Jerry Flint of Forbes.com has “stuck his neck out” and said that the Nissan Leaf will be “more likely be a sales failure than a sales success.”  Actually if you read the article, Flint really doesn’t have anything really good to say about this car that will be made in the U.S. starting in 2012.  I think he has a point in some of his complaints, but not all of them. First of all, one of his complaints is that the all-electric Nissan Leaf has a top speed of 90 mph.  What’s the problem?  Seriously, who needs to go any faster than 90?  When you are running from the cops????  I don’t think that should or will deter people from buying the Leaf.   

Next complaint, the range of the Leaf. Supposedly it will be able to go 100 miles before needing a recharge, but Flint seems to think that cold weather will reduce that, which could be true. This complaint to me is legit. I would hate to constantly be thinking about where I was to ensure that I can get to a charging station or home before my car dies.  That’s a big inconvenience to me, so I agree with you Flint. 

Price could be a concern as well.  Supposedly, the price of the Nissan Leaf will be around $27,000 but it could be much more when all is said and done, though you will probably get a nice tax credit for buying this eco-friendly vehicle. 

Charging is also a potential problem. It takes approximately 8 hours to fully charge the car.  It’s not a problem if you drive to and from work and then charge it at night at home. The problem is if you are out or travelling. There will be charging stations built, but for right now the majority of the stations will be on the West Coast, so if you don’t live there, it may be hard to find a station. That’s a problem. 

Flint said that “for real car buyers, the Nissan Leaf may be a decade or two ahead of its time. That may be true. I guess we will have to wait and see. Some Nissan Leafs will be sold in the U.S. later today and Hertz car rental will start renting cars in the U.S. early next year. Time will tell.      

I found an article written by cars.com that gives a list of 10 vehicles that can possibly make or break the Big 3 (Ford, GM, and Chrysler) in Detroit.  In my opinion, I don’t really think that Ford especially needs any big vehicle to save it. I think it’s doing alright through this storm.  They didn’t need any buyout money and are posting positive sales recently.  GM also is surviving, and at this point in the auto industry, survival I think is just fine. Chrysler on the other hand. That’s a different story. That’s the company that might turn the Big 3 into the Big 2. Sorry Chrysler.  So anyways, this article gave some of the vehicles that will be big releases coming up.

Ford - Company Savers - Ford Fiesta, Ford Taurus, Ford Explorer - Cars.com thinks that Ford needs to redesign the Ford Escape to help the company as well.

Chrysler -   Company Savers - Jeep Grand Cherokee (the only thing I really think that can help Chrysler!)  Fiat 500, Chrysler 300. Cars.com says that Chrysler needs a successful compact car. They have tried several that have failed.  Keep trying.

General Motors - Company Savers - Chevy Equinox/Traverse, Chevy Cruze, Chevy Volt. Needed….a new Chevy Aveo.

Let’s see just how right, if at all, Cars.com is.  Time will tell.

I feel like a broken record discussing electric cars yet again, but this is the talk “around town” shall I say.  The LA Auto Show had electric cars on its mind and now I just read an article today about the problems that electric car manufacturers are facing in terms of recharging stations.  This is a big problem and a real problem.  Specifically, Nissan and General Motors are getting ready to release their electric cars the Leaf and Chevy Volt, respectively.  Nissan and General Motors are trying to figure out ways to get the recharging stations built.  They are asking for $124 billion in government incentives over 8 years which includes$13.5 billion for tax credits to build recharging stations.  “This is a lot of money to ask of the government, but it pales in comparison to the cost of U.S. oil dependence, which has huge environmental, economic, and national-security costs” says Sam Ori who is one of the authors of Electricification Coalitionreport.  I was actually thinking the same thing before I read what Ori had said. I do think this is a tremendous amount of money to be asking of the government, especially when the government has their hands full right now, but at the same time, in the long run electric cars will be better for all of us. 

