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Hybrid vehicles have gained significant amount of support over the past few years, bolstered by increasingly high gas prices and a world-wide commitment to go "green" by
reducing carbon emissions and the reliance on fossil fuels. Here is a list of a few vehicles that are to come:
Chevrolet Volt - Expected to be released in 2010, the Chevrolet Volt will be a sporty 4-door sedan, with a 6 hour charge in a standard household outlet the vehicle is
rated to travel up to 40 miles on electric power alone, which covers the range that most commuters would travel on a daily basis. That range can be extended to 360 miles
with conventional power.
Saturn Vue - Saturn announced a plug-in model of its current Vue hybrid. On a 4-5 hour charge, the SUV will travel up to 10 miles on electric power. This vehicle should
also be available by 2010.
Toyota (unnamed) plug-in - Toyota announced a plug-in hybrid vehicle planned to be released by 2010. Though a name was not mentioned, Toyota tested out a modified version
of its Prius hybrid that journalists were able to drive. This vehicle was able to go 7 miles on a 4 hour charge with electric power, but the modified vehicle could travel
up to 62 miles per hour before utilizing the combustion engine, compared to 30 miles per hour with the current Prius hybrid model.
For those of you with a Toyota Prius, you can get a plug-in hybrid conversion kit from A123 Hymotion for $9,995. Meant for Prius models from 2004 to 2008, the conversion kit
will allow you to get up to 100 miles per gallon on 5 1/2 hours charge time while meeting the strictest U.S. emission laws.
Porsche Cayenne / Volkswagen Touareg - A joint project by Porsche and VW, the Cayenne will get about a 35% boost in gas mileage and the Touareg will become VW's first
hybrid vehicle.
Fisker Karma - A luxury sports car designed by Fisker Automotive Company will travel up to 50 miles on electric power with the option to install solar panels on the owner's
home to charge the vehicle with clean energy. The car will also have the option to have solar panels on the roof to cool the batteries and boost the vehicle. The company
estimates the average driver will only fill up the tank once a year.
