Slashdot Mirror

2000-current Honda Insight, 2-seater:
http://www.hondacars.com/models/model_overview.asp ?ModelName=Insight

2003-current Honda Civic Hybrid 5-passenger compact sedan:
http://www.hondacars.com/models/model_overview.asp ?ModelName=Civic+Hybrid

2001-2003 Toyota Prius 5-passenger compact sedan:
http://www.toyota.com/prius

2004 Toyota Prius 5-passenger midsize liftback:
http://www.toyota.com/prius/minisite/index.html
(for those who dislike Flash, info here:
http://www.toyota.com/prius/minisite/html/printabl e.html and here http://www.toyota.com/prius/minisite/specs/specs_b ody.html )

if you live in Japan there is also the hybrid
Estima (7-8 passenger minivan similar to the Previa),
and the mild-hybrid Crown large sedan.

if you can wait a year or so, Ford should have out
their hybrid Escape (info: http://www.hybridford.com (Flash only),
a "small" SUV/CUV that actually has towing capacity.
Lexus should also have their RX330 hybrid (the
RX400H) small SUV/CUV out (see http://www.lexus.com/about/hybrid/index.html
with Toyota shortly following with the hybrid
Highlander cousin.

I've also heard of the GM/Saturn Vue, the Nissan
Altima (I think that's the model), and the Toyota
Sienna, as next on the block with hybrid powertrains
(i.e. full/assist hybrids).

Is it just me, or does anyone else find it ironic that on the same page as this "How Hydrogen can Save America" article, there's a GIANT FUCKING AD FOR AN SUV

I'd like to point out that there are SUVs coming out that are more efficient than the vast majority of cars on the road. The size of SUVs makes them an easy target for hybrid engines and fuel cells.

For example, the 2003 Ford Escape HEV is a hybrid electric that gets 40 mpg and can still tow 1000 lbs behind it.

The 2005 GM Saturn Vue will supposedly get 40 mpg.

The 2004 Lexas RX 330 is another hybrid that is coming out. No hard numbers on fuel efficiency have been published though.

The Toyota RAV4 EV was an electric SUV, but was discontinued. There are some of them on the road though.

Now, I'm more woried about "mini"-vans than anything else. They are even less fuel efficient than SUVs and seem to be the Urban Assault Vehicle of choice among a lot of soccer moms.

I'm waiting for the Ford Hybrid Escape which will get about 35-40 mpg in the city. It's due out in 2004. You can read about it here.

Granted, it's not a full-size SUV. But it's still much better than 21 mpg of the conventional Escape.

Hybrid SUVs are already being produced. Ford sells a hybrid Escape that you can buy today. It gets about 35 mpg I believe.

However, that's still wasteful considering that most people don't need an SUV and could get by with a Toyota Prius that gets upwards of 50 mpg.

All a matter of perspective I guess.

I don't understand why so many here are so quick to bash US auto manufacturers. All of them are working on alternative fuel cars as well. For example, no one seems to have mentioned the Ford Escape HEV, which will be available next year.

Check out: www.hybridford.com

i'm personally waiting for next year's escape offering from ford.

it's an HEV and looks like it shares alot of the characteristics/fuel-saving properties of the ULEV honda civic. (hybrid, regenerative braking, etc)

it's only about 40 mpg, but that's still pretty impressive for an SUV when other big cars have ridiculous mileage (ie: escalade : 11 mpg).

i drove an escape for an entire summer once while i had a summer internship and they paid for it (sigh...those were the days), and that car is damned fun.

Next year Ford will come out with a Hybrid Escape, which is a medium sized SUV. That link doesn't
work in my browser, but maybe it will in yours.

If you plan on doing any long distance driving the Civic GX is definately not the car for you as most of the country does not have these special stations (I'm near the chicago area).

The Toyota, although it has the lowest fuel efficiency, is the more spacious than the Insight. It is also a safer car (assuming you drive on the freeway), which is very important.

I would never recommend the Insight, it is a terrible car considering the alternatives.

