Hybrids are the rage at International Auto Show as GM CEO calls for more flex-fuel vehicle production

January 23, 2008

The CEO of General Motors said that the US could cut its gasoline consumption by 30 billion gallons by 2020 if every flex-fuel car made or planned by the Big Three automakers ran on E85, while the number would jump to 75 billion gallons if all new cars made by all manufacturers used E85.

However, the International Auto Show this past week also featured a significant number of new hybrids that could reduce fuel consumption by up to 25 percent. Among the innovations, a new Two-Mode hybrid system that would allow cars to operate simultaneously on both electricity and gasoline.

Among the concept car hybrids debuted at the show, Chrysler unveiled a hybrid diesel-electric Jeep Renegade dune buggy. The Jeep can travel 40 miles on its lithium battery before switching to a cleantech diesel engine that can extend range to 400 miles and achieve 110 mpg. Chrysler also debuted a Dodge Zeo electric sports car with a range of 250 miles, and a Chrysler ecoVoyager powered by a plug-in battery and hydrogen fuel cells that has a total range of 300 miles with water vapor as the only emission.

Detroit Auto Show to feature new flex-fuel, hybrid models as sales jump

In Detroit, the North American International Auto Show will feature more than 50 production and concept vehicles including more alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles. Hybrid sales jumped 49 percent ...

General Motors debuts flex-fuel Hummer concept car

In Michigan, General Motors introduced a "green" Hummer HX, 6-cylinder concept car which is compatible with E85. GM is introducing 16 new hybrid or flex-fuel models over the next four years. Also ...

BMW mulling over the establishment of a new “green” brand to market its eco-friendly vehicles

BMW may introduce a new "green" brand, after concluding that the BMW brand is too closely identified with its "Ultimate Driving Machine" image to encompass an eco-friendly brand message. The company i...

Bentley Motors to introduce renewable fuel versions of all production cars by 2012

Bentley Motors will introduce renewable fuel versions of all its production cars by 2012, the company said. It added that it expected a 15% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2012 from improved ...

Iowans says flex-fuel vehicle sales increases “mostly a coincidence”; flex-fuel not a factor for car buyers

Even in Iowa, E85 is tough to find, and the general manager of the East Central Iowa Cooperative said "I don't think flex-fuel even passes through someone's head when they are buying a vehicle around ...

Maryland to convert 40% of state fleet to biofuels

The Maryland state government unveiled a plan to increase purchases of hybrid and flex-fuel vehicles. Under the plan, 40% of state vehicle purchases will be flexfuel cars and trucks that run on biofue...

Written by Jim Lane · Filed Under Consumers & Fleets