The world’s No. 1 auto maker Toyota has announced [JP] it will exhibit a four-seat electric car  at the 41th Tokyo Motor Show for the first time (the show opens October 24 and will run through November 4). It’s sized at 2,730×1,680×1,490mm. Visitors will also get to see an update of Toyota’s hybrid car Prius at the show.

The new completely electric model, the FT-EV II (pictured above and below), can be driven for more than 90km on a single charge and is specifically designed for convenient city driving. Toyota will offer, for example, electric sliding doors. But the FT-EV II isn’t for city driving only, as the top speed exceeds 100km/h.

Toyota also plans to show a plug-in version of its Prius hybrid that’s in its third generation. Drivers will be able to use the vehicle with batteries only until they run out. When that happens, the car will switch to hybrid mode automatically. One liter of gas is enough for 55km, up from 38km for the Prius models that are on the market now.

Toy maker Takara Tomy’s mini vehicles are being sold everywhere in the world. Marketed as Penny Racers in the US and Choro Q in Japan, the series so far includes mini helis, trains and even small UFOs that attack Tokyo. And now the company has announced Choro Q Hybrid mini cars [JP] for the Japanese market.

Takara Tomy calls the toys “hybrid” because buyers can choose between models using a pull-back motor or and those that are battery-powered (and come with a remote control), which is quite a stretch. The remote-controlled models can drive around five minutes on a 5-minute charge.

Takara Tomy has secured quite a few licenses from major car makers, including Lamborghini, Toyota, Nissan, and Honda. The Choro Q Hybrids will be available in Japan starting October 24.

Prices: $6 for the pull-back versions and $28 for the remote-controlled models. As Takara Tomy hasn’t announced their international sales plans yet, I suggest you contact Japan Trend Shop, Geek Stuff 4 U or Rinkya in case you’re interested in getting one.

Here’s the official promo trailer:

I’ve said over and over again, along with a lot of other people, that hybrid technology would make the biggest environmental impact if used in delivery trucks, municipal vehicles, and mail trucks. Vehicles like these are often limited in range but are gas hogs that travel in low gears where hybrid technology can really shine. Plus, the fuel savings of even 10% can be immense when a whole fleet of vehicles are converted. FedEx obviously knows this too and has slowly been converting delivery trucks to diesel hybrids which have been known to improve fuel economy by 44% and decrease emissions by 96%.

The upgrades replaces the 5.9L 175HP diesel to a 6.7L 200HP engine that’s assisted by the lithium ion-powered motor. The up-front additional cost is keeping the company from converting more. So far only 264 trucks have been graced with the upgrades. As FedEx points out, it’s a catch-22 as the cost of production is high because of a lack of volume, which causes the cost to be high.

It’s a shame as it makes so much sense for these vehicles to receive the updates. Think about it: the vehicles are huge and built on a robust platform designed to withstand a lot of weight and stress. The hybrid systems do not need to be polished or presented in a small package as they do in passenger vehicles.

You could essentially fit the system in a large, black box and install it anywhere in these trucks. Designers wouldn’t have to worry about shrinking down the size or weight at all.

That utility truck in the background of the above picture was converted by Edison out in California with a similar system as a proof of concept. I had a chance to check out the hybrid battery testing facility during my cross-country trip where it was made. My tour guide was annoyingly vague about everything – which is why I didn’t do a post about my 3 hour tour – but I gathered that the truck saw a 15% improvement when the hybrid system was installed. Oh, and I wasn’t suppose to take a picture of that truck for some reason.

It just makes sense in these large vehicles. If only it didn’t cost so damn much upfront, more companies and cities would convert, which will make Al Gore smile. And don’t we all want a happy Al Gore?

Fedex via Treehugger

Ready for more hybrid vehicles? Sure, why not, right? Honda is set to release two new hybrid vehicles next year: the CR-Z and Fit/Jazz. Both should come equipped with Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system and further demonstrates that hybrid technology will soon be a standard option on most vehicles.

There isn’t anything real exciting about either of these two new cars besides the hybrid option. The CR-Z will be a standard fastback coupe while the Fit is a wannabe mini-minivan. (ask Biggs, he has one) But both small cars should get a boost in MPG with the hybrid system.

Honda, just like every other major manufacturer, has been developing hybrid technology in personal vehicles since the 90’s. The IMA system has probably progressed enough that it can finally be fitted onto more and more platforms meaning that soon it might become a standard option.

