The following article has excerpts from an article written by Bradley Berman, Editor, HybridCars.com.

“General Motors rocked the green car world when it unveiled the Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid concept car, at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. The Volt concept promises all-electric gas-free driving for 40-mile stretches, and extended driving range up to 600 miles—and would use a so-called “eflex” system to allow a full range of fuel sources, including gasoline, hydrogen, and bio-fuels. The Volt would put much greater emphasis on the electric part of the gas-electric combination than today’s hybrid offerings.”

The foresight in placing more emphasis on the eclectic side of the equation is a direction that is welcomed by many. Less emphasis on the fuel side is of course a direction on the positive side, the Volt utilizes the “e-flex” system as well which creates fuel options for the consumer.

The significant reliance on lithium ion batteries is the greatest challenge facing the Volt… it may take a few years to perfect – it is by no means unattainable!

With fuel prices so unpredictable and the economy influx having GM working to accommodate the consumer by manufacturing an automobile with such versatility is just what the consumer and GM need!

GM provided a few points of clarity at the 2008 New York Auto Show in March:

* The Volt will be a small, four-door hatchback based on GM’s global small-car architecture and built on an existing assembly line.
* The Volt will initially be sold only in certain states or cities, before it rolls out nationwide.
* The car will low-slung and narrow to achieve the best possible aerodynamics.
* The Chevy Volt’s lithium-ion battery pack will have 16 kilowatt hours of capacity, enough for 40 miles of electric drive.
* The Volt will have an on-board battery charger that can work with any type of typical household electric current.
* The battery pack will consist of 250 individual cells, wired in series, so that if any one of them fails, the whole pack will be dead. The pack will be liquid-cooled.
* GM is targeting an acceleration time from 0 to 60 mph of between 7 and 9 seconds, similar to the range of most family sedans today.

“GM has scored a big victory by putting the company back into the national conversation about auto technology, energy and the environment.”

We are all looking forward to getting behind the wheel of a VOLT!

Toyota Camry Hybrid

You’ll never get accused of recklessness for buying a Toyota Camry. It’s safe, comfortable, dependable, relatively attractive and altogether predictable. And based on the overwhelming sales numbers, Americans are happy with a reliable and affordable set of wheels for the family. The Camry has been America’s top-selling passenger vehicle for eight of the past nine years.

As long as you’re being practical, then why not invest a few extra dollars for the Camry with a hybrid drive that offers an EPA rating of 33 miles to the gallon, and gives you around 700 miles between visits to the gas station?

In the Toyota Prius, the hybrid system was a bold move into unknown technology. The hybrid option on the Camry seems like a common sense choice for an era when one storm—meteorological or political—could send gas prices toward $4 per gallon. Consumers who care about fuel economy can choose between the standard Camry’s four-cylinder combined highway/city mpg rating of 25 mpg; the V6′s mpg rating of 23; or the hybrid’s 33 mpg.

The first half of the Camry Hybrid drivetrain is a 147 horsepower version of the standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine. The second half is a 105-kW electric motor and 244-volt battery pack that delivers a peak of 45 hp. The battery pack consists of 34 nickel metal hydride modules, each of which contains six 1.2-volt cells. Run it all through a continuously variable transmission, and it adds up to 192 horsepower, versus the standard Camry’s 158 hp. For a point of comparison, the Camry Hybrid moves from 0 – 60 in about 8.9 seconds, nearly a second faster than the Toyota Prius.

Toyota employs the full regimen of safety features for the Camry Hybrid, from the standard Vehicle Dynamic Integrated Management (VDIM) system, which orchestrates antilock brakes, traction control, stability control, and steering boost—to the Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) seat design found in the Prius.

Toyota set the price for the Camry Hybrid at $25,200. The first set of Camry Hybrids were all produced in Japan. In 2007, Toyota began producing approximately 4,000 Camry Hybrids per month in its Georgetown, KY, plant, where it currently turns out Camrys at the rate of 30,000 per month.