Along with the problems with the lack of recharging stations comes some serious anxiety of customers that buy these electric cars.  People will not be without worrying when they are set off in their new electric cars. The fear of batteries running out of power on the road somewhere is high.  Yes, you are supposed to charge your cars at home, and then get around 100 miles, but what if you are out somewhere and the battery dies. If you run out of gas, you get to the nearest gas station which won’t be far, but if you own a Nissan Leaf the nearest recharging station could be too far to talk about.  The big difference between the Leaf and the Chevy Volt is that when the battery dies in the Volt the gas engine will start up, therefore if there is a gas station around, you will never be stranded. That’s a huge plus…..but of course this doesn’t come without a high price tag.  Both electric vehicles will be expensive, but the Volt will cost more due to the gas engine.

I don’t know, either way, it seems to me that if you own an electric car, at least for the next 5 years, it will be more of a hassle than anything else.  I guess we’ll have to wait and see if I’m right, though I think I am. Maybe I just have a bad attitude about electric cars……….and I rambled too. Sorry!

Hybrids are good for some and no good for others. There are times when hybrids are the right choice and then other times maybe not.  Reilly Brennan of autos.aol.com gave 5 reasons when a hybrid makes sense, so here they are.

1.  When gas is expensive - that’s not rocket science. Hybrids are great financially, so when the gas is high as it was last summer, hybrids were the best option for sure.

2.  If you drive a gas guzzler - a hybrid definitely makes sense for someone who owns a truck or SUV.  You may be able to double your gas mileage if you get rid of it and buy a hybrid. If you own a sedan, you may improve your gas mileage, but probably not by too much, definitely not double it.

3.  If you are a city driver, you benefit alot more with a hybrid. Hybrids aren’t great on the highway, many times getting the same gas mileage, so if that’s your driving habits, a hybrid isn’t for you.

4.  If you are environmentally active, then you really don’t care as much about the fuel economy and just that a hybrid is good for the environment, so a hybrid is always a good idea for you.

5.  There are tax credits out there if you buy a new hybrid, so that could help make your decision if a hybrid is right for you as well.

Hybrids are probably right for a lot of people, but just make sure you pay attention to the details before investing in a hybrid. 

Here’s something you probably never thought about. The new hybrid electric cars are not only cutting down on air pollution but also noise pollution. That’s good right?  Well, it is, but then there is another problem.   Silent electric cars are some what of a problem for the blind.  Congress is considering federal regulations for electric cars.  I can see their point. Yes, the driver of a vehicle should take responsibility and not hit somebody, but that doesn’t always happen, and a blind pedestrian has no chance if there can’t hear the vehicle.  So, Fisker and other automakers as well as toying with different ideas to decide how to have the electric cars alittle noiser.   Fisker will emit a sound from speakers that are in the bumpers.  BMW was thinking of allowing the customer to choose their own sound for their vehicle.  Some are thinking maybe a ringtone that you could manually push on your steering wheel. Whichever way the automaker chooses, it sounds like electric cars will be getting louder.  I guess a quiet car cannot completely happen after all.

The Tokyo Motor Show began today (press only-open to public starting 10/23-11/4) and of course there were many new concept cars unveiled.  Many automakers had decided not to participate in this show due financial difficulties but those that have exhibits there are trying to make the most of the situation.  Lexus is showing off the LF-A super car with a 500 horsepower engine.  I was reading alittle about the LF-A at topspeed.com and people aren’t saying nice things. They don’t like the look of it and aren’t buying the super car advertising of it as well.

Another concept car unveiled at this show is the Toyota FT-86.  This is a compact, rear-wheel drive sports car that supposedly provides “driving joy and excitement.  Also the Toyota FT-EV II was introduced which is a compact electric vehicle designed for short distances. 

Mazda also are showing off a new concept as well as a new engine and transmission at the Tokyo Motor Show.  The Mazda Kiyora has a Mazda Sky-G engine and Sky-Drive transmission, which are both being debuted at the Tokyo show as well.  The Sky-G engine has greatly improved fuel economy due to thermal efficiency. 