Fundamentally hybrids aren’t that difficult. They just employ a battery-powered electric motor to assist the gasoline engine under certain loads. The electronic acceleration assistance can make for speedy launches and improved fuel economy. Many of the previous issues like battery size and jerky transitions between the motor and engine have been worked out by manufacturers so be prepared to see a lot more hybrid vehicles.

Now, I’m not saying all of these new hybrids, including the two new models released from Honda, will put up Prius-type numbers. Oh no, Honda previously installed an older IMA system in the Accord but Consumer Reports only found it to help by 1 or 2 MPG. But having the hybrid systems installed is a great short-term solution to reach the high CAFE standards.

Congress put the bar high with the new MPG guidelines. By 2011 the majority of new cars will have to reach 30.2 MPG verses today’s standard of 27.5. That 2.7 MPG jump is a big hurdle and hybrid technology is one of the least expensive ways to reach it. Most automakers already have a developed hybrid platform, so now the task is to build it into more vehicles to bump up the average.

We’re finally reaching a plateau in next-gen vehicle purpalson systems; at least for a while. Hybrid is here to stay while extended range plug-ins like the Volt and Fisker Karma test the market. Soon, a hybrid system will be just another box to check on the new car buying sheet just like AC and satellite radio.

This is in the very preliminary rounds and a specific sound hasn’t been chosen, nor how to make it pedestrian-friendly while not a nuisances to everyone else. The panel is expected to wrap up everything by the end of the year.

GM has tackled this issue already in the upcoming Chevy Volt. We found out about it when we test drove an engineering mule a few months back. The driver activates the sound which is a lot more friendly than blowing the horn. This is a larger issue for the Volt than traditional hybrids who generally run on the combustion engine a lot sooner than the Volt’s generator kicks in. The Volt is totally silent for about 40 miles of travel.

Edwards 4/26/09 Talladega incident

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I say no, but that’s just me. What do I know, I just spent 10 days driving 3,200 miles in a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. But I’m not hyper-miller Wayne Gerdes or NASCAR driver Carl Edwards who are about to attempt this feat by spending 43 continues hours driving the hybrid a 1,000 miles. Ford states that the car will need to average 57 mpg to achieve the goal, which I guess is possible even though I never saw that type of mileage.

I averaged 35.1 mpg during my 3,200 trip, but I definitely wasn’t driving like a hyper-miller; more like Edwards in his 99 car or J.J. McClure from Canonball Run. However, we did go about 650 miles on the first tank of gas. 

The whole goal of this outing is of course to show-off the eco-side of the Ford Fusion Hybrid. Take it from me. It’s impressive for a car of its size. (my review) I can’t wait for the next generation.

PRESS RELEASE:

Ford Team Aims To Drive 2010 Fusion Hybrid 1,000 Miles on a Single Tank of Gas

• The Ford Fusion Hybrid team will attempt to drive more than 1,000 miles for more than 43 continuous hours – on a single tank of gas, raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in the process
• The most fuel-efficient, mid-sized sedan in America – the Fusion Hybrid driven by a team of Ford hybrid engineers, a fuel efficiency expert and a NASCAR star, will have to achieve an average of at least 57 mpg on the challenge to reach its goal
• By using Eco-Driving techniques engineers have achieved 70 mpg during testing of the Ford Fusion Hybrid in preparation for the challenge
• Consumers can improve their own vehicle’s fuel economy performance is by adopting Ford’s “Eco-Driving” tips used for the 1,000-Mile Challenge

DEARBORN, Mich., April 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — This weekend, the 2010 Ford (NYSE: F) Fusion Hybrid is being put to the ultimate fuel-efficiency test. A team of drivers, including NASCAR star Carl Edwards and world-record breaking hypermiler Wayne Gerdes, will attempt to drive more than 1,000 miles on a single tank of gas, raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in the process.

The 1,000-Mile Challenge starts at around 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, from Mount Vernon, Va., and ends the morning of Monday, April 27, in Washington, D.C. The team will drive for more than 43 hours continuously to reach the 1,000-mile goal. The drivers will do stints of between two and three hours each and will have regular breaks to ensure safe driving is maintained. Already rated as the most fuel-efficient, mid-sized sedan in America, the Fusion Hybrid will need to average at least 57 mpg to achieve its goal. During preliminary testing in preparation for this challenge, Ford engineers have reached as much as 70 mpg in the Fusion Hybrid by using Eco-Driving techniques.

