Volkswagen E-Up! concept

Volkswagen and Audi have announced aggressive plans for electrification of their model lines over the coming years. Volkswagen is just now launching its first production hybrid with Touareg and will add three more mainstream models in the next four years. Audi is also launching two hybrids and both brands are bringing a range of battery electrics to market.
 

2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid

Porsche is unveiling an all-new second generation Cayenne SUV next week at the Geneva Motor Show. The new Cayenne gets a significant weight reduction to go along with a new hybrid powertrain.

Denise Gray

General Motors director of global battery systems Denise Gray is leaving the automaker to join a California based battery start-up company. Gray's new employer has not been announced yet, but her last day at GM will be March 5, 2010. Gray has lead battery development at GM since December 2006.

Hyundai i-Flow

Hyundai will unveil its first diesel hybrid concept next week at the Geneva Motor Show. The new i-Flow is a D-segment sedan that will be joined by low CO2 emissions versions of most of the company's lineup as well as a fuel cell version of the new Tucson crossover.
 

2011 Hyundai Sonata

Hyundai will publicly unveil its first hybrid vehicle for the American market at the New York Auto Show in April. The new 2011 Sonata will get two additional powertrain options, a hybrid and a new turbocharged direct injection four cylinder engine to be offered instead of a V6.
 

Mercedes-Benz F800 concept

Mercedes-Benz will unveil a new concept next week at the Geneva Motor Show that previews both the next generation CLS sedan and an upcoming plug-in hybrid powertrain. The F800 Style concept is designed on a flexible platform that can also support a purely electric fuel powertrain.
 

Volkswagen Touareg hybrid prototype

For the last several years, Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche have been collaborating on the development of a new hybrid drive system. Audi's plans have changed numerous times over the course of development, with the Q7, A4 and Q5 all being identified as that brand's first application. Recently, Audi CEO Dr. Rupert Stadler announced that the Q5 hybrid would finally debut sometime in 2011 as the brand's first mass produced hybrid. Before that, the first applications out of the gate will be the Volkswagen Touareg and Porsche Cayenne will go on sale in mid-2010 with this new system.

Volkswagen New Compact Coupe concept

Volkswagen's new concept being unveiled the Detroit Auto Show may be a preview of both the next generation Jetta and a new hybrid powertrain. The New Compact Coupe is virtually the same size as the current Jetta in sleeker two door coupe body style. The concept also features one of Volkswagen's 1.4-liter TSI gas four cylinder engine.
 

Chevrolet Volt battery pack line

Three years to the day after the public debut of the Chevrolet Volt concept at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, General Motors rolled out the first "production" battery pack from a new factory in Brownstown, MI. The plant site that was announced in August 2009, now has production equipment in place and will begin building packs that will be retrofitted into the existed pre-production vehicles as well as going into the upcoming production verification vehicles.
 

OnStar Mobile application for Chevrolet Volt

General Motors plans to leverage its well established OnStar vehicle communications technology when it launches the Chevrolet Volt at the end of 2010. The OnStar team has worked with the Volt development team to create mobile phone applications that will help Volt drivers maximize their electric driving capacity.
 

Hyundai Blue-Will PHEV concept

Hyundai is debuting its first plug-in hybrid vehicle at North American International Auto Show. The Blue-Will concept is an all new vehicle that may also preview an upcoming dedicated hybrid vehicle from the Korean automaker. The Blue-Will is claimed to be able to get 40 miles of electric only driving from a full charge of its lithium polymer battery pack.
 

Volkswagen Up! Lite concept

At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Volkswagen unveiled a new lightweight compact concept car that features a new hybrid system. The Up! Lite is claimed to be the most fuel efficient four seat car in the world. While much of the technology in the Up! Lite will likely make it to production in coming years, the hybrid system is likely to be among the first.
 

2011 Hyundai Sonata

John Krafcik, Hyundai CEO used the stage at the Los Angeles Auto Show today to unveil the 2011 Hyundai Sonata. Unlike its mid-sized sedan competitors, the new Sonata will feature a powertrain line exclusively populated with four cylinder engines. A new direct injected 2.4-liter will be joined by a turbocharged version and a hybrid later in 2010.
 

