SmartEnergyViews

Toyota Prius (Prii?) are hard to find. There are currently no new Prius models on the lots of any Toyota dealer in our area (East Tennessee).

Toyota can't make them fast enough. From the Detroit Free Press

Toyota has also struggled this year to produce enough small cars and Prius hybrids to keep up with customer demand. Sales of the Prius, Toyota’s best selling hybrid, declined 8% in July to 14,785.

Batteries are the critical path. From FTD.de

Waiting lists for Priuses have expanded sharply as demand outstrips the Japanese carmaker's capacity to build the petrol-electric hybrid vehicles. Toyota - normally a paragon of supply-chain management - admits to "bottlenecks", particularly in batteries, which have slowed turnover even as drivers clamour for more fuel-efficient cars.

This has created a hot market for used Prius:

According to data released by the Power Information Network, the average used Prius with 8,000 miles on the odometer is selling for $1,300 over the suggested retail price of a new one. What’s more, even a Prius with 22,000 miles sells for just $276 less than a brand new one.

Glad we got ours last year, just in time to get the tax credit (which has now expired):

(Sorry, ours is not for sale.)

The 2009 Ford Escape, equipped with a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, delivers best-in-class fuel economy in the small SUV segment with 28 highway/20 city mpg.

The 2009 Escape Hybrid remains the most fuel-efficient SUV, delivering 34 city mpg and an improved highway rating of 31 mpg - a 1 mpg increase versus the 2008 model.

According to Ford, the Escape's new 2.5-liter I-4 engine uses intake variable cam timing (iVCT) technology for increased power and improved efficiency. The powertrain also incorporates electronic throttle control (ETC), dual-mode crankshaft damping and new intake and exhaust manifolds, which contribute to greater fuel efficiency. And a new optional six-speed automatic transmission contributes up to a 6 percent increase in fuel efficiency.

A new front chin spoiler and rear tire spoilers help reduce wind drag, providing a gain of 0.75 mpg at 70 mph. Escape also features new low-rolling-resistance tires developed in cooperation with Michelin.

Escape Hybrid remains the most fuel-efficient SUV on the planet. For 2009, the Hybrid achieved a 1 mpg improvement on the highway, for 34 city/31 highway mpg. The upgraded Hybrid model will use the new 2.5-liter I-4 designed to run on the Atkinson combustion cycle. A new engine processor enables smoother transitions between gas and electric vehicle mode, and control system enhancements provide more electric mode driving, switching over from gas at 35 mph rather than 25 mph with the previous model.

AAA is advising hypermilers to think of safety first and avoid hypermiling techniques that are dangerous to themselves and others and that might damage their vehicles.

"The goals of hypermiling are positive, such as eliminating aggressive driving and saving energy," said Marshall L. Doney, AAA Automotive vice president. "Unfortunately some motorists have taken their desire to improve fuel economy to extremes with techniques that put themselves, as well as their fellow motorists, in danger."

Examples of the dangerous hypermiling techniques include cutting off the vehicle's engine or putting it in neutral to coast on a roadway, tailgating or drafting larger vehicles, rolling through stop signs and driving at erratic and unsafe speeds. "These practices can put motorists in a treacherous situation where they could lose power steering and brakes or be unable to react to quickly changing traffic conditions," Doney said.

"Not only are these extreme driving behaviors dangerous, many of them also are illegal. However, there are several safe and legal driving techniques motorists can implement to conserve fuel, such as smooth and easy acceleration and braking, maintaining a steady speed, using cruise control and looking ahead to anticipate changing traffic conditions," he said.

Proper vehicle maintenance is also key to optimal fuel economy, but extreme measures can be harmful to a vehicle.

Keeping tires properly inflated can improve fuel economy by two to three percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. However, some drivers have taken this advice too far by over-inflating their tires, which the Rubber Manufacturers Association reports can make them more susceptible to road hazard damage and result in premature wear to the center portion of the tread. Over-inflation can also cause handling issues due to less tire surface making contact with the road.

Some hypermilers also opt to use the lowest 'weight' motor oil (or that with the lowest kinematic viscosity) on the market. However, motor oil is not a fluid that can be freely interchanged and using too light of oil can cause major damage to a vehicle's engine.

In both instances, AAA's auto maintenance experts recommend checking the owner's manual for the manufacturer's recommendations. Tires should only be inflated to the pressures specified by the vehicle manufacturer -- and not what is listed on the sidewall of the tire. Motorists also should use the lowest grade motor oil recommended by the manufacturer for their climate.

FindSolar.com, operated by solar industry interests and the DOE, has a handy Solar Estimator that calculates an estimated cost for a home solar PV system and provides a list of contractors in your area. It uses some curious formulas that I don't quite understand to calculate positive ROI, but it provides some interesting insights.

Some manufacturers also have calculators, including BP Solar USA, Sharp Electronics, and Kyocera Solar. And the PVWatts.org calculator estimates how much solar power you can generate for any given U.S. location based on a number of variables.

Where I live in Tennessee is listed at the high end of "good" on the "solar scale" of available solar energy. But a 3 or 4 kW system that costs $40K or so will only generate about $35 per month worth of electricity. That's a payback of about 95 years!