The team will run clinics for media and customers over the weekend in the Fusion Hybrid, conducting interviews and vehicle demonstrations on how simple techniques can make a significant difference to real world fuel economy numbers.

The Fusion Hybrid being used in the challenge will be a factory produced model with no modifications or alterations and will run on regular 87 octane gas.

The team will be uploading regular images and video to YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/fordstory), Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fordmotorcompany), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/people/Kristopher-Spencer/1228149870), Twitter (http://twitter.com/Ford), and www.media.ford.com.

Ford is taking on the 1,000-Mile Challenge for a number of reasons:

• To demonstrate Ford’s commitment to be the best or amongst the best in fuel economy in every vehicle segment in which it competes;
• To highlight the crucial role the driver plays in maximizing fuel economy and demonstrate how consumers can make a difference through Eco-Driving;
• To raise awareness about Eco-Driving and how the Fusion Hybrid contributes to it with the ability to run up to 47 mph in pure electric mode; and
• To raise awareness and funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

The 1,000-Mile Challenge team comprises of:

• Wayne Gerdes, the world-record breaking hypermiling champion and founder of www.cleanmpg.com;
• Carl Edwards, the NASCAR race star who recently bought his own 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid;
• Sherif Marakby, graduate of Maryland University and Ford hybrid chief engineer;
• Gil Portalatin, Ford hybrid applications manager and Ford Fusion Hybrid team leader;
• Tom Rolewicz, one of Ford’s top calibration experts and hybrid system expert; and
• Steve Burke, Ford product expert on hybrid applications

The mileage-maximizing techniques that the Ford team will use and pass on to consumers include:

• Slowing down and maintaining even throttle pressure;
• Gradually accelerating and smoothly braking;
• Maintaining a safe distance between vehicles and anticipating traffic conditions;
• Coasting up to red lights and stop signs to avoid fuel waste and brake wear;
• Minimize use of heater and air conditioning to reduce the load on the engine;
• Close windows at high speeds to reduce aerodynamic drag;
• Applying the “Pulse and Glide” technique while maintaining the flow of traffic;
• Minimize excessive engine workload by using the vehicle’s kinetic forward motion to climb hills, and use downhill momentum to build speed; and
• Avoiding bumps and potholes that can reduce momentum

Click here (http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=28946) for more Eco-Driving tips

Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 213,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s wholly owned brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid is the latest to join a growing crop of hybrids that doesn’t look like a traditional hybrid. This Fusion hybrid looks almost identical to its non-hybrid counterparts, but easily gets great gas milage while sporting a look most will find acceptable. This hybrid might not get Prius-type mileage, but it’s also larger, more comfortable, equipped with equally impressive electronics, and doesn’t looks like a roller skate.

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid isn’t a Prius or Insight killer and it never was meant to be. It doesn’t put up the same type of mileage and it can cost a bit more. This car isn’t geared to peeps who want everyone to know that they are hugging trees and saving whales, but rather the everyday man who needs the function of a mid-size car that gets great gas mileage. With a few small exceptions, like different fog light housings and a unique color option, the body is identical to the standard models, which is a good thing as it’s a looker.

The new Fusion body builds upon the styling cues of the original model but throws in an almost Japanese look. The taillights hint of a Subaru influence and the headlights are very Lexus-ish. The grill, however, is all Ford Fusion. Overall, the new style works well and it’s a great looking wannabe sport sedan.

Inside, many of the instruments come from the Ford parts bin with the notable exception of the LCD instrument cluster. Even over 3,200 miles in 8 days, the seats were comfy, supportive and showed their sporty side on PCH 1 in-between LA and San Francisco. My pregnant wife, who rode shotgun on the Detroit to San Francisco trip, found the seats to be sufficient with the aid of a small pillow.

The center instrument column is the glaring exception of the good looking car though. It’s ugly and poorly designed. It’s overwhelming at times with poorly placed buttons and a strange sloping design. The car we drove across country didn’t have a GPS system so perhaps that option improves the look and function.

Now, the instrument cluster, which is the most innovative part of the car. Flanking the center-placed speedometer is two LCD screens that display all the necessary info about the automobile: fuel level, hybrid drive status, live MPG, odometer, everything really. These LCD screens work in real time and are very smooth in operation.