Paolo Ferraro

A lineup of Chrysler executives took the stage in Auburn Hills to outline, the company's plans for the next five years. The tie up with Fiat will allow Chrysler to significantly upgrade its powertrain lineup by adding small engines from Italy, dual clutch gearboxes and new diesel engines. Powertrain SVP Paolo Ferraro didn't give any specific timing for the introduction of diesels to the US market but did emphasize that after-treatment systems would allow Fiat diesels to meet US and EU emissions standards.
 

Bob Carter

Toyota group vice president and general manager Bob Carter told media in Detroit that Toyota would introduce a battery electric vehicle in 2012. The company also has plans to introduce a fuel cell vehicle by 2015 if an adequate hydrogen fueling network has been established by that time. Carter emphasized that automakers need to be honest with consumers about the capabilities of alternative fuel vehicles to avoid consumer disappointment.

Frank Weber and the Chevrolet Volt

Frank Weber, vehicle line engineer for the Chevrolet Volt program is returning to Germany in December to take up a leadership position at Opel. Before Weber leaves Detroit, he and successor Doug Parks will participate in a live web-chat hosted here on Green Fuels Forecast today at 4pm EST. GM engineers recently completed a three day 1,200 mile drive with eight pre-production Volts and next month will hold the first media drives of the car in conjunction with the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Fisker Karma

Henrik Fisker, CEO of Fisker Automotive, Jack Markell, Governor of Delaware and Vice President Joseph Biden were on hand today to announce the purchase of a closed General Motors plant. Fisker Automotive will use the plant to build a second higher volume plug-in hybrid sedan for introduction in late 2012.
 

Subaru Hybrid tourer concept

Subaru unveiled a new concept at the Tokyo Motor Show with the first application of new hybrid powertrain. The Hybrid Tourer also features the first use of direct fuel injection on Subaru's horizontally opposed four cylinder engine.
 

2011 Nissan Fuga hybrid

Nissan unveiled its first in-house developed hybrid system at the Tokyo Motor Show for the new Fuga sport sedan. The rear wheel drive Fuga hybrid has a modular strong hybrid system that can operate on electricity at up 62 mph. The Fuga is sold outside of Japan as the Infiniti M.
 

Takanobu Ito with the Honda FCX Clarity and EV-N concept

New Honda CEO Takanobu Ito used the Tokyo Motor Show as a platform to introduce a new dedicated hybrid sports coupe and a battery electric city car. However, Ito remains firmly convinced that hydrogen fuel cells will be the best long-term solution to full function zero emissions vehicles.
 

Volkswagen Golf TwinDrive

Volkswagen is currently in the process of building a 20 car fleet of plug-in hybrid Golfs for a field test in several German cities. Green Fuels Forecast had the opportunity to learn more about the new cars and evaluate the TwinDrive Golf in Germany this week.
 

Honda CR-Z 2009 concept

Honda has released a preview of the new hybrid and electric vehicles that it will display at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. The CR-Z is an update of the concept of the same name that debuted two years ago while the EV-N is a small plug-in EV with a design inspired by the 60s era N360.
 

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept

BMW unveiled its first two production hybrid vehicles along with a more efficient diesel 3-series at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week. However, the star of the BMW stand is the new Vision EfficientDynamics concept, a high-performance plug-in hybrid/diesel concept sports car.
 

Volkswagen E-up! concept

Volkswagen is using the Frankfurt Motor Show to highlight two new high efficiency concepts that are destined for eventual production. The L1 is the latest development of a tandem two seater concept that consumes only 1 l/100km. The E-up! is a battery powered version of the automaker's upcoming New Small Family mini-cars.

Just two weeks after announcing plans to introduce a new mid-size crossover based on the outgoing Saturn Vue for Buick, GM has canceled the vehicle. A conventionally powered version was to be launched in the second half of 2010 with a plug-in hybrid variant coming in 2011. Instead GM will move the plug-in hybrid program to another vehicle that will be launched at roughly the same time the Buick was expected to debut.

Chevrolet Volt battery pack

General Motors continues its news blitz this week with the announcement that the battery pack plant for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt will be located in Brownstown Township MI, southwest of Detroit. The plant will assemble the packs using the lithium ion cells provided by LG Chem of South Korea.
 

pre-production Chevrolet Volt

General Motors is currently in the midst of building a fleet of pre-production Chevrolet Volts that will be used to complete development and validation of the extended range electric vehicle. A group of media were taken through the pre-production operations facility this week and given an opportunity to ride in one of the IVER prototypes with chief engineer Frank Weber.
 

