January 11th, 2009
Time for us drivers to plug in?
Automakers, both foreign and domestic, both Detroitish and Japanese, are hoping we American drivers will be electrified. At least they hope we’ll go for electrified cars. One MSM story today wonders ig continued low gasoline prices will kill public appetite for hybrid or alternative fuel vehicles for months, even years.
Ford’s talking about its Project M plug-in. Last year Ford got $10 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to work on Plug-in Electric Hyrbid Vehicle technology. Ford introduced the first plug-in flex-fuel SUV, the Escape. It can run on electricity, gasoline or E85. The Project M, all electric, will hit Ford showrooms in 2011, says the company.
Not only has loan-dependent GM been working to get its electric Volt to market next year. For any remaining high-end car buyers, GM just announced a Cadillac Converj that would use the same technology as the Volt. The Volt is expected to sell for around $40K, the Caddy might run you a speck or two more than that. Claiming a new beginning for the financial tottering auto giant, GM execs also promised the Spark, a city car (that means small) getting 40 MPG.
HYRBID WARS
Insight, courtesy Honda.
Honda has fired another salvo in its battle to dethrone rival Toyota as the hyrbid car colossus. Honda is showing off its Insight, which is to under-cut Prius’s price tage by several thousand bucks. This new Insight model is to hit Honda showrooms in the U.S. on Earth Day, April 22. The Prius now usually sells in the mid-20Ks. The Insight may seel for $20 or less.
In the exchange of rounds, Toyota announced it will have an all-electric Prius for sale soon. Tests on the cars begin later this year. Aiming for the urban commuter, Toyota also announced a city car. Their version of the European Smart Car which is on months and months of back order across the U.S. Here’s what the toy Toyota will look like:
City car model coming from Toyota. Photo courtesy Toyota.
If you’re interested in the car industry, or simply the way people use energy there’ll be no end to stories coming out of the Detroit Auto Show this week. It’s the first car show of the calendar year and usually crucial to big player rolling out their big plans for the future.
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A newsman since 1969, Harry Fuller has worked for CBS, ABC, CNBC Europe, CNET and was founding news director at TechTV. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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