Toyota plans to sell 60,000 Camry Hybrids, or 15 percent of all Camry sales. Naysayers believe gas-electric hybrids will reach the limit of their market potential when the East Coast and West Coast fringe have bought their Priuses. The Camry Hybrid will test that premise like never before. Are 15 percent of mainstream American buyers willing to invest in a technology that will help the United States wean itself off oil, reduce our environmental impact, and protect us against price shocks at the pumps? Are you in the 15th percentile?

The Toyota Prius (its name comes from Latin and means “to go before”) exists as a partial solution to the automobile’s problem of tailpipe emissions. The Prius, like other hybrid vehicles, has a special powertrain that combines a gasoline-fueled internal combustion engine with an electric motor. This powertrain, along with other advanced features, allows the Prius to deliver higher fuel economy and lower emissions compared to regular cars.

Due to its popularity and relatively long sales history, Toyota’s original hybrid car is a strong candidate for a shopper interested in a used hybrid vehicle. So far, it seems Toyota’s reputation for reliability and durability is holding true for the Prius. Early concerns about long-term durability have turned out to be mostly unfounded. However, potential buyers of a used Prius should take extra care during the research process. As the Toyota Prius is quite complex, future repairs and part replacements could be quite expensive.

Current Toyota Prius

The current and second-generation Toyota Prius was introduced for the 2004 model year. It features a four-door hatchback body and can seat up to five people. The car’s hybrid powertrain features a small 1.5-liter gasoline-fueled engine that’s used in conjunction with two electric motors and a special planetary gearset that functions as a continuously variable transmission. The result is adequate power, high fuel economy and reduced tailpipe emissions.

Under full acceleration, both power sources work together to provide maximum oomph. But under lighter load conditions such as stop-and-go traffic, the Prius alternates between the two, often running on battery power alone. A regenerative braking system converts energy normally lost as heat into electricity to charge the car’s battery pack. The gas engine produces 76 horsepower and 82 pound-feet of torque, while the electric motors generate the equivalent of 67 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.

In most other ways, the Toyota Prius functions like a regular family car. The interior is comfortable for four adults and comes standard with most modern convenience features. On the Prius’s dash, there’s an information display that can be used to show the operational status of the hybrid system. The vehicle’s hatchback design provides extra versatility in terms of carrying items, and the rear seat can be lowered flat.

In our Toyota Prius reviews, our editors have cited outstanding mileage, ultra-low emissions, hatchback utility and a reasonable price as the car’s greatest strengths. Downsides include soft handling characteristics at highway speeds and, compared to regular midsize sedans, unimpressive maximum acceleration. Most Prius owners say their cars typically achieve real-world mpg ratings in the mid-40s. The current Prius model hasn’t been subject to any major update as of yet, though 2006 and later models have a few improved features. Also, a “standard” trim level, which lacks cruise control and heated mirrors but in exchange has a significantly lower base price, was added in 2008.

Past Toyota Prius Models

The original Prius debuted in the North American market for the 2001 model year. However, Toyota had been selling it in Japan since 1997. This model was the second hybrid vehicle available to U.S. consumers after the Honda Insight. In just about every aspect, the original Prius has been eclipsed by the second-generation car. The first-generation Toyota is slower, smaller and not as comfortable. But this in no way means that it is to be avoided. For a consumer interested in a used hybrid vehicle, this first-gen Toyota Prius could be a smart choice.

Though less advanced than the one in the current model, the older Prius’s powertrain still paired a gasoline engine with an electric motor. Its 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine made 70 hp at 4,500 rpm and 82 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 rpm. The electric drive motor was worth another 44 peak hp.

Selecting a used Prius based on year shouldn’t be too difficult. Models built for 2002 and 2003 might have more of a draw, as it was then that Toyota started to offer additional optional features, such as a navigation system, side airbags and cruise control. Most first-generation owners seem quite happy with their cars and overall reliability has been very good. For additional peace of mind, these models came with an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for the battery pack.