Predictions for 2013 plug-in sales range from enthusiasts who hope for a culture shift that would allow EVs to take a major share of the market to more realistic analysts who expect growth less dramatic than the 200 percent increase in 2012 compared to 2011.
Honda is an engineering-led company, which is why it takes pride in accomplishments that might leave other companies scratching their heads at the effort expended.
The 2013 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS, aka the Detroit Auto Show) is the premier auto show on this continent, beginning the year by entertaining thousands of journalists from all over the world and showcasing more than 50 of the latest vehicles from American and foreign automakers.
The 2013 VW Beetle TDI is no longer that bare-bones icon of the Sixties nor the note-perfect cute revival New Beetle of the past decade. With the 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine, the Beetle will regularly turn in 40+ mpg on the highway. The EPA numbers are 28 city/ 41 highway with the manual and 29/39 with the automatic. As is the case with most diesels, and in contrast to most gasoline-fueled vehicles, beating EPA fuel economy numbers are not hard.
The good news – as we saw at the recent LA Auto Show, the options are growing and it should continue to get easier to match up a specific driver’s needs and driving patterns with the optimal vehicle configuration and powertrain.
The 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show’s media preview days’ included cars and SUVS with record fuel economy. All of the mainstream vehicle introductions – whether the vehicle was fueled by gasoline, diesel, a gasoline-electric hybrid system (that may or may not plug in) or electricity – focused on the improved fuel economy of the vehicle being introduced.
The Clean Fleet Top 10 Low Carbon cars of 2014 include a parade of electrified models, mostly small except for the large and expensive Tesla Model S. A variety of models give the carbon-conscious buyer several different models to choose from.
Biofuels are becoming important options for cleaner transportation. Today’s available selection includes biogasoline, biodiesel, ethanol and butanol.