Ford said it will offer only a petrol-electric hybrid and plug-in electric version of the C-Max that will go into production next year at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne.

Jim Farley, head of Ford’s marketing, sales and service, said there had been a turn among American customers to more fuel-efficient vehicles with prices at the pump in the US at around four dollars per gallon. He said customers were looking more at consumption irrespective of buying a sub compact commuting car or a pick-up.

Toyota remains the market leader in the US when it comes to hybrids and the announcement by Ford comes shortly after Toyota announced that it would soon offer a larger Prius V on the American market.

The C-Max sells in Europe both as a petrol and diesel-engined version. Ford is planning an electric-version of the compact Focus model for later this year on the European market.

Ford to boost production of hybrid cars in US

Hybrid cars combine conventional petrol engines with battery power to increase fuel efficiency.

The Toyota Prius is the world’s best-selling hybrid with nearly two million cars sold.

Now, lithium ion battery maker Axeon, at Wester Gourdie in Dundee, is to help develop a battery system for a major European car manufacturer. Axeon will work with technical engineering firm Ricardo to supply and integrate a lightweight battery for a pioneering plug-in hybrid vehicle.

The car will feature a unique, bespoke battery system.
Axeon chief executive Lawrence Berns said, “It is difficult to think of a more demanding application or client for our skills, so we were delighted to have been selected to play such a key role in this development programme.

“This car will transform thinking about hybrid cars in every area, especially performance.”

He added, “Our technology will play a key role, underlining our prowess in this competitive field and showing that hybrids can also offer significant advances to performance as well as environmental benefit.”

Axeon’s new battery to “transform” hybrid cars

At the launch of their 5 new CNG models, Managing Executive Officer, Mr. I V Rao said, “We are supplying about 10 vehicles for the Commonwealth Games – a mix of full-time hybrid SX4s and electric Eecos. We’ve been working on alternative technologies since 2008 – the electric motor is from Bosch. Though these technologies are still not ready for commercial production, a few hybrid SX4s and electric Eeco variants would be supplied for use during the Commonwealth Games later this year.”

Mr. Rao also spoke about the launch of RIII, which was showcased earlier this year at the Delhi Auto Expo 2010. RIII, an MPV, will be launched by the end of this year and it will be powered by either 1.2L or 1.6L K Series engine or a Diesel engine provided by Fiat.

Maruti will provide hybrid cars to CWG 2010

Population burst has led to increase in automobiles. This has increased the extent of pollution all over the world. That is why car manufacturers, in collaboration with automobile engineers, introduced the concept of hybrid automobiles- vehicles that run on conventional fuel as well as electricity. A hybrid vehicle has an eco-friendly engine. This engine is connected to an electric motor. The motor generates electric power to move the vehicle.

Why should one buy a hybrid car? The reasons are many. The biggest advantage if using a hybrid vehicle is that it does not pollute the atmosphere. Scientists predict that if 40% of people in the world start using hybrid vehicles, there would be subsequent dip in global temperature. Keeping the environmental aspect aside, hybrid car owners qualify for discounts on insurance policies, as well as government tax. What is the technology used in hybrid vehicles? Regenerative Braking Technology (RBT) is the name of the next-generation technology that charges the batter of a hybrid car even when there is no external source.

If you can’t get financing on your hybrid car, what are some other alternatives? Hybrid cars are expensive in comparison to conventional vehicles. Therefore, you can apply for a payday loan to pay the monthly installments of your car loan.

Alternatives for financing on your hybrid car

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is out of money and his company is on the verge of some major transactions that could make or break the company according to some reports.

Thanks to divorce proceedings, Elon Musk’s deteriorating finances are now part of the public record. Unfortunately, according to CNNMoney, it isn’t just Musk’s personal finances that are in trouble, but possibly those of Tesla as well, despite a recent deal with Toyota.

“But Tesla isn’t guaranteed Toyota’s help until it completes an initial public offering, and the fact that Tesla is spending $42 million on the Fremont plant, or Nummi, may not bode well for the electric car maker.”

Some problems for Tesla?