays, the Japanese constructors are well ahead others in having electric cars. Honda and Toyota have the dominating positions in our top and they are announcing more to come in the following year. US manufacturers are late, one probable reason was that in the US the fuel price is not as high as in other parts of the globe.

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Prius PHEV Testing Started on French Roads

Ovidiu Sandru — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 18:43:03 +0000

They are testing their Toyota PHEVs with the help of their employees in a real urban environment. They have already built a charger infrastructure and a method for charging the users' pockets, incorporated in the vehicle's software.

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Toyota Prius Converted to Run on Ethanol

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:34:55 +0000

Recently inspired by public demand and by the conversions made by third party companies to make it a plug-in hybrid, Toyota seriously intends to equip their cars with various fueling systems, so you can charge the batteries at night.

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V2G (vehicle-to-grid): an Electric Car Payback System

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:23:50 +0000

The scientists from the University of Delaware created an electric car prototype that runs on electricity alone. The great fact is that it also can, theoretically, earn money for its owner by storing electricity and providing it for utilities when needed.

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