Scientist proposes way to make hybrid cars more efficient

June 11th, 2009 GM cancels Malibu hybrid, works on new systemDETROIT — General Motors says it is working on the next generation of its gas-electric mild hybrid system that will be more efficient than the one it is canceling in the Chevrolet Malibu and Saturn Aura. Company spokesman Terry Rhadigan says cars equipped with the current system weren't selling and inventory is backing up on dealer lots.

August 6th, 2009 Toyota Prius top-selling car in Japan for 3 monthsTOKYO — Toyota's hugely popular Prius hybrid ranked as Japan's top-selling car in July, clinching the spot for the third consecutive month as tax breaks boosted sales of green vehicles, an auto industry group said Thursday. The Japan Automobile Dealers Association said Toyota Motor Corp., the world's No.

June 22nd, 2009 The 2010 Honda Hybrid features an Integrated Motor Assist System with an efficient 1.3 liter four cylinder gasoline engine of 88 horsepower delivering 88 pound-feet of torque and a electric motor that produces another 13 horsepower and 58 pound feet of torque. It also features a Continuously Variable Transmission so that you don't need to worry about changing the gears.

September 3rd, 2009 Toyota Prius top-selling car in Japan for 4 monthsTOKYO — An auto industry group says Toyota's hugely popular Prius hybrid ranked as Japan's top-selling car in August for the fourth straight month. The Japan Automobile Dealers Association said Friday the Prius kept the top spot in auto sales with 21,669 vehicles sold.

July 14th, 2009 Toyota rolls out first hybrid-only Lexus modelTOKYO — Toyota rolled out its first hybrid-only Lexus luxury model Tuesday, as the world's top automaker seeks to turn itself around by pushing the increasingly popular green technology. Toyota Motor Corp.

June 4th, 2009 Toyota Prius tops monthly auto sales in JapanTOKYO — Toyota's Prius was the No. 1 selling vehicle in Japan for May, clinching the top spot in the domestic market for the first time and overtaking Honda's new hybrid, the Insight, which fell to third.

June 1st, 2009 Japan green incentives lift electronics salesTOKYO — Japanese incentives for ecological gadgets are helping lift electronics sales, according to ministry and industry data, in what may be an early sign of some recovery in a recession-battered economy. Under a government stimulus package, that kicked in May 15, people who buy energy-efficient flat-panel TVs, refrigerators and air conditioners accumulate "eco-points," which the government promises will convert to discounts or trade-ins for products that have yet to be announced.

June 4th, 2009 Toyota: hybrids best 'green' car for some timeTOYOTA, Japan — A Toyota executive overseeing research said Thursday a battery breakthrough is needed for electric vehicles to become mainstream, and hybrids will remain the best "green" car choice for some time. His comments came just hours after the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said Toyota's Prius hybrid was the No.

February 23rd, 2009 BANGALORE - Global auto major Toyota Motor Corp is eager to bring its fuel-efficient hybrid sedan Prius to the Indian market, but wants the high import tariff (105 percent) on such cars to be lowered, a top official said Monday. 'We are showcasing Prius for the first time in India here though we have no plans to introduce now.

September 15th, 2009 Daimler bets on efficiency, shows electric, hybridFRANKFURT — Daimler AG unveiled a number of new electric and hybrid cars Tuesday at the Frankfurt Auto Show, saying it plans to keep its focus on luxury and fuel efficiency. The Stuttgart-based company presented the Mercedes-Benz Vision S 500 plug-in hybrid, a spinoff of the only existing production hybrid from a German carmaker on the market, the S 400 Hybrid.

August 6th, 2009 Honda executive denies Insight is Prius lookalikeWAKO, Japan — A Honda design executive Thursday rejected claims his company's Insight was a copycat of Toyota's Prius, the world's best-selling hybrid car. "We don't think it looks like the Prius at all," said Nobuki Ebisawa, managing director at Honda R&D Co., Honda Motor Co.'s research unit.

April 9th, 2009 LONDON - Scientists have used genetically engineered viruses that assemble into electrodes to make complete miniature rechargeable batteries for the first time, which could improve the performance of hybrid electric cars and electronic gadgets. According to a report in New Scientist, the new lithium ion batteries are as powerful as existing devices but smaller and cleaner to make, claim the team behind the work.

May 30th, 2009 Toyota Prius sales boom in Japan despite slowdownTOKYO — Orders in Japan for Toyota's new Prius hybrid have topped a booming 110,000, a major dealership chain said Saturday, in what is turning out to be a rare bright spot in the gloomy auto market. The third-generation Prius officially rolled out in Japan just two weeks ago.

June 3rd, 2009 Toyota to start plug-in hybrid leasingTOKYO — Toyota said Wednesday it will start leasing plug-in hybrid cars, that are even greener than its hit Prius, by the end of this year in the U.S., Japan and Europe. Toyota Motor Corp., the world's top automaker, will start leasing 200 plug-ins in Japan, 150 in the U.S.

July 16th, 2009 Report: Toyota, Mazda to form tie-up on hybridsTOKYO — Toyota is in talks with Mazda about providing its key hybrid technology in a tie-up, the nation's top business daily reported Thursday. Both automakers said no decision has been made.