News By Topic: Vehicles and the Environment: Hybrids

NHTSA Opens Toyota Prius Probe

Jun 2, 2005

WASHINGTON/TOKYO June 2, 2005; Reuters reported that the NHTSA is investigating Toyota Motor Corp.'s popular Prius gasoline-electric hybrid sedan over complaints about sudden engine stalling, safety regulators said on Wednesday. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a preliminary evaluation this wee ... Continue reading

Sales of Hybrids Continue to Climb in May, But Not At April Pace

Jun 2, 2005

washington DC June 2, 2005; The AIADA newsletter reported that Hybrid sales in the U.S. increased 2.3 times in May, up from 7,275 units last year to 16,887 units, but results for all automakers were down from the pace in April, reports Green Car Congress. Results for the month were as follows: “Sales of the marke ... Continue reading

EnerSys Acquires FIAMM's Motive Power Battery Business

Jun 2, 2005

READING, Pa., June 1 -- EnerSys the world's largest manufacturer, marketer and distributor of industrial batteries, announced today that it completed the acquisition of FIAMM's motive power battery business effective June 1. FIAMM motive power operates primarily in Europe and had sales of approximately euro 70 million ... Continue reading

ECD Ovonics' Battery Subsidiary Grants Patent License to Wintonic of China

Jun 1, 2005

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich., June 1 -- Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD Ovonics) announced today that its subsidiary, Ovonic Battery Company, Inc. (Ovonic Battery), has entered into a patent license agreement in connection with its proprietary nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery technology with Guangzhou Wintonic Batter ... Continue reading

Most Hybrid Vehicles Not as Cost-Effective as They Seem, Reports Edmunds.com

Jun 1, 2005

SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 1 -- Consumers seeking shelter from high gas prices might not find the relief they expect by turning to hybrids, announced Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031009/LATH011ALOGO) "The combination of increasingly hi ... Continue reading

Demand for Hybrids Soars, Paper Says; VW Considering Gas-Electric Jetta

May 31, 2005

Washington DC May 31, 2005; AIADA newsletter reported that ”With gas prices hovering near record highs, dealers are selling every hybrid they can get,” reports the Detroit News. “Waiting lists are so long that many customers are paying extra just to move ahead in line. Others are paying full sticker p ... Continue reading

BestWeek: Will Hybrid Cars Attract Preferred Insureds?

May 27, 2005

OLDWICK, N.J.--May 27, 2005--As automakers report waiting lists of car buyers eager to get behind the wheel of their new hybrids, insurers are evaluating their underwriting criteria for cars powered by both gasoline and electric motors. Their initial findings may surprise you. The May 30 edition of BestWeek provides an ... Continue reading

DaimlerChrysler Brings Clean Air to California

May 26, 2005

- The first fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) delivered since the Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen Learning Demonstration Program kickoff - Three new DaimlerChrysler F-Cell customers: California Air Resources Board (CARB), California Department of General Services (CDGS) and the California Energy Commission (CEC) - DaimlerC ... Continue reading

States Engaging Citizens to Consider Green Cars

May 25, 2005

Washington DC May 25, 2005; AIADA reported that all in all, at least 28 states and cities across the country are petitioning drivers in their territories to buy fuel-efficient, clean-burning hybrid automobiles, offering- or weighing the prospects for consumer incentives which include, tax breaks, free parking and use o ... Continue reading

40mpg.org Poll Asks Consumers to Decide Which Top-Selling U.S. Vehicles Should 'Go Hybrid' Next

May 25, 2005

Consumers Urged to Send a Message to Detroit By Picking Next Car, Truck or SUV for Hybrid Treatment; Six of 10 Top-Selling Vehicles in the U.S. Already Have 'Gone Hybrid' WASHINGTON, May 25 -- With plans already announced for hybrid versions of six of the 10 top-selling vehicles in the United States, the http://www.40m ... Continue reading

Honda Reaches 100,000-unit Mark in Cumulative Global Hybrid Vehicle Sales

May 25, 2005

Tokyo, Japan, May 24, 2005; JCN Newswire - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced that its cumulative worldwide sales of hybrid vehicles reached 100,000 units in April 2005, including approximate sales of 89,000 units in the U.S., 5,900 units in Japan, 3,800 units in Europe and 1,500 units in Canada. Honda currently off ... Continue reading

Gas Prices Drive Online Searches for Fuel Efficiency - TACH Content Viewing Up By 156 Percent

May 24, 2005

Analysis Based on New Addition to comScore Media Metrix qSearch System RESTON, Va., May 24 -- A new analysis based on comScore Media Metrix qSearch data revealed that nearly 700,000 Americans searched online for fuel efficiency-related terms in March 2005. These consumers conducted more than 1.5 million searches for te ... Continue reading

Hybrid Technologies Solar Car Scores Big at International Hybrid Competition

May 24, 2005

BERKELEY, Calif. & LOS ANGELES--May 24, 2005--Hybrid Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:HYBT.E) - 2005 North American Solar Challenge Next Big Event for Hybrid Technologies and UC Berkeley Joint Venture Hybrid Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:HYBT.E) - www.hybridtechnologies.com - and its subsidiaries - R-Electric Car Co., Global Hybr ... Continue reading

DENSO Introduces New Hybrid Vehicle Components in Europe

May 24, 2005

Components to be Included on Lexus RX400h TOKYO, May 24 -- DENSO Corporation's four new components for gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles -- hybrid control computer; battery- monitoring unit; DC-DC converter, and electric compressor for air conditioning systems -- will be introduced in Europe on the Lexus RX400h this su ... Continue reading

Fuel Cell Vehicle Ride-and-Drive at 5th Annual CONGRESSIONAL FUEL CELL EXPO on Capitol Hill

May 23, 2005

WASHINGTON--May 23, 2005--The bi-partisan sponsorship by Representative Nancy Johnson (R-CT), Representative John Larson (D-CT), Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is enabling more than 30 fuel cell industry leaders to exhibit at the 2005 USFCC CONGRESSIONAL FUEL CELL EXPO on May 24, 2005, in ... Continue reading