I’m sure there will be more talk of the Tokyo Motor Show as the week goes on, but I thought this was some good information about some new concepts.  The thing is that I feel like most of these concepts have the same ideas. They are smaller, with more power and better gas mileage.  I guess that’s what people want. 

www.ap.org

Toyota is launching a new larger hybrid-only sedan that will be for sale in Japan - the Sai.  The Sai is “Prius’ new little brother that is actually bigger” according to The Associated Press.  Sai means talent and color in Japanese and will be sold in Japan starting December 7.  Currently, Toyota has not decided on global sales of the Sai.  Hybrids get better gas mileage because they switch between an electric motor and the gas engine.  The Sai will get 23 kilometers per liter, which equates to about 54 miles per gallon.  The Sai’s big brother, Prius, get 38 kilometers per liter, or about 90 miles per gallon according to the Japanese mileage test conditions. Toyota is promising that the new Prius will get 51 mpg in the city and 48 mpg on the highway in the U.S.  The Sai comes with a bigger engine 2.4 liter engine with the Prius getting a 1.8 liter engine, and supposedly the Sai is fancier and more roomy than its’ big brother.  It’s more expensive too. When the Sai goes on sale in December, it will cost about $37,500, which is 3.38 million yen compared to the Prius which costs $22,000 or alittle over 2 million yen.  So, I guess I thought I would just let you know about the new hybrid even though we cannot and may never be able to purchase it here in the U.S.  I would suspect that if the Sai is a success in Japan that eventually we will see it for sale here. Toyota would be crazy not too, especially because the Prius is the only model that is making any money for them as the company loses money like the rest of the automotive companies. 

As the fuel economy rules become stricter in the next few years, many automakers will be offering 4 cylinder engines in their vehicles to meet these rules.  BMW will be adding these four cylinder vehicles by 2012 in the 3 series.  Several others models by BMW are being considered for four cylinder engines.  The four cylinder engines with be equipped with twin-turbo diesel engines.  Someone made a really good point about these engines. People buy BMWs for performance and power and if you make a expensive, fast 4 cylinder engine then it won’t get the gas mileage that they need to get. Therefore the power that is needed for customers to want to buy the BMWs is going to have a hard time working in a 4 cylinder.  It’ll definitely have to be something new, because the current 4 cylinders are not powerful enough for the price tag of a BMW (in my opinion of course!)  Mercedes-Benz is also considering these engines, and again may have the same problems as BMW.  Well, the good news for these and other automakers is that they have time. It will be interesting to see how most of the automotive companies make out by 2016 when the mpg average needs to be 35.5.  Most have some work to do, others have ALOT of work to do.

Toyota has a couple of nice green vehicles in the works right now.  Unless you live in a cave (and therefore probably wouldn’t have the internet,) you know about the Toyota Prius.  Well, the Toyota Prius is not going to come in a plug-in version.  The plug-in version will be available for sale in the U.S. within three years.  Originally, Toyota was going to bring some plug-in versions of the Prius at the end of this year, but now they won’t be available for a few years.  I’m still not sold on the plug-ins, but some people must like them or these automakers wouldn’t be spending the money to make them. 

Also, Toyota will be launching another hybrid-only model car, the Sai sedan.  The Sai is based on the Lexus HS 250h hybrid and will go on sale in Japan on the 20thof this month.  There has been no mention of whether the Sai will be sold in the U.S. Geez, why not?  The Prius is doing great!  

Toyota just keeps on trucking through the auto industry downslide and all. Sure they have probably been hurt alittle, but doesn’t seem to be much.  Toyota is a good company with quality products. 

There are some crazy new/old concepts that are popping up these days that are worth noting. 

First, there is the Toyota FT-EV II:

 www.dailytorque.com

This is an all-electric concept that will be making its world debut at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month.  Supposedly you can fit 4 people in this car (where I’m not sure.)  This is a city-use vehicle because it’s range is only about 56 miles with top speed of 62 mph.  It has some neat features, but not sure when the vehicle, if ever, it will be available.

Another concept that is old (2000) but coming back is the BMW C1.

  www.connect.in.com

This scooter concept originally went on sale in Europe in 2000, but there were quality problems and the sales weren’t good, so BMWpulled it.  Now it’s back (well sortof.)  It’s not for sale in its current form, but possibly will become available in the future.  The BMW C1 concept has a 27-horsepower electric motor that uses energy by a plug-in 125-volt lithium-ion battery. It can reach 50 mph in less than 7 seconds and has a top speed of 62 mph.  You will get about 55 miles between rechargings.  Definitely another city-use vehicle.  It has a steel frame and seat belt, so you don’t have to wear a helmet. 

Small is in for concept or not.  Everyone seems to want and produce small.  I guess I should start looking beyond the exterior. I just can’t stand the look of these small cars.