This design evolution is a welcome change from the traditional dial-type gauges, but the long term viability is still in question. These screens will probably cost dramatically more to replace than traditional analog gauges and low-cost neighborhood garages might not be able to do the work. Still, these screens are the best part of the car and you must watch the video walkthrough to fully appreciate their function.

Fuel economy is still the most important aspect of this automobile despite the sweet electronics and great styling. We drove this car from Detroit across the plains to South Dakota and then south to Denver. Over the next couple of days we traversed the Rocky Mountains and made our way to LA via Las Vegas. And then up to San Francisco by way of the winding Pacific Coast Highway 1. Over the 3,200 miles of semi-aggressive and fast highway driving, this 2010 Ford Fusion recorded 35.1 miles per gallon, which is slightly less than the EPA estimates of 41 in the city and 36 on the highway.

Many non-hybrid cars can get this type of fuel economy. Even my old 2000 Grand Prix can see similar mileage through carefully and thoughtful driving. We had many miles to travel to get from Detroit to San Francisco so let’s just say “carefully and thoughtful driving” wasn’t a top priority. I can truthfully say that anyone can get over 35 mpg in this mid-size car if I did. You can budget your fuel cost easily ’cause it’s that easy to get that mileage. Seriously, no matter how hard I pushed the car on PCH 1 or how fast I went across the vast emptiness that is South Dakota, this car got 35 mpg. Higher mileage could have easily been attained if the cruise was set at 65 mpg the entire trip, but that wouldn’t have been fun.

Similar hybrids are available from other manufacturers as well. Toyota sells a Camry hybrid, GM offers a hybrid Malibu, and even Nissan sells an Altama Hybrid. This Ford isn’t much different from the other options, which is a good thing as the other models are trend setters. The Fusion has great styling inside and out, a comfortable interior and as a plus, gets slightly better gas mileage than the other options. There isn’t much more that potential buyers could want out of this car.

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid: Highly recommended.

Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (yes, it does really exist) has released a top ten list of the most fuel-efficient cars sold last year in Nippon. The result: Toyota’s Prius (pictured) is No. 1 in the standard and small-sized vehicle category whereas the Daihatsu Mira tops the light vehicle segment (vehicles with automatic transmissions only).

The Prius came in first with a mileage of 35.5km/l, and was trailed by Honda’s Civic Hybrid with 31km/l and the Toyota Vitz (Yaris) with 24.5 km/l. The top three remained unchanged from last year. Toyota promised the new and partly solar-powered Prius that’s due out in May in Japan will even be 10% more fuel-efficient than its predecessor.

Among light vehicles, Daihatsu’s Mira boasted a mileage of 27km/l, besting the Subaru R1/R2 and Suzuki’s Alto Lapin with 24.5km/l each. The Alto Lapin made its debut in the list this year.

Have a look at the tables below for a full overview.

Via Tech-On

Top Gear is out to show the world that you don’t need a brand new hybrid car with a $25k price tag to be eco friendly. Their goal: Build a car that can get 70 mpg for only $7,000 and can hit 60 MPH in under 7 seconds. It’s called…The Sipster.

The Top Gear.com American team choose a 1981 VW Rabbit. Classy and classic that Volkswagen is. The project just started but we wish them the best of luck out smarting a Toyota Prius while keeping the price in a recession friendly range. The blog will be updated with pics and the progress. We’ll be keeping a close on this one.

Honda recently unveiled the second generation Honda Insight and we spend sometime with the Prius-look alike. The interior has a futuristic look that you know was done on a budget thanks to the cheap plastic. The dash cluster is not only fun, but functional, with the tach center located and the speedo housed alone above the main instruments. The radio and HVAC controls continues the plastic and functional feel but keep in mind this hybrid has a EPA mileage estimates of 40 mpg city, 43 highway, and 41 combined for less than the Prius so high-quality material probably wasn’t a top priority. Photo gallery after the jump.

Plug-in electric vehicles might, one day, be a big hit but the Poulsen Hybrid kit will allow compact car owners a piece of the action early. The upgrade works by incorporating two electric motors on each of the drive shaft-equipped wheels in a moon rover-type fashion. (FWD or RWD compatible) These motors do not drive the wheels entirely but rather provides an extra gas saving boost while traveling between 15 and 60mph. The makers claim that a previously 30 mpg car transforms into a 50 mpgcar with the kit installed. Interested? The $4,550 kit gets you lead acid batteries or $8,600 for the lithium ion edition.

