Entire history books could one day be devoted to the auto industry’s seismic shift in 2008. Yet, the May sales numbers tell the whole story.
A General Motors spokesperson told Automotive News that the company planned to sell 27,000 mild hybrid vehicles this year, but is falling short because its supplier, Cobasys, provided faulty batteries. In an exclusive interview with HybridCars.com, a Cobasys executive—who asked not to be named—responded to GM statements and press reports, saying, “A lot of it is not correct," but declined to elaborate further.
General Motors CEO, Richard Wagoner, announced today that the company will shut down four North American plants in a move designed to shift production away from pickups and SUVs, toward smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. Wagoner said that the plan comes in response to a rapid change in consumer behavior tied to rising fuel costs, a trend that he did not expect to reverse soon.
Minnesota lawmakers are on track to increase the state's current mandate that 2 percent of diesel fuel be composed of biodiesel. By May of next year, that requirement will be increased to a 5 percent blend, known as B5; then up to B10 in 2012 and finally to B20 in 2015. If all goes as planned, Minnesota could once again be in position to raise the bar nationally on biodiesel.
Auto engineers are getting more and more sophisticated about hybrids and other fuel-saving technologies—but reducing fuel consumption doesn’t have to be rocket science. Campaigns around the country, such as National Drive Slow Day held on June 1, are encouraging drivers to use common sense low-tech solution to beat high gas prices. Check out our top three no-brainer solutions.
Trucks are big moneymakers for Ford (and other automakers), so the company is reluctant to go cold turkey on the genre. Even if $4 gas has many folks rethinking whether they really need a full-size pickup, Ford thinks the utility of a pickup can still be a draw—if it’s made slightly smaller and more fuel-efficient.
For years, sporadic anecdotes about hybrid battery failures have been reported by individual hybrid drivers. But finally, the automakers are reporting the first numbers about the likelihood of batteries failing after the warranty expired.
Importing a vehicle to the U.S. is a big deal, because this country has some of the toughest emissions and safety regulations in the world. So, when a company from China or India is said to be ready to design a hybrid or otherwise high-tech vehicle and bring it to America, industry analysts take a skeptical view. Mahindra, the Indian carmaker, might silence the skeptics with its plans for diesel-hybrid vehicles.
As the national average price for a gallon of gas reached $3.94 this week, drivers across the country scaled back on their travel plans or stayed home for Memorial Day. Last year's Memorial Day gas price was $3.23, which raised the hackles of drivers at the time. The new higher prices—coupled with stagnant wages—are having a greater impact on driving trends. And ultimately on the environment.
In the week leading up to Memorial Day—the start of the so-called "summer driving season"—Congress took the opportunity to air America's grievances over high gas prices with executives from Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Shell, BP, and ConocoPhillips. Their visit left little hope that proposed legislation designed to make things easier on consumers will pass, and even more unlikely that any measure would significantly bring down prices.