Another couple options are the Civic Hybrid (which uses unleaded gas), great mileage, reliability of a Civic, safety of a sedan, and spacious enough to haul a couple weeks worth of luggage for four (depending on how heavily you pack). Also there are going to be more hybrid SUV's and other larger vehicles: Ford HEV-2003, as well as a Saturn SUV-2004, Chevy Pickup-2004, Suburban-2005, and Dodge Ram Pickup-2005 , which will be great for those of us who want a bigger, safer car, while being good stewards of our environment.

Then there's my favorite, a Trek Bike.

For our next vehicle, my wife and I are considering the Ford Escape Hybrid. Overly-wrought flash page without much detailed info, but they basically say it will be an gas/electric combo SUV that gets ~40mpg and they will have a 4wd option, which is something that we actually need and use regularly as an avid skiers and hikers. We need the cargo space for my two large dogs, which rule out existing hybrid solutions; We currently drive a Ford Explorer and await a more fuel-efficient yet not entirely anemic solution.

Also, we drive an all-electric vehicle which though outside of the poster's requirements, may warrant consideration for anyone doing short-haul driving in sub-35 mph zones: the line of vehicles from GEM

We have been driving one for about 3 months now and use it for commuting to our offices and to downtown Portland. Neither commute requires us to exceed 25mph.

It has more pick-up than you might think. In the rain, the vehicle does a pretty good job of keeping water off you (my model doesn't have doors). There are doors available, similar to what you would see on a Jeep CJ, as an aftermarket accessory. It is an ideal neighborhood car.

Here are answers to some of the common questions we get, often in traffic.
Q. What the hell is that?
A. A GEM electric car, manufactured by Global Electric Motors, a division of DaimlerChrysler Corporation. The specific model I have is the GEM E825 Utility Vehicle (Short Box).
Q. Is it street legal?
It is on streets with a speed limit of 35mph or below.
Q. How fast does it go?
A. 25 mph.
Q. How far can you drive it?
It varies based on the terrain you are driving it on and the ambient temperatures, but I have driven it over 15 miles on a charge. The stated range is 35 miles.
Q. How do you charge it?
It charges on household current.
Q. Stats?
A. From the GEM website
Curb Weight: 1160 lb. with batteries
GVW: 1850 lb. (Gross Vehicle Weight)
Width: 55 inches
Wheelbase: 71.1 inches
Length: 116 inches
Height: 69.5 inches
Turning Radius: 13 feet 7 inches
Q. Is it fun?
A. You betcha.

go here you munkeh.

http://www.hybridford.com/index.asp

I spoke too soon. It's a start, but I'd really like to see a Suburban, or Excursion with a hybrid powerplant.

• http://www.toyota.com/html/shop/vehicles/prius/ide x.html, Toyota Prius, currently available
• http://civichybrid.honda.com/, Honda Civic Hybrid, due out RSN, starting to be available for test drives
• http://www.hondacars.com/models/insight/index.html , Honda Insight, currently available
• http://rav4ev.toyota.com/, Toyota RAV4 EV (it's not a hybrid, sorry), only available in CA currently
• http://uktoyotaestimasite.tripod.com/, Toyota Estima, hybrid minivan. Not currently scheduled for release in the US
• http://hybridford.com/, Ford Escape, SUV, planned to be available in 2003. Ford licensed the Toyota HEV system for this

• http://www.ucsusa.org/vehicles/0mapveh.html, http://www.epa.gov/autoemissions/, The EPA's Clean Vehicle Guide
• http://carpoint.msn.com/browse/win_4018922.asp, http://www.cars.com/carsapp/national/?srv=parser&a ct=display&tf=/advice/bestworst/mileage/best_worst . mpl, 2002 overall fuel economy results
• http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bestworst.shtml, Vehicle fuel economy by class
• http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/drive.shtml, Tips to improve your gas mileage
• http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/auto/cafe.html, http://www.ucsusa.org/vehicles/CAFE.html, Information about the CAFE standards
• http://www.greenercars.org/, The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)

Who exactly are bringing electric cars to reality, eh? Who?

• Toyota Prius, Compact 4dr sedan.
• Honda Insight, Subcompact 2dr coupe.

Coming soon:

• Ford Escape, SUV, available in 2003.
• Toyota Estima, minivan, available in 2003, Japan only.
• Honda Civic, sedan, 2003?
• Dodge Durango, SUV, 2003, mentioned in this hybrid USA-Today news story.

There are a few others, but most currently sound like vaporware...