Hybrid Cars | Clean Fleet Report

2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid Test Drive and Review

March 16, 2019December 13, 2010 by John Addison

This Lincoln MKZ is delivering the most smooth and silent drive I’ve experienced. In stop-go LA traffic, I quietly move forward only using the two electric motors, with the gasoline engine off. When I accelerate around slow traffic the electric motors and gasoline engine blend power so smoothly that it would happen unnoticed unless you are doing a test drive. The Lincoln MKZ is the premium hybrid car with the best fuel economy on the road. No other luxury or premium car gets the Lincoln MKZ’s 41 highway, 36 city, and 39 mpg combined fuel efficiency.

Toyota’s 11 New Hybrids and 3 Electric Cars

March 16, 2019November 19, 2010 by John Addison

Toyota plans to introduce 11 hybrids by the end of 2012, consisting of all-new models and redesigned models. A new compact will deliver a jaw-dropping 94 mpg. Lexus offers five premium hybrids including the CT200h with 42 mpg. Toyota demonstrates a big electric future with 600 Prius Plug-ins now on the road, and trials to start for the new all-electric SUV – the Toyota RAV4 EV Powered by Tesla.

Electric Cars Get A+ on Window Sticker

March 16, 2019September 1, 2010 by John Addison

When you go shopping for a new car it is useful to see a quick summary of fuel economy, how much you might save in fuel over 5 years, and the price. Now that people are web surfing faster, moving with purpose through auto shows, and scanning car lots with speed, the EPA is proposing adding grades “A” to “D” on window stickers. Pure battery-electric cars would get an “A+.” In my day, I had to work for every “A,” there were no incompletes, and I had to walk 5 miles daily to school in the snow. The idea of no “F” means that no gas guzzler will be left behind.

Will Hyundai Beat Toyota and Honda in Lithium-Ion Hybrids?

March 16, 2019August 13, 2010 by Guest Contributor

March 2009 I asked myself: Why Toyota and Honda dislike lithium? My short answer to that question was: Because it was in their interest. Both created the conditions for a very profitable niche market, the hybrid electric vehicle market. So they had much to gain from delaying the arrival of the real electric car revolution since this would help them make more profits out of a rather obsolete but still commercially viable battery technology until the new emerging battery technology is finally introduced into the market.

New 2011 Honda Civic Hybrid with Lithium Batteries

March 16, 2019July 20, 2010 by John Addison

Honda expands on all fronts with Hybrids, Plug-in Hybrids, and Electric Car. In 2011 Honda will introduce a new Civic Hybrid using a new lithium-ion battery from Blue Energy, a joint venture company between GS Yuasa and Honda. The Honda Fit Hybrid will be introduced. New battery-electric car and plug-in starts U.S. trails this year with fleets such as Google and Stanford University.

New Lincoln Beats Lexus in Luxury Hybrid Car Battle

May 3, 2021March 31, 2010 by John Addison

The new Lincoln MKZ Hybrid will be the first luxury hybrid to beat 40 miles per gallon in city driving, topping the current luxury hybrid leader from Lexus. Last week I wrote about my test drive of the Lexus HS 250h which achieves 35 mpg city. The 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid uses Ford’s second-generation hybrid technology – the 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle I-4 hybrid engine, named one of Ward’s 2010 “10 Best Engines” and electric battery-driven motors to deliver optimal performance and fuel economy. The combined gasoline engine and electric motor provide 191 net horsepower.

Lexus HS 250h – Test Driving a Hybrid Car

May 3, 2021March 26, 2010 by John Addison

Since Toyota and Lexus have been getting some bad press for acceleration and braking problems, I had to discover the truth. I put on my helmut and accelerated the Lexus HS 250h on to the track at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The Lexus hybrid has four modes – Eco, Normal, EV, and Power. If you are into Eco or if you’re Normal, don’t get on a racetrack with thirty other auto journalists loaded with caffeine and pumped with adrenaline. Being not quite normal, I touched the Power button.

2010 Lexus HS 250h Premium Hybrid Car with Best MPG

February 9, 2025March 26, 2010 by John Addison

By John Addison (updated 3/31/10; original 3/26/10) Summary Luxury car buyers now longer need to sacrifice mileage. The Lexus HS250h gives you the image of … Read more

Ford’s U.S. Market Share Now Bigger than Toyota

March 16, 2019March 5, 2010 by John Addison

Ford outsold Toyota in February in the United States. Ford’s monthly sales were up 43 percent over February 2009, while Toyota sales dropped 9 percent. Ford’s growing success comes at a time when Toyota is recalling millions of vehicles, and suspending sales of key models, due to accelerator pedal problems. More customers now feel safer in a Ford, Mercury, or Lincoln than in a Toyota or Lexus. Toyota commands four of the top 10 positions of Clean Fleet’s 2010 Hybrids with Best Mileage, but Ford plans on changing that with new hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric cars.

2010 Cars with the Lowest Carbon Footprint

December 3, 2024January 21, 2010 by John Addison

The cars with the lowest carbon footprint all save by using half the fuel of most cars. The Toyota Prius continues to the United States in fuel economy and lowest lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. This perennial favorite midsize 4-door hatchback delivers 50 miles per gallon (mpg) and is lowest on the list with 3.7 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent for the EPA annual driving cycle. The 2010 Clean Fleet Report of Lowest GHG includes many hybrids, one SUV, and one car that runs on CNG.

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