EV Owners in California to Feel the Shock of Higher Electricity Rates

Woe betide the electric car. Outpaced by their petrol-powered cousins in the 1900s, saddled with heavy and potentially dangerous batteries in the 1970s and crushed in the name of the Almighty Dollar in the 1990s, it’s been a rough road from there to here.And now, on the dawn of a new age where electric cars seem poised to take their rightful place alongside gasoline cars, the electricity

Toyota Prius Tops Corolla's 1990 Record as Japan's Best Selling Model in 2010

The Toyota Prius has set a new sales record in Japan as the automaker delivered more than 315,000 units (final figures will be released by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association in mid-January). of the gas-electric hybrid model in 2010, overtaking the Corolla for the first time in two decades. The previous annual record was held by the Corolla which sold around 300,000 units in 1990. Read more »

BREAKING: Toyota to Debut Prius Concept Alongside New Prius Minivan at Detroit Show

[Updated] It's going to be all about the Prius hybrid family at Toyota's 2011 Detroit Motor Show stand, as the Japanese automaker revealed today that in addition to the current third-generation Prius and Prius Plug-in vehicle (PHV), the first all-new addition to the Prius range, the as-of-yet unnamed compact minivan seen in the teaser above, will debut along with a new Prius-branded concept

GM CEO Calls the Prius a Geek-Mobile, Wouldn’t be Caught Dead in One

In the grand scheme of things, General Motors is a little late in the purpose-built hybrid range extended electric vehicle game. Toyota has recently launched its third generation Prius and Honda its second generation Insight. At worst, the soon-to-be-released Chevy Volt is a logical move from a marketing perspective; if the consumer wants frumpily styled eco-cars then who are we, the automakers,

Lotus Adds Some Sound into Hybrids and All-Electric Vehicles

Electric and hybrid vehicles (when running on electric power only) have recently come in for heavy criticism from blind and partially sighted people due to the almost silent operation of the electric engine that puts them at risk as they cannot hear the vehicles approaching. To deal with this problem, Lotus has developed a system that emulates the sound of a real engine based on the vehicles

Lotus Adds Some Sound into Hybrids and All-Electric Vehicles

Electric and hybrid vehicles (when running on electric power only) have recently come in for heavy criticism from blind and partially sighted people due to the almost silent operation of the electric engine that puts them at risk as they cannot hear the vehicles approaching. To deal with this problem, Lotus has developed a system that emulates the sound of a real engine based on the vehicles

Toyota to Build Prius in the U.S. from 2010, Tundra & Sequoia Production Suspended

Changes in consumer demand in the U.S. have "forced" Toyota to take the decision to build the Prius in the U.S. at a new plant under construction in Blue Springs, Mississippi. Toyota said that production is scheduled to begin in late 2010, meaning that the Japanese carmaker is referring to the third generation Prius that is due out next year as a 2010 model. Currently, the Prius is manufactured

Toyota to Build Prius in the U.S. from 2010, Tundra & Sequoia Production Suspended

Changes in consumer demand in the U.S. have "forced" Toyota to take the decision to build the Prius in the U.S. at a new plant under construction in Blue Springs, Mississippi. Toyota said that production is scheduled to begin in late 2010, meaning that the Japanese carmaker is referring to the third generation Prius that is due out next year as a 2010 model. Currently, the Prius is manufactured

Used Toyota Prius cars Selling for Over $35,000! How Stupid is that?

The same market that rightfully shunned large SUVs and pickup trucks in a blink of an eye as soon as gas prices surpassed the $3.50 a gallon mark has made hybrid cars so popular, that in many cases dealers/private sellers are asking over 35 grand for a used Toyota Prius as the Japanese carmaker cannot satisfy the demand. If you head over to Toyota’s official website, a brand new fully equipped

Used Toyota Prius cars Selling for Over $35,000! How Stupid is that?