(Most of the calculators reduce the payback period based on tax deductions if you finance the system with a home equity loan. I don't understand how that works. It seems like the additional interest v. paying cash would make the system cost more over its life, not less. I'm not very good at math, though, so maybe someone can explain that?)

Folks living in Florida (where we lived for a while) can get a much better deal, because a) they get slightly more solar radiation, but more important b) they have a state rebate incentive that will pay for half the system. Plus they require utilities to provide "net metering" (meaning you can sell excess power back to the grid). The payback period is reduced by half or more, but it's still a stretch.

Conclusion: While good for the environment (assuming "green" manufacturing practices), residential solar PV systems are still too expensive and not yet cost effective. Expect this to change, however, as R&D produces better and cheaper solar panels and manufacturing ramps up.

Of course the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid are the MPG kings, but there are plenty of cars that get great mileage.

In fact, of the top 10 most fuel efficient vehicles (with duplicate models eliminated), five are non-hybrid standard models and all get a combined 29 MPG or more.

Here's a list from the EPA database of every make/model that gets 25MPG or more. Buy one used and save even more!

Read more...

If you purchase a hybrid vehicle this year (2008), make sure to check on available federal tax credit incentives.

Here's the current IRS hybrid tax credit schedule for 2008 models.

Here's the IRS hybrid tax credit program summary.

Tax credits for Toyota models (Prius, Camry, Highlander, and Lexus models) have phased out because sales have exceeded their quotas.

Tax credits are still available for the following 2008 vehicles: Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid and Tahoe Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, GMC Yukon Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid (reduced 7/1, phased out 12/31), Mazda Tribute Hybrid, Mercury Mariner Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid, Saturn Aura Hybrid and Vue Green Line. Some new 2007 vehicles are also eligible.

Currently, the highest credit is $3000 for the Ford Escape Hybrid along with the Mazda Tribute and Mercury Mariner versions.

Note that you are not eligible for the hybrid tax credit if you are subject to AMT, and even if you don't pay the AMT your credit amount can be reduced by the AMT calculation and other credits. Here's the 2007 tax year credit form (PDF) with instructions.

Use this handy MSN gas price directory to find the cheapest gas in your zip code. (My only complaint is that it doesn't indicate if the gas is 10% ethanol.)

Well, we finally decided between the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Prius. We took delivery of a 2007 Prius yesterday, just in time before the tax credit (assuming we qualify) gets cut in half (again) as of today.

We got a fairly basic model, with option package #2 (upgraded AM/FM CD with six speakers, auxiliary audio jack and MP3/WMA playback capability, Smart Key System, backup camera and Vehicle Stability Control). Sticker price with the option package was $23,970. Here it is:

Read more about the deal and first impressions...

Been out shopping for a hybrid this weekend. Think we've narrowed it down to the Honda Civic Hybrid or the Toyota Prius.

(Eliminated the Camry Hybrid early on because of higher price and lower MPG, but they've got a nice one with leather, moonroof, and all the toys which they claim gets 40 MPG in the city but user reports say otherwise. Plus, it's about $33K. You can't get the Altima hybrid here yet, but it's positioned about the same as the Camry.)

Prius pros: Hatchback, fold-down seats give more cargo capacity and greater convenient. Runs more on electric motor. Higher EPA mileage rating (EPA 60/51, user reported avg. 44). Slightly better acceleration. Slightly roomier in the back seats.

Prius cons: Ugly. Goofy touch screen to control most everything in the cockpit. I want to drive my car, not program it. Goofy startup procedure and gear shifting. Did I mention ugly?

Civic Hybrid pros: Looks and functions more like a "normal" car. Handles great, better ride, more fun to drive. Better layout and operation of cockpit functions and controls. Better visibility out the rear window for backing up.

Civic Hybrid cons: Smaller trunk capacity and no fold-down seats. Slightly less room in the back seat. (And no cupholders!) ICE motor runs more frequently, slightly less MPG (EPA 49/51, user reported avg. 43). Not quite as peppy. (Although neither car will be winning any drag races any time soon.)

Pricing is about the same for base models at around $23K. One difference, though, is that the Civic Hybrid has no options except navigation system, and the base model is nicely equipped. With the Prius, you can get leather seats, navigation, comfort packages, etc. etc. You can also run the price up over $30K. (Sorry, ain't no way I'm paying that.) One other nice option for the Prius is the backup video camera, but on the other hand you almost need it because of the poor view out the rear window.

I like the Civic Hybrid because of handling, ride, and "normal car" styling and operation. The Mrs. likes the techno-geek factor of the Prius, and we both like the hatchback/fold-down seats.

(P.S. Can't compare stereos. The Civic has an adequate to nice system that is XM and Aux/I-Pod ready. So does the Prius, but apparently they can't leave some fuse in because the battery will run down and the salesman was too lazy to install it so we didn't get to hear the stereo or work the $5K option package navigation system. Advantage: Honda sales person.)

Edmunds: We Test the Tips

By changing your driving habits you can improve fuel economy up to 37 percent right away (depending on how you drive). Combine several tips and perform routine maintenance and you will save real dollars, not just pennies.

Edmunds tests gas savings tips to find out what works and what doesn't. This article lists the top six that will save you gas and money. The good news: you don't have to turn off your AC!