Plug In Wars: Toyota vs. GM
Plug-in hybrids are going to be the next eco-fad of of the hybrid world. Slated for the year 2010, Toyota has announced plans to build plug-in hybrids by that year. 2010 is the same year auto giant GM has announced to reveal its first plug-in hybrid, the Chevy Volt. Even Ford has announced plans to build plug-in hybrids but no official year has been given to the public as to when they would begin manufacturing.
| Related Articles: |
Toyota has had the most success in the hybrid business so far, with 10+ years of experience in developing high quality, fuel efficient vehicles. In a battle of Plug-In wars between the proven Prius versus a Chevy Volt, the outcome of the winner may lead towards Toyota. However, if the Chevy Volt which has been hyped beyond belief is successful by means of efficiency and price, a lot of consumers may opt for the Chevy.
Also, GM has announced that a next generation vehicle for its Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid model is coming by late 2008 or early 2009. GM says it will become the most fuel efficient V6 SUV in which the new model is expected to increase fuel efficiency by 60% in city driving and by 50% in highway driving.
Technorati Tags: global warming
6 COMMENTS, ADD YOURS HERE:
i tihnk that plug in vehicles are a great idea. the war between all of the company's will be great becasue it will drive down the prices of the cars and in turn make it easier to purchase the cars and make them more readily available to the public. i think that a plug in car is a great idea because it uses as energy for that anyone can get a hold of and is fairly cheap.
I really think that a Plug n car is amazing and very creative but at the same time i think it uses alot of energy. a car like that is very nice and usable but like i said it probably wont be as good to the environment but its a really really nice car.
I would rather power my car off of the grid than by foreign oil. Alternative energy sources such as wind and solar will continue to grow, and as they do plug-ins will get greener and greener.
Any word on if the Volt will actually look the concept? It looks pretty cool right now.
This is a great thing, but we also need clean energy. What sense this would have, if we made the energy from coal and keep pollute the atmosphere anyway.
The real war on plug in hybrids is not between Toyota and GM, it is between vested petroleum interests and non-petroleum energy sources. It works on several levels, but I have a feeling that private investors put tremendous behind the scenes pressure on the manufacturers NOT to advance technology. Once drivers are given a choice of not going to the gas station, many will do everything possible to avoid doing so.
London is full of hybrides, such as Toyota Prius and Lexus, because they don't need to pay congestion charge every day, which is very high.
About big numbers:
Thousands of $billions ($trillions) of old and new OIL money can so easily slow down any environmentally friendly process, if it is against OIL interests, especially at a record oil price of $100 per barrel.
In other words, they are already substantial shareholders of all big,important companies...
Post a Comment