Hybrid car roadmap: what’s coming and when
Over the last several months we have looked at a number of small hybrid cars. Many of those cars are out or expected to hit the road within the next few years. This overview of the cars will give some idea of what’s here and what’s to come.
First on the list is the distinctive three wheeled Aptera. This two seater gets 230 mpg and resembles a wingless airplane. This car is actually classified as a motorcycle but has the safety features of a normal sized car with air bags, a composite safety cage, seat belts, and reinforced sides and roof.
Google has shown its enthusiasm for the little three wheeler by investing $2.75 million in Aptera Motors. Expect the Aptera to hit production late in 2008. If you live outside of the State of California, it will be a while before Aptera makes it to your area. Hopefully, the price projection of $30,000 will come down with the addition of Google’s investment.
Next up is the little Hungarian Antro Solo three seater. This is a multi hybrid car. This car not only uses gas and electric engines but also includes solar and pedal power as charging mechanisms. The driver of this car sits in the middle of the car between the two passenger seats, making the car wider than most of the other hybrids offered.
The Antro Solo has a composite body and gets a very impressive 150 mpg. Mass production will begin in 2010. At an expected price of around $20,000, this looks to be one of the more affordable expected hybrids.
Another unusual hybrid is the Swiss Mindset. This car, designed by ex-VW Head Designer Murat Günak, has a plastic body over an aluminum frame. The hybrid make up is backwards from most cars. A two cylinder gas engine is used as a generator to charge up the Li-ion battery to increase electric mileage. On the roof of the car are solar panels to add to the charging system and increase the mileage on sunny days.
On battery power alone, the car will go 100km (62 miles) and 800km (496 miles) when the gas generator kicks in. The Mindset is also due out in 2008. The price for this car is going to be rather high at 31,000 to 50,000 EUR ($43,251 to $69,745).
The Chevy Volt has gotten a lot of Blorge love as America’s first plug in hybrid from a major American car company. Even presidential candidate Barack Obama has commented on the promise the Chevy Volt holds for the American automobile industry.
The Volt will have the traditional electric/gas engine combination but rather than electric assist which is what you typically get with the Toyota Prius, the Volt will primarily use the battery with gas engine assist. On battery power alone, the Volt goes about 42 miles. Then the battery is left with about 30% power.
Once that happens, the gas engine kicks in and the battery is then used to assist the engine on hills and acceleration. Chevy is still tinkering with the mechanics of the car but the Volt is still expected to make its 2010 debut. The price however has gone from around $30,000 to around $40,000. Ouch!
Nissan is working on its own entry into the hybrid field which will look like its electric vehicle (EV). The HEV(Hybrid Electric Vehicle) will have a rear wheel drive and parallel-powertrain. This means that the powertrain will shift between two clutches to conserve energy.
Besides the innovative parallel-powertrain, Nissan’s hybrid will have many of the same features as the Toyota Prius currently has. It will recharge the battery through regenerative braking, and use the battery to assist when needed with acceleration and up hill driving. Nissan will be using batteries that it manufactures rather than outsourced batteries like other hybrid car makers. No word yet on potential release dates or price points.
Well, there you have it. Hybrids from both well known and unknown car makers expected in ever greater numbers beginning this year.
The prices for these innovative cars may price most of them out of the affordable range for a majority of people.
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