New For 2009 And 2010

Hybrid technology is a fast growing buzzword in the car industry for 2009 and 2010.  Because of the global recession, the expected slowdown of car sales could also hurt the sale of hybrid cars.  Even then, that will not stop top car manufacturers from offering more efficient hybrid car models in the hope to lure people to better long term cost savings.

The Demand For Hybrid Technology Cars In 2009 And 2010

The first real and massive application of hybrid technology exists in cars.  Hybrid labs around the world and especially in Japan and Europe are in fast gear to introduce the first truly affordable hybrid cars in the market.  With the recent news that President Barack Obama will be using a hybrid car for a presidential limo, we can see that there is real movement of the current consumer culture away from wasteful gas engines to hybrid engines.

Although there is an expected increase in demand for hybrid cars in 2009 and 2010, hybrid labs are not sure if the industry can support the increase in demand.  At the same time, a study from the International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management has shown that hybrid technology is not the real answer against rising gas emissions.  Instead, car manufacturers must continue to innovate and develop a 100% electric car.

The concern with this technology especially in hybrid labs is that these types of cars are not environmentally sound.  Hybrid cars are part electric and part gas, and having too many hybrid cars on the market is not ideal because you still need to use gas to run them.  Hybrid technologies have a known plateau, and the literature for making these kinds of cars has already been exhausted.  The next step is for hybrid labs to develop more efficient fuel cells, so the gas component in hybrid cars is minimized or taken out completely.

Alternative Hybrid Cars

The most popular hybrid car in the market is the Toyota Prius.  While there are many other hybrid cars today, no one has stepped up to represent all these cars except for the Prius.  It seems that the only way to beat the Prius is to beat the technology behind it instead of copying it.

The first hybrid car to make waves in 2009 is the Honda Insight Hybrid.  Although the Toyota Prius was the first affordable hybrid, the Honda hybrid labs kept working their pace to best the Prius in price.  With better fuel efficiency, the Honda Insight is expected to take a large share of the Hybrid market, as customers who are considering a Prius will also consider the Honda Insight just as well.  The expected price of the Honda Insight is no more than $20,000.  Despite the affordable price tag, the Insight also features unbelievable fuel economy, impressive acceleration, and perceptive interior, making it one of the world's first “fun” hybrid technologies.

A more affordable car will also hit the market in 2009, thanks to the hybrid labs in India and just about every place where Tata is located.  Tata Motor's version of hybrid cars is expected go for as little as $2,500, which is a great steal compared to other hybrid cars.  The Tata Hybrid has wide reach in Europe and Asia, and based on the fact that it is the “people's car,” we can see that Tata Motors is in position to have the most efficient car.

Hybrid Car Technologies In China

China produced its first mass hybrid vehicles for its local market in 2009 made by BYD auto, a Chinese company backed by Warren Buffett.  This model has an impressive car interior and engine for its low price.  This car is also expected to avoid the launch of other brand models that do not come from hybrid technology.  The BYD has a relatively cheap price for hybrid cars.  With new data, we can say that the threat of high price on hybrids has been neutralized.

The hybrid labs in China claim that the BYD can run for 100 kilometers in a single full charge.  These Chinese cars are expected to sell at $22,000.  Although BYD is just a new player in the hybrid technology scene, they still believe that taking the American auto market is the best chance to propel them to a world-class brand.  With this development, the Chinese hybrid labs are expected to leapfrog traditional engine technologies.

Improving The Efficiency Of Hybrid Technology With Plug-ins

2009 and 2010 will definitely be noisy for hybrid labs and the automobile industry, as revolutionary plug-ins are being developed to increase the fuel efficiency, speed, and the overall performance of hybrid vehicles.

The first plug-in to be released in the next couple of years is the Fisker Karma.  This plug-in allows the car to move from 0 to 60 in just under 6 seconds while sustaining a top speed of 125 mph.  This plug-in is developed in hybrid labs specifically for hybrid sports sedans and hybrid luxury cars.

The VentureOne is a hybrid technology car that has a unique exterior design similar to motorcycles rather than the usual vehicles.  The exterior design allows the owners to have a unit that can be as fast as a motorcycle while being as comfortable as a commute car.  VentureOne is expected to make a bold step in hybrid car designs with the two passenger seating, three-wheeler, and 100 miles per gallon vehicle.

Korea's independent hybrid labs have also something that people should watch out for in 2009 and 2010.  The Phoenix Motorcars SUT is a 100% electric car vehicle, which can become the transition vehicles from hybrid technologies to full electric technologies.  The Phoenix Motorcars feature an engine-less vehicle, with a 100-kilowatt electric motor system, performance motors, generator, and rechargeable batteries.  Although it is a purely electric vehicle, it serves as a prototype for a heavy duty gas-less car.  With the technology developed from hybrid labs, the Phoenix can develop into a truck that can handle one ton of payload capacity with top speed of 95 MPH.