2011 Buick PHEV crossover teaser

Following the announcement that General Motors would introduce a plug-in hybrid crossover badged as a Buick in 2011, Green Fuels Forecast spoke with Larry Nitz, director of hybrid powertrain development. Nitz shared some additional information about may be the first mainstream production plug-in hybrid.
 

teaser shot of 2011 Buick CUV

General Motors announces that the plug-in hybrid SUV it has been developing as a Saturn Vue on since late 2006 will finally go on sale in 2011 as a new Buick model. Since GM is selling the Saturn brand to Roger Penske, it has opted to re-make the Vue as a compact crossover for Buick, one of its four remaining brands. LG Chem has been selected to supply the lithium ion cells for the new vehicle.
 

2010 Lexus HS250h

Lexus announces that its new HS250h will go on sale in late August at a price starting at $34,200. The HS250h is the first ever luxury car that is being built exclusively with a hybrid powertrain.
 

Audi R15 TDI

The combination of a world-wide economic crisis and increasing concerns about the environment have triggered many questions about whether motorsports is relevant anymore. Scott Atherton, CEO of the American Le Mans Series discusses the economics of racing and his series attempts to promote "Green Racing."
 

2010 Lexus HS250h

For 2010 Lexus introduces what is billed as the "world's first dedicated luxury hybrid" in the form of the HS250h. Lexus hopes to build on the success of the iconic Toyota Prius by building a car that will be immediately recognized as a hybrid while providing all the refinement and ammenenities Lexus buyers expect.

General Motors this week officially inaugurated its new Global Battery Systems test lab. The new battery test facility is located at the automaker's Warren, MI tech center and is claimed to be the largest and most advanced facility in the United States.
 

BYD F3DM

Volkswagen and China's BYD sign a memorandum of understanding to investigate possible partnerships for future hybrid and electric vehicles that use lithium ion batteries.
 

Corsa Motorsports Ginetta-Zytek 09HS

At this weekend's Utah Grand Prix at Miller Motorsports Park, Corsa Motorsports will finally debut its new hybrid drive race car in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). The hybrid programme was first announced at last summer's Detroit Grand Prix and after overcoming numerous development hurdles the new car finally ran the Silverstone track in the UK last week. Drivers Johnny Mowlem and Stefan Johansson will undertake development of the new car in the heat of battle while team owner Steve Pruitt looks on.

Chevrolet Volt powertrain development prototype

More than two years after first unveiling its concept for an extended range electric vehicle, General Motors is now giving members of the media their first opportunity to actually drive prototypes of the Chevrolet Volt. Green Fuels Forecast drove a Chevy Cruze with the Volt's electric powertrain at the GM Technical Center in Warren MI
 

Raser electric Hummer H3

At the Society of Automotive Engineeers World Congress today, Raser Technologies has unveiled its experimental electric Hummer H3. The electric Hummer uses a extended range drive train similar to the architecture used for the Chevrolet Volt and is claimed to deliver up to 100 mpg depending on the drive cycle.
 

In a bid to recover some of the tens of thousands of automotive industry jobs lost over the past several decades, the state of Michigan has awarded $543 million in tax breaks to four different advanced battery manufacturers. The money is being used to incentivize the companies to build factories in the state that will produced lithium ion cells and packs for hybrid and electric vehicles.

2010 Toyota Prius

For the 2010 model year, Toyota has introduced the third generation of the iconic Prius hybrid. A decade ago the Prius was the first mass produced practical modern hybrid car.  The all-new model is still instantly recognizable as a Prius, but in spite of being larger and more powerful than ever before it is also more efficient. For all its virtues, the first two Prius generations were not considered driver's cars, but Toyota has addressed that complaint in the new car.

2010 Lexus RX 450h

Lexus has completely redesigned its RX hybrid luxury crossover for the 2010, giving it more power and lower fuel consumption. The improved performance has prompted Lexus to bump the model designation up to RX 450h while the EPA has rated the AWD version at 28 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. Green Fuels Forecast recently had the opportunity to drive the new RX and found its dynamic behavior improved over the original.

