It's been a busy week in the world of hybrid and alt fuel vehicles. Here's the latest update on what's been happening:

Prius is in the Family Way - Yep, seems that Toyota is making plans to hatch a whole line of Prius-badged products. Apparently the Prius name is more powerful with consumers than Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive (think Highlander Hybrid and Camry Hybrid). Thus, Prius will be the moniker that adorns all future vehicles that are offered only as hybrids, according to a recent news release from Automotive News. First up: a new Prius five-door by 2010. No timeline has been released for the others mentioned: a Prius two-door coupe, a Prius wagon or possibly even a Prius commuter car.

Nissan Goes Electric - by 2010, that is. Nissan recently announced that an all-electric vehicle will hit the streets of the US and Japan, with plans to mass-market it worldwide by 2012. According to the US Department of Energy's newsletter, this marks the first plans from a major automaker to mass-market an all-electric vehicle.

GM Aims to Save - Last week Scott was one of the lucky ones to drive the HCCI-enabled Saturn Aura. Say what? That's HCCI for Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition and it equals fuel savings. It's intriguing stuff since it involves igniting a gasoline-air mixture using compression (yes, like a diesel engine)--instead of a traditional spark. By burning the fuel evenly in the combustion chamber, the engine operates at a lower temperature. Result: 15 percent increase in fuel economy. Stay tuned for more pics and details on Scott's take.

Shifting into Gear - Ford is using more efficient six-speed automatic transmissions for--yes, you guessed it--better fuel economy. With plans to double the number of six-speed transmissions in cars and trucks by the end of next year, folks will be able to count on saving as much as 6 percent, compared to a four- or five-speed.

photo © Adrian Gable

Will you be one of the 35.2% of folks that will be replacing your old car because it has high mileage? And perhaps you'll be looking for a car that gets better gas mileage? Has the ole jalopy been needing a few too many repairs ... or are you one of the 22% that's just ready for something new? Any which way you slice it, shopping for your new set of wheels is more complicated than ever before--and we're not just talking styling preferences--we're talking fuel choice.

The choices in fuels has not only got folks scratching their heads at the pump (think E85 ... ULSD ... B20), but also in a bind when it comes to replacing their car or truck. And that's where Jack R. Nerad's book, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hybrid & Alternative Fuel Vehicles, steps in. With 193-hybrid and alt fuel info-packed pages, it's all about deciphering the latest technology and finding the best hybrid or alt fueler for you. Was it a winner in our book? Read our Book Review: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hybrid & Alternative Fuel Vehicles to find out.

Hello,
I read your site (specifically making your own biodiesel with waste oil) with quite a bit of interest, and after reading it, I'm beginning to wonder if this is something we could actually do. My husband and I are fairly intelligent people (both college grads) and are wanting to decrease our oil dependence and help our pocketbook at the same time. Following your instructions on the site, it seems fairly straight forward and not too complicated. Have you really been making this in the basement 5 gallons at a time for a number of years? ... Thanks, Jeff and Amy

Hi Jeff and Amy,
Yes, we really have been mixing biodiesel in our basement in 5 gallon buckets for many years—and we’re quite confident that you can too. Seven years ago we learned how to do it from Joshua Tickell’s book, From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank, and took it step by step from there. It’s really not as complicated (or hard) as it first seems; once you get some waste oil and have the basic materials gathered, you can quickly learn how to process it into fuel. Sometimes there are ...

Want to learn the whole scoop on what's up with making homebrew bio? Check out Jeff and Amy's letter, along with our complete answer. --Christine & Scott

BD logo © Scott Gable

Christine and Scott, I have a question about the power supply for electric cars. I was reading recently that the plug-in hybrid could have exceptional gas mileage, up to 600 if memory serves, but would have to be plugged in overnight to recharge the battery. I don't understand why an electric car needs to be plugged in to recharge. We have had alternators and voltage regulators in vehicles for years. Why can't someone develop one capable of recharging the battery pack in an electric car so that it doesn't have to be plugged in? Perhaps I'm looking at it too simply. If so, please advise why. Thanks in advance. Bill

Hi Bill,
You’re not looking at it too simply at all--it’s a good question. We love readers with inquisitive minds, and the answer to your wonderment is basic physics. In regular cars, and even in normal hybrids--to a lesser, but similar, degree--the internal combustion engine drives the alternator/generator to keep the battery charged. This works well for two reasons: the engine is already running to keep the car moving, so it’s also available to power the alternator, plus these relatively small starter batteries don’t require much power to keep them charged, so the alternator load is light. However, in pure electric cars ...

