In a surprise to many observers, Toyota formally announced the new Prius Plug-in model will be priced starting at $32,760, well above the price the auto maker had initially signaled. A fully loaded version of the Prius Plug-in will sell for $40,285. The Prius selling price is still about $7,000 less than Chevrolet Volt, but Volt will qualify for a full $7,500 tax credit under the federal government's incentive program, while the new Prius Plug-in will receive only $2500. The smaller incentive reflects the fact that the government program is based on the size of a vehicle's battery pack.
New York drugstore chain Duane Reade will add Smith Electric's Newton electric trucks to its delivery fleet. The move is part of a plan to reduce pollution, fuel consumption and in time, overall cost. With a range of more than 100 miles after an overnight charge and in excess of 16,000 lbs. carrying capacity, the cost of operating the electric trucks is about one-third the cost of running traditional diesel delivery trucks. Smith Electric says its Newton electric trucks are well-suited for urban settings.
A senior GM official says the automaker will not provide its Chinese partner SAIC with the technology secrets of the Chevy Volt. The partnership will focus on the development of an all-new battery-electric vehicle. The Beijing government plans to invest billions of dollars in an effort to create a market for various forms of battery electric vehicles in the coming years, and GM does not want to be left out. Details of the new GM/SAIC project have not yet been released.
A report issued by the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute says a combination of lead-footed driving, improper auto maintenance and poor route selection can reduce a car's fuel economy by as much as 45 percent. The report's authors determined that the average real-world fuel economy in the U.S. is 17.4 mpg, far less than the 2011 new car model-year federal corporate average fuel economy mandate of 27.5. Tips to drivers to help cars operate more efficiently include ensuring the engine is properly tuned, oil changes at recommended intervals, and keeping tires properly inflated.
Mazda is showcasing the first of its Skyactiv technology process with the world premiere of its new CX-5 compact crossover at the Frankfurt auto show. Skyactiv technologies include new engine designs focusing on higher compression gasoline and lower compression diesel powerplants as well as light-weight construction. Mazda engineers are already looking at the post Skyactiv phase with new, high efficiency gasoline engines planned for 2016.