Next month a US company will release a lithium battery/plugin kit for the current Prius. Supposedly the car will be able to run 40 miles w/o the ICE (gas motor) and average about 100 MPG. While hydrogen fuel cell technology is constantly being pushed back in terms of launch date. Today's available technologies like carbon fiber for weight savings and Lithium Ion battery packs can really enhance a vehicles mileage. I can see off-the-lot hybrids getting 150-200 MPG within 5 years. Just about the time when I'll need to upgrade my current Prius.
Trexuphigh
@
May 29, 2008 00:14:36 AM
2011 Chevey Volt/Hydrogen
I'm waiting for the 2011 Electric Chevy Volt with the hydrogen power generator. (Not the 1st generation Diesel generator Volt) Put water in, crack the water to hydrogen to power the generator to charge the battery. Good Riddance Oil comapnies and the Middle East OPEC! Perhaps Toyota will beat Chevey to the market or bring a more refined vehicle to market, but it should be clear that we are heading towards electric powered vehicles. People absolutely hate the oil/gas companies and their whole support industry along with the companies that sell us oil. People will switch to electric vehicles just to give the oil companies the finger.
Michael
of OH
@
May 28, 2008 21:10:08 PM
One trouble
One trouble is the car industry continues to believe its own hype spoon fed the public over many, many years. An absurdly big, powerful, flashy car is a good thing & really worth paying big bucks for. The first problem is in the public's and the industry's mind. We somehow have to over come this or we are all in a world of trouble. We are past the point resource wise that this can work for much longer, if we hold fast to a 'obsolete concept' we are going to pay an HUGE price for it as a nation. Its well past time for the quite small, ultralight, ultra-efficient, small engined vehicle.
VW 1 liter is closer to the right track.
Whether we are willing to make the big shift before its too late is, in my mind, the question.
Bill
of TN
@
May 28, 2008 08:14:21 AM
no, the 2009 will be the same as the 2008. The revamped, 2010 model will be introduced in Jan '09 at the Detroit Auto Show. That's the model he's hypothesizing will have two-prong outlets. Will be for sale spring 2009.
doc3osh
of NY
@
May 27, 2008 16:56:34 PM
two prone outlet power potential
when you say the next prius may have this feature, do you mean the 2009 model?
Trexuphigh @ May 29, 2008 00:14:36 AM
Michael of OH @ May 28, 2008 21:10:08 PM
Bill of TN @ May 28, 2008 08:14:21 AM
doc3osh of NY @ May 27, 2008 16:56:34 PM
hugh baskette of VA @ May 27, 2008 14:46:49 PM
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