At least that's the plan. Right in Austin, Texas! http://dvice.com/archives/2008/06/t...gen_hybrid_could_finally_go_to_production.php Meanwhile our Feds have issued a consumer warning against some fake fuel-saving gadgets, while in the US it came from the EPA, ours came from a Competition Bureau Advisory. Could it be that the Oil companies are using the Competition Bureau to reduce competing technology? They wouldn't launch 'soft-wars' like that would they? I don't know about the products named in the article, whether they are fake or not, but it does smear any real developments in this field. http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/06/19/competition-gas.html
What gets me is if a private company can build a car such as this why can't the Auto Manufacturers? Also it seems to me if they build this sports car(which they will) why not come out with family cars like sedans and wagons. It seems to me they only want to appeal to one class of people and that is the Rich Upper Class. They would make more money and be more competitive with the working class.
Well, first he's in Austin Texas, land of the EPA hybrid test labs, but also an oil state. http://www.evalbum.com/076.html That Wagon came up for sale recently. The EPA supports those guys, and check out the Links under resources. It's not a big stretch to make a car more efficient. The big mfrs. have a problem. They're cash poor and in big debt. Who's got the money? The Oilcos. GM just sold their big Lithium Battery plant to Chevron. Panic sale. Toyota built their own Hydrogen Fuel Cell and Lithium Battery plant. Vertical Integration is why the Japanese succeed and North American firms have gotten weaker. As for the upper/middle class thing, even Toyota isn't selling its new Hybrids. It leases them, in case there's a legal battle or a major recall. Like when GM sued Ford to take back all the EV Rangers in 1998, from California. You can't get a $1,000 per month car lease without a really healthy income. Plus change for the $1,200 Fuel-Cell addiction per month, plus warranty and maintenance costs. Ain't cheap to be on the bleeding edge of technology. So let the rich pay for the learning curve. They get to boast for a couple years and the bugs get fixed on their government tax breaks. The problem is where can you find a road good enough to drive 200 MPH!
Well, the prius is really selling well here. Of course stimulated by the fact that no import tax (45%!!!!!) has to be paid, which makes the car equal in price to a standard car. Furthermore, lease contracts are much better for hybrid cars. Toyota has a problem keeping up with the demand. Honda has stepped inmto the hybrid market as well, and although the car is far from as advanced from the Toyota (no Miller engine etc), it seems to be popular as well. Although I really see these hybrid cars as intermidiate solutions, which helps only marginally, it surely stimulates development.
Get your nation's leader to call our CBC-TV and talk about the Import Tax discount to buyers. Man, would that raise some excitement!