Posts Tagged ‘Fuel Economy’
Nissan to show off Infiniti M hybrid in LA
8 cylinder performance with 4 cylinder fuel economy
A pure Nissan hybrid
While Nissan has been a bit of a hybrid bear, the automaker has still been hard at work developing its own proprietary hybrid drive. To date, Nissan’s Altima hybrid has been built with hybrid technology licensed from Toyota.
However, at the LA Auto Show Nissan will show off its new hybrid drive in the 2012 Infiniti M hybrid.
According to MotorTrend, Nissan is reporting that the new M35 hybrid will provide “V-8 performance with four-cylinder fuel economy.”
Likewise, Nissan’s new hybrid drive should also feature a lithium-ion battery pack.
Kia Releases First Images of Forte Hatchback for Korea
For our readers interested in the upcoming Kia Forte Hatchback, we have two new official images from Kia as well as some information that accompanied these pictures.
According to Kia, the automaker commenced pre-orders for the Forte Hatchback in South Korea in early August. For the Korean market, the Forte Hatchback will be powered by a direct-injected version (GDI) of its 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with an output of 140 horsepower and 122 lb. ft of torque. It will be mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and is touted to achieve 16.5 km/liter in fuel economy (38 US MPG).
Kia has not mentioned a clear sales date for the Forte Hatchback in Korea. For now, all we can do is stay tuned for more official tidbits from the automaker as the year progresses.
[Source: Kia]
READ MORE for the second official image released by Kia!
ScanGauge II 3-in-1 Compact Multifunction Vehicle Computer with Customizable Display
ScanGauge II 3-in-1 Compact Multifunction Vehicle Computer with Customizable Display
- Programmable 3-in-1 automotive trip computer, diagnostic scan tool, and up to 37 digital gauges in one (vehicle dependent)
- Watch fuel consumption, cost-per-mile, coolant temperature, engine speed, horsepower, and much more in real time
- Works on all 1996 or newer OBDII cars, including gas, diesel, propane and hybrid vehicles
- Checks for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), clears the codes, and can turn off the “Check Engine” light
- No tools required for installation, small size fits nearly anywhere in the vehicle
The ScanGaugeII is a compact vehicle computer that connects to the diagnostic connector in seconds and gives you an extensive trip computer, real time gauges and trouble code reader. It can read fuel economy as you drive, tell you how fast your friend drove your car last night, tell you when you are going to run out of fuel and dozens of other functions. Installation takes only seconds and requires no tools. It can be moved from car to car. Works on gas, diesel, propane, and hybrid vehicles. Th
List Price: $ 169.95
Price: $ 159.00
Fuel economy: Is it you or is your hybrid a dud?
Is it a hybrid dud, or is it you?
Finding blame for bad hybrid fuel economy
Drive a hybrid just like any other vehicle, and it will usually still achieve considerably better fuel economy than a similar conventional vehicle, especially in city conditions. However, smart hybrid drivers can often significantly increase their hybrid’s fuel economy by letting a hybrid be a hybrid.
Still, when fuel economy comes up short, when is the problem the hybrid, not the driver? And when is it the driver, not the hybrid?
Recently, Lynn bought a used 2006 Toyota Highlander hybrid and is complaining that its fuel economy is coming up short. On her first tank of gas she is only averaging 18 mpg in mostly highway conditions. Whereas, according to the EPA, she should be averaging about 25 mpg, within a range of 21 – 30 mpg.
So, did she buy a hybrid dud? Does she need to learn how to ‘drive a hybrid’?
Since almost all her mileage is highway driving, it seems doubtful that it’s a hybrid, or a hybrid driving, problem. Nonetheless, it could still be driver error. For instance, is Lynn a heavy speeder that loves air conditioning? Also, what are her driving conditions? Flat, hilly, etc?
Nevertheless, Lynn has not yet even used an entire tank of gas. In fact, she’s only gone 75 miles thus far in a car that can go about 450 miles on a tank of gas. Thus, she has not had the chance to manually calculate her mileage, which is one of the first things she should do if she suspects a problem with her hybrid. Perhaps if mileage were calculated manually, Lynn might find she is within the range of average of fuel economy, and if she turns the AC down a bit and keeps the speed under 75, she might even average 25 mpg.
Then, again, maybe Lynn isn’t a speeder, nor does she care for AC.
If you’re worried your hybrid is a dud, pay attention to your driving style. Shut off the AC. Any difference? Drive slower. Any difference? Try different gas. Any difference? Most important, calculate your own gas mileage, especially in older hybrid vehicles. If after that your hybrid’s fuel economy is still far below average, then it’s time to visit your dealership.
–> Related: Love or hate your hybrid? Add your hybrid car testimonial.
Saving money with a plug-in hybrid conversion
A Prius with a Hymotion plug-in hybrid conversion package.
Good for the environment and reducing oil dependence, but your wallet?
“I’m going to use this to save money on my campaign. I’m running for Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder in November,” Ray Flesher recently told Denver 7 news about his recently converted plug-in Toyota Prius.
But is his plug-in hybrid conversion really saving money?
The Hymotion plug-in hybrid kit for Mr. Flesher’s Toyota Prius cost ,000, but tax credits in Colorado can reduce those costs by as much as 00. Likewise, the plug-in conversion kit increased Mr. Flesher’s fuel economy from a high of 52 mpg to 97 mpg.
So, is Mr. Flesher saving money if his conversion only cost 00?
At 50 mpg, the average Prius driver spends about 0 per year on gas according to the government. Doubling fuel economy should roughly half those fuel costs, plus there’s the extra savings in electricity versus gasoline. So let’s say fueling costs drop to just 0 per year – saving 0 per year. Wouldn’t that mean it would take 8 years to recover the costs of this conversion?
What about installation costs to have a third party install the Hymotion kit? Are they included?
Nevertheless, tax credits can’t last forever. Unfortunately, even if scale brings down costs by 60 percent – roughly about what battery experts claim should happen with manufacturing improvements over time – what percentage of consumers would be willing to pay for 8 years of gasoline up front so that they could start saving money – as much as 0 per year – in 9 years?
Most consumers, I’d bet, might question whether the batteries will even last that long, or function as efficiently over the years. Sadly, for instance, after more than a decade of solid battery performance in more than 2.5 million Toyota hybrid cars, many consumers still believe the batteries regularly need to be replaced.
OK. It’s Friday. I didn’t sleep well last, so maybe I make a mistake with my calculations, but it seems pretty obvious to me that, even with massive tax credits, it’s still almost impossible to cost-effectively justify a plug-in conversion. So, where did I go wrong?