Want to read the whole deal on what's up with electric cars and recharging? Check out Bill's letter, along with our answer to get the scoop on the recharging issue of plug-in electric cars. --Christine & Scott

photo © General Motors - Chevy Volt electric car

Would you buy a new vehicle in the next month if you were guaranteed $2.99/gallon gasoline, E85 or diesel to fill its tank for three years?

• Yes
  
• No

Well, if you buy a Chrysler vehicle before June 2, that's the dealie. Just yesterday Chrysler announced a new incentive: buy a new Chrysler and choose from 87 octane gasoline, E85 or diesel and get a guaranteed pricelock of $2.99/gallon for the first three years of ownership, according to a recent article from Automotive News. The deal: no matter the current pump price, your specially issued credit card (to be used at certain filling stations), gets you the bargain price. While details on models and station locations are yet to be announced, this is surely an appealing ploy by Chrysler to help spur sales of fuel-thirsty SUVs and trucks. So, we can't help but wonder ... would you consider it? And it'll surely be interesting to see if other manufacturers follow suit. Stay tuned.

And in the meantime, if y'all are wonderin' what E85ers or diesels are out there to choose from (and which ones are Chrysler's), check out our current lists of 2008 flex-fuel vehicles, 2008 diesel vehicles and even the 2008 hybrids.

Already voted? Check the tabulated results instantly.

It's time for our monthly update on the most recent addition to our alt fuel fleet--as you may know, we purchased this new hybrid in November '07.

Mileage: 4451

Fuel economy: 39.0 mpg

Weather conditions: Mild in the 50s and 60s - spring is finally here.

Maintenance/Repairs: None besides a quick oil check, tire pressure check and a fill of the windshield washer fluid. All has been A-OK. Warm sunny days and mild temps continue to help that hybrid operating system maintain optimal temperature. Translation: EV mode kicks on frequently--and that equals better fuel economy.

A recent headline in Newsday (New York) caught my eye: "Quicker payback with the Altima hybrid," and the article opens with "Is a hybrid car right for you? The question is easier to answer in the affirmative if the hybrid in question is the Nissan Altima." It talks about the tax credits still available ($2,350) for this hybrid (sorry, none left for a Prius or Camry)--although there's still a $1,300 tax credit offered on two other competitors, the Saturn Aura and Chevrolet Malibu.

Conclusion: the Altima hybrid is a good all-around deal--especially with rising gas prices--since it's estimated that driving 15,000 miles in the hybrid would cost $1,654 compared to $2,164 for the regular Altima ($3.75/gallon pricing). That's $510 per year--which added to the tax credit, brings the payback time to 3 years ($4,000 hybrid premium). And the higher fuel prices surge, the quicker the payback. Best of all, it's one heck of a fun car to drive--with 198 hp and some smart driving (even hypermiling, if you're so inclined)--it's one way to put some power (and green) back into your own pocket. --Christine

photo © Adrian Gable - 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid

Hello Christine and Scott,
I was very relieved to find your pages under About.com and find out I could email you. A few weeks ago we purchased a 2008 Nissan Altima hybrid and recently we noticed something that has us worried: the 'gasoline engine' kicks on a few seconds after starting the car and while the car is still in PARK. It stays on EV MODE for only the first few seconds ... Is something wrong with my car? I noticed on your website that you 'own' your own 2008 Nissan Hybrid. Please tell me what's happening with yours. At first my husband thought that this was due to the cold weather (under 40 degrees). But today, the temperature was at 48 degrees and it still didn't stay in EV MODE at startup. Please help. I am afraid this might be a defective car. --Dora

Hey Dora,
Thanks for writing - good questions. We understand your concerns. Your husband is right - it does have a lot to do with the cold temperatures, and there actually are several conditions that will make the engine on your car run ...

