phev


2014 Prius PHV – Skip the Plug on This One

prius phv 07

Back in 2006 when I first started writing professionally about cars, plug-in cars were just starting to make a comeback to the marketplace with the reveal of the Tesla Roadster. At the time, a number of fans of the second-generation Toyota Prius wanted in on the action and started adding bigger battery packs to turn them into plug-in hybrids. A combination of wanting to grease that squeaky wheel and plug-in vehicle mandates from the state of California eventually led Toyota to produce a plug-in variant of the third-gen Prius and I recently got to spend a week driving one.

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At the opposite end of the scale from the F12berlinetta, we find the latest in plug-in…

At the opposite end of the scale from the F12berlinetta, we find the latest in plug-in hybrid technology from +Chevrolet, +Ford Motor Company and +Toyota USA.

+Motor Trend Magazine asks the question; which would take the Volt or the Fusion Energi? The Volt is the pioneering series hybrid/extended range EV while Fusion adopts the latest version of Ford's power-split parallel hybrid architecture. The EPA has rated the Volt at 94 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) in charge depleting mode (electric drive) while the Fusion which comes out later this year is projected to get over 100 MPGe.

Meanwhile Toyota is about to launch the plug-in version of the Prius with an EPA rating of 95 MPGe. The Prius offers an electric driving range of about 11 miles while the Volt can go about 35 miles without gas and the Fusion is expected to get about 20 miles per charge.

The Volt provides the utility of a hatchback although the large central battery means it is limited to just four seats. The Fusion gets a roomier back seat with space for five although cargo space is more limited by the trunk.

Neither of these cars is inexpensive although they are certainly a lot more affordable than the Ferrari. Which would you choose?

#phev #pluginhybrid #fordfusionenergi #chevyvolt

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Thread of the Day: Ford Fusion Energi or Chevy Volt – Which Would You Take? – WOT on Motor Trend
The Fusion Energi is Ford's answer to the Chevy Volt, but can it really dethrone our former Car of the Year? Share your opinion here.

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I honestly wish I could say that this was a surprise, but frankly I'm surprised… 1

I honestly wish I could say that this was a surprise, but frankly I'm surprised that Fisker actually got as far as it did. The 125+ years of the auto industry is riddled with far more failed brands than successful ones and jumping in at the technological bleeding edge is a great way to be among the latter group.
#fiskerautomotive #fisker #electricvehicles #ev #phev

Reshared post from +Tim Stevens

Some ugly news from Fisker: losing federal funds, laying off 66 and having to abort Project Nina.

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With federal loans blocked, Fisker halts work on Project Nina, lays off 66 workers
Fisker Automotive's bumpy 2011 appears to have given way to an even rockier 2012. A little more than a month after recalling 239 of

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