Magna Steyr Mila EV Concept

Magna Steyr, the contract manufacturing unit of Magna International reveals a concept named Mila EV at the Geneva Motor Show. The concept is based around a platform specifically optimized for electric and hybrid drive systems.
 

Porsche Cayenne Hybrid

Porsche will be publicly unveiling two greener versions of its Cayenne SUV at the Geneva Motor Show next week. The first, a diesel powered version recently launched production and will be on sale soon. The second is a hybrid variant that will go on sale in 2010.
 

Volkswagen announces that it will launch its first mainstream hybrid model in 2010 when the Touareg V6 TSI hybrid goes on sale. The German automaker claims the hybrid SUV will have a 7,700 lb towing capacity and achieve a combined 26 mpg (US)
 

2010 Ford Fusion hybrid

Ford announces that its new 2010 Fusion hybrid has been deemed eligible for the maximmum available federal tax credit of $3,400. The Fusion Hybrid goes on this spring with EPA fuel efficiency ratings of 41 mpg city and 36 mpg highway.
 

Fisker Karma S concept

Henrik Fisker came to Detroit this week for the North American International Auto Show to unveil the production version of his Karma plug in hybrid sport sedan. At the same time Fisker unveiled a concept for the second car his company plans to produce a 2-door hard top convertible called the Karma Sunset.  Video of our discussion with Henrik Fisker is embedded in the story.
 

A123 Systems li-ion cell

Massachusetts based A123 Systems has applied for $1.84 billion in loans from the US Department of Energy to finance the construction of factories to build automotive lithium ion batteries. If A123 gets approval for the loans, it hopes to have sufficient capacity to build batteries for 5 million hybrid vehicles annually by 2013.
 

Fisker Sunset concept

Fisker Automotive will be debuting a new concept alongside the production version of its Karma sports sedan at the North American International Auto Show this month. The concept called Sunset will likely use the same powertrain as the Karma and is believed to have a convertible body style.

At next months North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Toyota will unveil a new battery electric concept vehicle alongside the new 2010 Prius hybrid. Toyota has not revealed any details of the new concept yet.

2010 Ford Fusion hybrid

The 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid is now officially the most fuel efficient mid-sized sedan available in the United States. The EPA has issued official mileage estimates for Ford's new hybrid and rated it at 41 mpg on the urban cycle and 36 mpg on the highway.
 

Volvo S60 concept

Ford's first four cylinder EcoBoost engine will debut at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in the Volvo S60 concept. Volvo has released images and information on the concept that reveal it is powered by a 1.6L turbocharged and direct injected four cylinder engine. As part of an all new powertrain, the engine yields 47 mpg in the concept.

GS Yuasa EH6 lithium ion cells

Honda announces new lithium ion battery joint venture with GS Yuasa. The battery maker and car manufacturer will collaborate on developing and manufacturing lithium ion batteries for hybrid vehicles.
 

2010 Toyota Prius

Plummeting vehicle sales and US gasoline prices have caused Toyota to reverse course for the second time on plans for a new factory in Tupelo Mississippi. The plant originally planned to assemble the Highlander SUV was switched to the Prius hybrid in July of this year. Work on the plant will now be suspended when the building is completed.
 

2010 Ford Fusion hybrid

For the 2010 model year Ford is making a full frontal assault on Toyota's Camry hybrid with the introduction of hybrid variant of its mid-sized Fusion sedan. Green Fuels Forecast spent an afternoon driving this new hybrid sedan around the crowded streets of Los Angeles and came away with an outstanding 43.1 mpg average fuel economy handily beating any other car in the mid-size segment currently available in the US market.

Mercedes Benz BlueZero concept

Mercedes-Benz will reportedly introduce an electric vehicle concept dubbed the BlueZero at January's North American International Auto Show. The BlueZero's design is also believed to be a preview of the next generation B-Class hatchback.
 

Nancy Gioia introduces the 2010 Fusion Hybrid

At the Los Angeles Auto Show Ford introduces its second generation hybrid platform for the Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans.  Following the unveiling Green Fuels Forecast spoke with Nancy Gioia, director of sustainable mobility technologies for Ford about the new hybrids, the company's plug-in hybrid test program, and batteries.