Want to read the whole scoop on what's up with this Altima Hybrid? Check out Dora's letter, along with our reply to learn whether her 2008 Altima Hybrid is working perfectly normally. Or not.--Christine & Scott

photo © Adrian Gable

If you're talking about the latest alt fuel on-highway trucks developed by Volvo, that is. Recently unveiled at the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC) in Washington, D.C., these trucks are able to operate on biodiesel, methanol/ethanol, biogas, biogas and biodiesel, hydrogen and biogas, dimethylether (DME) and synthetic diesel. And it's all in the name of CO₂ neutral highway transportation. If you're like us, this pronouncement leaves you with more questions than answers--read on--here's what we've learned.

According to the April 2008 issue of Diesel Progress magazine, Volvo set out to prove that the technology to run highway trucks on alt fuels is a go, here and now. This project was part of an agreement between the U.S. Dept. of Energy, Volvo Group, Mack Trucks and the Swedish Energy Agency. The goal: to develop commercial vehicle technologies with a minimal environmental impact. Climate effect, energy efficacy, land-use efficiency, fuel potential, vehicle adaptation, fuel cost and infrastructure, CO₂ levels, engine performance and fuel economy were all primary considerations for this project. "We looked at everything you have to do to get that fuel produced, processed, burned in the vehicle and the actual wheels turning," said Anthony Greszler, vice president, advanced engineering Volvo Powertrain North America, who was quoted in the article. "How much energy do you put in and get out? ..."

So what are the 7 fuels powering these trucks?

• Biodiesel - Becoming widely accepted and popular and produced from rapeseed, palm or soybean oil, biodiesel can power up any diesel engine, although it's received some flack for lower standards (depending upon the producer) which can affect performance--and there are those cold weather issues to be aware of.
• Methanol & Ethanol - Made from wheat, corn, sugar beets, straw, wood waste or energy crops through fermentation and hydrolysis or gasification (methanol), both of these fuels have lower energy density per gallon (compared to gasoline).
• Biogas - produced through anaerobic digestion of organic waste, sewage and manure, three trucks were designed to run on blends using biogas and biodiesel and hydrogen and biogas. Low emissions and low noise make this a good fuel for urban trucks--especially since garbage collection trucks could use the biogas from landfills.
• Dimethylether (DME) - This is a fuel produced through the gasification of biomass. It has low viscosity and lubricity but can be carried in standard LPG tanks although it requires an adapted electronic control and fuel system.
• Synthetic diesel - A manmade fuel similar to diesel fuel, the only thing lacking is lubricity--but that's solved by additives. Synthetic diesel is produced through the gasification process of wheat, corn, sugar beets, straw and other energy crops or organic waste. It can be used in any diesel engine without modification and offers similar performance to regular ole diesel.

All in all, we think this is good stuff. There's definitely more possibilities for clean motoring than what's currently available in the dealer showroom. And that equals a cleaner future--stay tuned.

photo - © Mark Renders/Stringer - Getty Images

Looking for a vehicle that'll haul the kids, the tent and the campin' gear--and not break the bank when you fill up at the pump? Then perhaps one of the newest hybrids will fit the bill. Featured in today's photo album: Toyota's 2008 Highlander Hybrid. It's got 4WD, it's got 3 rows of seating and it's got a hybrid powertrain. But does it got what you want and need? Go ahead and get a good look at the ins-and-outs of the newly redesigned 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.

And for all the details from our test drive week, check out our review of the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Want a second review opinion? Head on over to SUV Guide Jason Fogelson's 2008 Highlander Hybrid review for his take on this set of wheels.

photo - © Adrian Gable

Just finished up our test drive and review of Toyota's 2008 Highlander Hybrid. It's all new and re-engineered inside and outside and upside and downside. It's mightily different than the '07 in almost every measurable dimension as well as some of those more intangible ways. Heck, the bean counters at Toyota even managed to find a way to knock a few "clams" off last years price--now that's doin' something.

So compared to Highlander Hybrid 2007 and even the plain old regular gasoline Highlander 2008, how's the latest version rate? Read our '08 Highlander Hybrid review and see how this electromechanical mid-size SUV stacks up.

photo © Adrian Gable