Hybrid Vehicles

Close-up of HYBRID logo on back of black car.

Hybrids Regain in Popularity Amid EV Cost and and Charging Concerns

After their sales dropped thanks to the introduction of all-electric vehicles, hybrid gas-electric cars are seeing a renaissance among consumers.

October 8, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

Electric Car Charging Stencil

California Climate Program Offers Up to $9,500 Toward Purchase of Used EVs

Lawmakers want to ensure that electric vehicles are accessible to all Californians, particularly lower-income motorists in disadvantaged communities. Unlike other incentive programs, participants must also scrap an older, polluting vehicle.

December 14, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Interstate 95/395 reversible HOV lanes

Solo-Occupant Hybrid Vehicles Lose Access to Carpool Lanes

A change in federal law on Monday meant that over 16,000 Virginia motorists must double or triple-up when using carpool lanes in Virginia. Next month, electric vehicles will need three occupants to drive free on I-395 when HOV lanes become HOT.

October 2, 2019 - The Washington Post

Electric Cars

N.Y.C. Saving Money With Electric Vehicles

The price of electric cars is dropping, and this together with lower lifetime costs makes them a good alternative for vehicle fleets.

April 2, 2019 - Quartz

Transportation Network Company

Lyft Goes Greener With EVs

Lyft will add electric vehicles to its rental fleet and offer riders the option to request hybrid and electric vehicles.

February 20, 2019 - mbg planet

I-66 High Occupancy Toll Lanes Open in Northern Virginia in December

The lanes are in use now, operating as High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes during peak hours. Come December, solo-occupant vehicles will be able to use the converted lanes, providing they have E-ZPass transponders. However, there are some losers.

October 10, 2017 - The Washington Post

Volvo Makes History in Embrace of Electric Vehicle Technology

In a major announcement that could shake-up the auto industry, Volvo Cars declared it will initiate a gradual divorce from autos solely powered by internal combustion in two years. The Chinese-owned company wants to reduce its environmental impact.

July 6, 2017 - The New York Times

California Fuel Consumption Rises—First Time in Eight Years

For the first time since 2006, gasoline consumption in California increased from the prior fiscal year. From July 2013 through June 2014, consumption increased 1 percent.

December 4, 2014 - The Sacramento Bee

Did Obama Bet on the Wrong Electric Vehicle Technology?

With Toyota's long-waited fuel cell electric vehicle (FCV) hitting showrooms in the U.S. this week, Kenneth Chang, science reporter for The New York Times, delves further into the technology, starting with how it fared under two administrations.

November 19, 2014 - The New York Times - Environment

Hybrid Vehicle Sales Take a Dive

A new study revealed that more car buyers are choosing plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) while fewer are choosing traditional hybrid vehicles. Both types are considered to be electric vehicles, and hybrid sales far outnumber PEV sales.

September 16, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

Prius Founder Questions Future of Electric Vehicles

Toyota Motor Corp. Chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada, who helped develop the world's most popular hybrid-electric vehicle, questioned the ability of pure electric vehicles to supplant petroleum-fueled vehicles because of battery and charging challenges.

October 4, 2013 - The Washington Post

How Green Is Your Electric Car? Depends Where You Live

According to a new report from Climate Central, your EV is only as clean as the power plant used to generate the electricity it runs on. Furthermore, due to the huge carbon cost of batteries, a hybrid may be more climate-friendly than a plug-in.

August 15, 2013 - The Seattle Times

Amended Virginia Transportation Bill Backtracks on Prius Tax

In signing the funding bill that eliminates the state's 17.5-cent gas tax, Gov. Bob McDonnell reduced the new registration fee on hybrid vehicles to $64. While environmentalists remained disappointed, Moody's bond rating agency praised it highly.

March 29, 2013 - The Hill's Transportation Blog

Why You Don't Drive An Electric Car

At one time in the 1900s, a third of cars in major cities were powered by electric motors. Today, only about 1% of cars are fully electric. Why did we end up with gasoline-powered cars?

October 8, 2012 - The New York Times

Younger Auto Consumers Boost Hybrid Vehicle Demand

A new survey provided some good news for the alternative technology sector of the auto market: younger consumers prefer hybrids and other electrified vehicles over conventional vehicles, especially fuel-inefficient ones.

January 25, 2012 - Bloomberg News

Detroit Auto Show Highlights New EVs - But Where Are The Buyers?

The EPA's new fuel efficiency standards have auto makers scrambling to produce electric and hybrid vehicles, but the higher prices of these vehicles deter buyers.

January 17, 2012 - The New York Times

Exxon Predicts Energy Future For World At 2040

By 2040, half of all cars will be hybrids or running on alternative fuels; energy demand will be flat for the developed world but will increase 60% for developing nations, and non-conventional oil sources will handily meet the demand of 110m barrels.

December 13, 2011 - AP via Bloomberg Business Week

54.5 MPG by 2025

In a remarkable show of cooperation between the auto industry and the administration, the two agreed upon the highest increase since the advent of fuel efficiency standards. Current standards require 35.5 mpg by 2016 - safeguards exist for problems.

August 1, 2011 - The New York Times - Business Day

Obama's Mileage-High Ambition

The Obama administration is proposing new mileage and emissions standards for U.S. vehicles. By 2025, American automakers will have to manufacture cars that achieve 56.2 miles per gallon (mpg).

July 4, 2011 - The New York Times

Harvard Report: Gas Taxes Not Vehicle Credits Necessary To Reduce Emissions

$7 gas is necessary according to a new report if transportation emissions are to be reduced to EPA targets by 2020. What's more, providing tax credits for electric and hybrid vehicles would backfire. The report recommends steep gas tax increases.

March 8, 2010 - The New York Times - Science

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