2009 TwinDrive VW Golf

Volkswagen unveils a TwinDrive plug-in hybrid version of its recently introduced sixth generation Golf at a conference in Berlin. The TwinDrive architecture was shown earlier this year in a previous generation Golf and will be used in 20 car field test beginning in 2009.
 

John Krafcik

At the Los Angeles Auto Show Hyundai announces the new hybrid drive system that will debut in the 2011 Sonata. Green Fuels Forecast sat down with John Krafcik, newly promoted to acting president and CEO to learn more about the innovative new system.

Fisker Karma

Fisker Automotive is moving ahead with plans to begin producing an extended range plug-in hybrid sports sedan in late 2009. The California startup announces a deal to purchase engines for the Karma PHEV from General Motors. Fisker will use the 2.0L turbocharged and direct injected EcoTec four cylinder to propel the Karma after its 50 mile electric range is depleted.

Hyundai Hybrid Blue Drive

At the Los Angeles Auto Show Hyundai announces that it won't wait until 2020 to meet the new 35 mpg corporate average fuel economy standard. The automaker's new Blue Drive efficiency strategy is expected to allow it to meet the standards by 2015. A mix of technologies including hybrids, direct injection, weight reduction and even fuel cells will help the company meet its goal.

1999 Toyota GT-One

Dominant hybrid vehicle manufacturer Toyota may be returning to Le Mans with the technology it is currently developing for Formula One. Toyota could be the second manufacturer to create a hybrid drive prototype for the French endurance race where it last competed almost ten years ago.

The pre-production Fisker Karma

Fisker Automotive will open a new engineering and development center in Pontiac, MI to help bring its premium plug-in hybrid sports sedan, the Karma, to life.

2011 Chevrolet Volt

A report on an automotive website late Thursday night that cash flow problems at General Motors would cause a delay in the Chevrolet Volt program has been categorically denied by company officials.

The four-cylinder, 2.2L i-DTEC

While supporting increased efficiency requirements, Honda executives sounded less than thrilled with the structure of the new  rules during a conference call this week to discuss automotive fuel economy. John German acknowledged that the regulations will lead to higher vehicle costs to pay for new technology that is needed. On the technology front, Honda is persuing a number of fronts including hybrids, CNG, and biofuels but remained non-commital on plans to introduce its diesel engines to the US market in 2009.

Ford today unveils a new green-minded fuel economy gauge for its 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, which will premiere next month at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. The automaker has shared a teaser video demonstrating the dashboard setup. The more efficient the driving, the more green leaves on the animated branch sprout.

2009 Chrysler Aspen hybrid

The continuing collapse of demand for large SUVs has prompted Chrysler to pull ahead the closure of its Newark DE assembly plant. The closure of the plant, which is the only production site for the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen, likely means a very short production run for the automakers first production hybrid models.

2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid

The official EPA fuel economy ratings for Chrysler's first production hybrids have been released and the 20 mpg city /22 mpg highway numbers top the equivalent vehicles from General Motors.  Chrysler's Aspen and Dodge Durango hybrids use the same Two-Mode hybrid system installed by General Motors in the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon.
 

Honda Insight Concept

As with other recent auto shows, the Paris Motor Show coming up in early October will again feature a wide array of fuel and emissions saving concept and production cars from around the world. New hybrid cars will be appearing from Honda, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Citroen, Peugeot and others will share the stage with new diesels from General Motors, Volkswagen and Subaru. Flexible bio-fueled vehicles and electrics will also be rolling out in the city of lights.

2011 Chevrolet Volt

As General Motors enters its second century facing the biggest financial crisis in its history, it unveils the production version of the car that it hopes will represent a newbeginning . Sixteen months are unveiling the Chevrolet Volt as a concept, the production design is unveiled at General Motors centennial celebrations.

Peugeot 908 HY

Peugeot announces a new diesel-electric hybrid demonstrator variant of its 908 HDi Le Mans Series race car at the final race of the 2008 season in England. The French manufacturer is currently testing the hybrid racer but has not committed to competition until the ACO which sets the Le Mans rules finalizes new regulations.

Renault Ondelios Concept

Renault reveals a diesel hybrid crossover concept vehicle that will be publicly shown for the first time at the Paris Motor Show in October. The Ondelios is a six passenger crossover claimed to deliver 52.3 mpg (US).