So what will 2009 bring us in terms of hybrids, HEV?
The gist is simple, HEV will evolve and there will be a serious push for plug-in hybrids, PHEV, if not from manufacturers, consumers will ask for it, as they already have.
- Simple parallel hybrids might be the norm for most automakers this year. Meaning an HEV will have both electric and gas engine move the car.
- Serial hybrids will start to show their advantages by raising gas mileage. Meaning, only the electric engine will move the car and the gas one recharge the battery pack.
- If serial HEV are good, serial plug-in hybrids, PHEV are better. We should see, here and there some cars where only the electric engine moves the car, the gas being used to recharge the batteries and finally consumers can recharge at home without having to pollute the environment. Think Volt and more.
- Gas price goes up. Seriously folks, you knew that, right?
- Fisker’s Karma will finally be available by year end.
- AFS Trinity… tough one here. We can’t agree whether they will lease their technology out to mainstream makers or flat out get funding from the clean energy acts and buy a closing car factory. We lean more towards the latter.
- Honda’s Insight reclaims lost grounds to the Toyota Prius.
- Toyota’s Plug-in hybrid, PHEV version of its Prius will be tested but delayed. Somehow it doesn’t seem Toyota is all that interested in a PHEV.
- Buses and trucks will start to hit the road with hybrids systems. As fleets flock to save money on gas, school buses and bigger trucks will start to include hybrid technology.
- Finally, more and more easier HEV to PHEV conversion kits will happen but beware for states wanting to stop the trend backed by automaker’s lobbying.
Next, the alternative energy world and how it effects EVs and HEVs.