Honda has developed an ecological drive assist system [JP], which will be used in a new Insight hybrid model that is scheduled for release next spring in Japan.

The system is based on three different functions:

- teaching
(a display on the dashboard (”eco guide”) provides visual feedback about the level of fuel efficiency the driver achieves with his or her driving style in order to “teach” drivers how to drive efficiently)

- ECON
( in the ECON mode, the system will take over control of the continuously variable transmission (CVT), the air-conditioning and the engine to reduce fuel consumption)

- coaching
( the car’s speedometer changes its color in real time to indicate if the car is driven in a fuel-efficient way)

Honda says they are the first company in the world to combine these three funtions in an integrated drive assist concept.

Let’s say that Congress refuses to give some of that bailout money to Detroit—does that effectively kill off electric cars like the Chevy Volt? That depends on who you’re talking to.

It’s like this (yes, that phrase is a new crutch of mine): The big three auto makers are screwed. People have no money, nor can they borrow, to buy cars, and Detroit hasn’t been a decent car, much to the delight of the Japanese, since [insert your last favorite American-made car here—the Model T, maybe?]. They focused on making gas guzzling SUVs and trucks, what with their higher profit margins, because, at the time, gas was cheap. And while gas prices have dropped dramiatically in recent weeks, it’s seen as a temporary drop; if you think demand is going to drop in the years to come, especially with the emerging markets of China and India finally getting bitten by the car bug, you’re mistaken.

Combine the cars-ain’t-selling situation with the broader “we’ll all be on bread lines soon” economy and you can see what a perilous position Detroit is in. The question then becomes, do you bail them out or not? If you don’t you risk putting the millions of employees out on the street, and millions of angry, unemployed workers roaming around Michigan (and everywhere Detroit has a presence) doesn’t do anybody any good. If you do you’re seen as “rewarding” Detroit for its bad habits, that is, producing piece-of-garbage cars that nobody wants to buy.

Which brings us to the main topic, the fate of electric cars. By many accounts, Chevy has essentially gambled its future on the Volt being a success. But, if the company doesn’t get any of that sweet, sweet bailout money—it’s not like Detroit is asking for more money, but merely a percentage of the already set aside $700 billion—the Volt may have to go, or at the very least be delayed. Chevy (and co.) can’t continue to develop new automotive technologies if there’s no money to pay the bills.

Now, some “green” activists are suggesting that, sure, give them the money, but force them to do away with SUVs and other gas guzzlers and invest a good deal of that money into hybrids, batteries, electricity and other alternative energies. Make Detroit change its behavior, the behavior that got it into this mess in the first place.

The Chevy Volt, Detroit’s answer to the Toyota Prius, just became a lot more advantageous, tax-wise. That is, of course, provided you can afford the $40,000 price in the first place.

Tucked in that bailout package that Congress passed last week is a $4,000 tax credit for cars that have a 4 kWh (or greater) battery. Right now, the only car that meets that is the Volt. Such tax credits top out at $7,500.

Not everyone has reacted positively to the news. Some see it as pork—Washington trying to bail out Detroit—and others don’t see how this benefits the average citizen. You’re talking about a $40,000 car (which isn’t exactly cheap) that saves you X amount per year on gasoline. (X amount depends on where you live.) Wouldn’t a less expensive hybrid be more cost effective for the average person?

And I totally love how one of the commenters from Daily Tech’s post is all, “$7,500 to drive a Chevy? Not enough.” Not that I’ve ever driven a Chevy, but the cynicism made me snicker.

Honda yesterday announced they hope to sell 100,000 units in North America of a new hybrid car slated for release on April 22, 2009 (Earth Day).

The five-door, five-passenger vehicle lower is planned to not only be cheaper than the current Civic hybrid model (base price in the US: $22,600) but also to outperform Toyota’s hybrid market leader Prius in price (base price: $21,500). Toyota managed to sell more than 180,000 Priuses in the US last year.

The new Honda hybrids, which are expected to be smaller than the Prius models, will be be manufactured in Japan. The company will initially produce 200,000 of the vehicles, with half targeted for export to North America. Except for spy shots, there are no photographs of the new hybrid available, which is rumored to be unveiled during the 2008 Paris Motor Show in October.

Working off of the post from earlier today concerning Lotus adding artificial engine noise to hybrid cars in the name of safety, we thought we might see how a few alternatives might work instead of the boring artificial car engine sound.