The same market that rightfully shunned large SUVs and pickup trucks in a blink of an eye as soon as gas prices surpassed the $3.50 a gallon mark has made hybrid cars so popular, that in many cases dealers/private sellers are asking over 35 grand for a used Toyota Prius as the Japanese carmaker cannot satisfy the demand. If you head over to Toyota’s official website, a brand new fully equipped

Toyota Reportedly in Talks with GM for Production of Prius in California

Citing unnamed inside sources, daily Japanese newspaper “Tokyo Shimbun” reported today that Toyota and GM are in talks about producing the Prius, now made in only Japan and China, at their joint venture plant in Fremont, California. The report said that Toyota’s is planning to export the main components of the Prius from Japan and assembling the hybrid car at the Californian plant. Asked about

Toyota Reportedly in Talks with GM for Production of Prius in California

Citing unnamed inside sources, daily Japanese newspaper “Tokyo Shimbun” reported today that Toyota and GM are in talks about producing the Prius, now made in only Japan and China, at their joint venture plant in Fremont, California. The report said that Toyota’s is planning to export the main components of the Prius from Japan and assembling the hybrid car at the Californian plant. Asked about

Toyota Reportedly in Talks with GM for Production of Prius in California

Citing unnamed inside sources, daily Japanese newspaper “Tokyo Shimbun” reported today that Toyota and GM are in talks about producing the Prius, now made in only Japan and China, at their joint venture plant in Fremont, California. The report said that Toyota’s is planning to export the main components of the Prius from Japan and assembling the hybrid car at the Californian plant. Asked about

Video Fuel Economy Test: Prius vs Jetta Diesel vs Smart vs Focus

The lads over at Edmunds organized a “mini” fuel economy marathon by comparing some of the most gas efficient cars available in the North American market: the 2008 Toyota Prius 1.5 Hybrid, the 2005 VW Jetta 2.0 TDI Diesel, the 2008 Smart Fortwo 1.0 and the 2008 Ford Focuse SES Coupe 2.0. The smackdown included tests on the highway and in the city along with measuring the cars’ CO2 footprint.

Video Fuel Economy Test: Prius vs Jetta Diesel vs Smart vs Focus

The lads over at Edmunds organized a “mini” fuel economy marathon by comparing some of the most gas efficient cars available in the North American market: the 2008 Toyota Prius 1.5 Hybrid, the 2005 VW Jetta 2.0 TDI Diesel, the 2008 Smart Fortwo 1.0 and the 2008 Ford Focuse SES Coupe 2.0. The smackdown included tests on the highway and in the city along with measuring the cars’ CO2 footprint.

Video Fuel Economy Test: Prius vs Jetta Diesel vs Smart vs Focus

The lads over at Edmunds organized a “mini” fuel economy marathon by comparing some of the most gas efficient cars available in the North American market: the 2008 Toyota Prius 1.5 Hybrid, the 2005 VW Jetta 2.0 TDI Diesel, the 2008 Smart Fortwo 1.0 and the 2008 Ford Focuse SES Coupe 2.0. The smackdown included tests on the highway and in the city along with measuring the cars’ CO2 footprint.

Toyota Prius Worldwide Sales Top 1 Million Mark

What started out as a niche green car when Toyota unveiled the first generation Prius in 1997 has become a huge success with Toyota announcing that cumulative sales have passed the 1 million mark, with approximately 1,028,000 units sold as of the end of April, 2008. The model that created all the hybrid buzz was launched in Japan in 1997 and began selling in Europe, North America and other

Toyota Prius Worldwide Sales Top 1 Million Mark

What started out as a niche green car when Toyota unveiled the first generation Prius in 1997 has become a huge success with Toyota announcing that cumulative sales have passed the 1 million mark, with approximately 1,028,000 units sold as of the end of April, 2008. The model that created all the hybrid buzz was launched in Japan in 1997 and began selling in Europe, North America and other

Toyota Prius Worldwide Sales Top 1 Million Mark

What started out as a niche green car when Toyota unveiled the first generation Prius in 1997 has become a huge success with Toyota announcing that cumulative sales have passed the 1 million mark, with approximately 1,028,000 units sold as of the end of April, 2008. The model that created all the hybrid buzz was launched in Japan in 1997 and began selling in Europe, North America and other

Toyota Prius Hybrid Sells Like Crazy as Fuel Prices Spike

Have you tried to find a new Prius at a Toyota dealership lately? Well we did this past Sunday when we went car-scouting for a friend. We paid a visit to Toyota Westborough in Massachusetts and listen to this; not only is there a one month waiting period to get the compact hybrid (once you pay the $1,000 deposit) but the dealer didn’t even have a single Prius in the lot for us to see, let alone