Category Archives: Plug-in hybrids

Hybrids that can plug to give some range on electric mode

Rinspeed Dock+Go concept or how to make a small EV more versatile

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Laurent J. Masson

Swiss automotive visionary Frank M. Rinderknecht has never suffered from a lack of imagination. His creations always add a touch of burlesque at the Geneva motor show, and this year won’t be exception. At the Rinspeed stand, M. Rinderknecht will … Continue reading →

Posted in Concept-cars, Electric cars (EVs), Plug-in hybrids | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Now fixed, the Opel Ampera plug-in hybrid has found its first customer in Berlin

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Laurent J. Masson

Made for Europe, the Opel Ampera is a sister model to the Chevrolet Volt. Its plug-in hybrid drive train is the same as the Volt, which meant that the Ampera had the problems the Volt had. Its deliveries were stopped. … Continue reading →

Posted in Plug-in hybrids | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Volvo V60 diesel hybrid, the first plug-in Americans won’t get

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Laurent J. Masson

Few people would have expected that, because many see California as the leading market towards electric mobility. There’s just no other state or country where you can find as many Nissan Leafs or Tesla roadsters, but when Swedish car maker … Continue reading →

Posted in Luxury cars, Plug-in hybrids | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Extending the range of an electric Smart, Rinspeed got an idea

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Laurent J. Masson

The electric Smart car has a 17.7-kWh battery pack giving a 85-mile range. Not enough for some people, so Rinspeed, the famous Swiss coachbuilder and boutique car manufacturer, got an idea to improve that. A trailer. This is not a … Continue reading →

Posted in Electric cars (EVs), EVs batteries and BMS, Plug-in hybrids | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid sedan got rated by the EPA

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Laurent J. Masson

The Fisker Karma, that beautiful plug-in hybrid sports sedan, finally got certified by the EPA. The car gets a 52 mpge rating in all electric mode, and a 20 mpg combined gas-electric fuel economy rating. The only other plug-in hybrid … Continue reading →

Posted in Luxury cars, Plug-in hybrids | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Europe’s still waiting, but Toyota has priced its plug-in Prius in the US, is it worth its price?

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Laurent J. Masson

The plug-in Prius was unveiled in its production version at the Frankfurt motor show, but Toyota didn’t revealed its price there. Would it be 10% more than the standard version? 15% more? In the US, where the base Prius sells … Continue reading →

Posted in Market, Plug-in hybrids | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

BMW engines, because Fisker wants its plug-in hybrids to be high speed cruisers

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Laurent J. Masson

Fisker Automotive, the manufacturer of the stunning Karma hybrid, will unveil a second model next year. Code-name is Nina. It’s expected to be substantially smaller, more affordable too, but it shall retain the Karma’s best feature: a plug-in hybrid power … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, IC Engines, Plug-in hybrids | Tagged , | Leave a comment

BMW i8, a stunning plug-in hybrid green supercar from Munich, but will it be a joy to drive?

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Laurent J. Masson

It was love at first sight. As soon as the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept appeared in front of me, I knew I was in love. And so were most of the other people who discovered the car with me. That … Continue reading →

Posted in Driving, Luxury cars, Plug-in hybrids | Tagged , | Comments Off

Surprise: the Ford C-Max as an hybrid only in America

Posted on June 11, 2011 by Laurent J. Masson

The new Ford C-Max has been launched last September in Europe, and it has been a hot seller since then. More than 100,000 have been sold already, and Ford is currently hard at work increasing its production capacity at its … Continue reading →

Posted in Hybrids, Marketing, Plug-in hybrids | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

The Porsche Panamera hybrid may get a plug

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Laurent J. Masson

Porsche introduced an hybrid version of its Panamera sports sedan last month in Geneva. This model is the second hybrid from Porsche after the Cayenne, and there could a third one pretty soon. It would be a derivative of of … Continue reading →

Posted in Luxury cars, Plug-in hybrids, Sports car | Tagged , | Comments Off