Chrysler upstaged General Motors and other automakers with its announcement recently it will introduce a group of electric vehicles for the consumer market beginning in 2010, including a version of its popular Town & Country minivan and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited four-door sport utility vehicle.  The third vehicle will be a high-performance Dodge sports car based on the architecture of the Lotus Elise sports car from England. That vehicle also is the basis for a new electric-powered sports car now being sold by the California-based Tesla Motors (www.teslamotors.com).

The Tesla Roadster, which sells for $109,000, goes from zero to 60 mph in less than four seconds, and according to Tesla, can travel up to 220 miles between charges of the advanced lithium-ion battery pack. It is all-electric, however, and must be recharged from an outside power source when the batteries run down.

At least some of Chrysler’s electric vehicles, however, will be so-called plug-in hybrids, which have an onboard gasoline engine whose sole purpose is to recharge the battery pack while the vehicle is moving. That way, the car doesn’t have to stop for recharging when the batteries run down, but the car also can be recharged from an external power source.

That’s similar to the drive system of the Chevrolet Volt, which General Motors showed recently in its production form. The Volt, which also is scheduled to go on sale in 2010, is built on a specially designed chassis and does not have a gasoline-only equivalent.

Chrysler said it chose to develop electric versions of its minivan and Jeep models to give consumers vehicles that they are familiar with and that are more practical for everyday use than some of the other electric vehicles that already have been produced, such as GM’s discontinued EV1, and some that are on the horizon, such as the Volt.  GM’s initial reports indicate that the Volt, a five-passenger compact about the size of the Toyota Prius hybrid, could cost up to $40,000.

Chrysler hasn’t mentioned prices for the electric minivan or Jeep, but they could come in at about the same price as a Volt. And the theory is that they would be more acceptable to consumers because they are based on the designs of vehicles that already are popular and practical for everyday use. The automaker said that one of the electric vehicles would be available in 2010, although which one that will be hasn’t been announced yet. The minivan might be the best choice, as it would have seating for up to eight people and give big families an electric-powered transportation alternative.

Chrysler said the under-floor storage area of the current minivans is able to accommodate the large battery pack.

The Wrangler would be a good choice for several reasons. First, it would be an SUV with an economical drive system, but it also would allow off-road aficionados to drive on electric power in sensitive environments, using zero-pollution propulsion.

Jeep introduced the four-door version of the venerable Wrangler off-road vehicle two years ago, and it has become one of the brand’s best-selling vehicles ever.

“We have a social responsibility to our consumers to deliver environmentally friendly, fuel-efficient, advanced electric vehicles, and our intention is to meet that responsibility quickly and more broadly than any other automobile manufacturer,” Chrysler Chairman and CEO Bob Nardelli said during an announcement of the electric-vehicle plans.

“The introduction of the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge electric vehicles provides a glimpse of the very near future and demonstrates that we are serious and well along in the development of bringing electric vehicles to market,” he said.

Chrysler said its electric vehicles will have three primary components: an electric motor to drive the wheels, an advanced lithium-ion battery system to power the motor and a computerized controller to manage energy flow.

But the minivan and Jeep also will have a small gasoline engine that would be used to extend the range of the vehicle beyond the limits of the battery pack. They would be able to drive on battery power for up to about 40 miles, but after that, the gasoline engine would come on to run a generator that would charge the batteries and would provide electricity to keep the vehicle moving for up to 400 miles or so.

The Dodge EV sports car, though, would be electric-only so it would have to be recharged from an outside source. That’s the way the Tesla model works, as well.

“This [electric-only] technology provides customers with a vehicle that has zero tailpipe emissions and a 150- to 200-mile driving range —- far exceeding most Americans’ daily commutes, as nearly 80 percent of Americans drive less than 40 miles per day, or 14,000 miles per year,” said Frank Klegon, Chrysler’s executive vice president for product development.

The extended-range vehicles with the auxiliary gasoline engine, though, will be an easier sell in the American market. Studies have shown that many Americans are wary of vehicles that can be recharged only from an outside source, a process that can take several hours.

While most people do have relatively short daily commutes, they often use their vehicles for extended family weekend and vacation trips with distances that would be farther than the range of a vehicle’s batteries.

Plug-in hybrids are designed to be recharged overnight at home using a standard 110-volt power outlet, and that charge would be sufficient for most people’s daily commuting needs.

Making electric vehicles with extended-range capabilities, and using designs such as minivans and SUVs that are popular with consumers, could go a long way toward persuading Americans to switch from today’s gasoline-only vehicles to ones that can take advantage of propulsion systems that are less dependent on imported oil.

Ministers are planning to announce a £100m scheme to test electric cars and vans in cities, with a view to expanding their use across the UK.  BBC One’s Politics Show has learned that manufacturers will be invited to bid to supply the vehicles. The UK is committed to cutting all greenhouse gases by 80% by 2050. But environmentalist George Monbiot said it was “crazy” that car manufacturers had to be “subsidised” to reduce emissions.

40 miles
Ministers hope the trials of electric cars and vans will take place in three cities, with the information collected from drivers forming the basis of bigger plans.  Such vehicles are emissions free, and those available on the market usually cost between £9,000 and £12,000. Once fully charged they can travel up to 40 miles.

Subsidies are what governments pay when they don’t have the guts to regulate powerful industries
George Monbiot, environmentalist The government says its £100m investment is worthwhile, as the UK is now committed to cutting all greenhouse gases by 80% by 2050 and that about 20% of those emissions come from road transport.

Of the UK’s 26 million cars, only 0.01% are electric. But Mr Monbiot said: “It’s crazy that the government is subsidising the motor industry for what it should be doing anyway.

“Years ago, in 1998, the industry promised it would make a radical cut in the amount of carbon dioxide its cars are producing. “It’s broken that promise, and now the government is paying it to do what it should have been forced to do through regulation”.

‘Bribe’
Currently no major manufacturer sells electric cars in the UK.   Mr Monbiot said: “Subsidies are what governments pay when they don’t have the guts to regulate powerful industries.

“Instead of saying ‘You must do that and we’re the government and we’re telling you what to do’, they’re saying ‘We’ll pay you a bribe please go ahead and do it’. “There isn’t even any guarantee that this bribe will produce the right results.”

Paul Everitt, of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said the big car makers were spending billions on developing green technology. But he added: “It’s vital the government makes the UK a good place to do business. Global vehicle manufactures are just that; they’re global.

“They’ve got huge numbers of markets around the world in which they operate and they have a choice about where they do research, development and demonstration. “Making the UK a more attractive location for that kind of work is good for the economy and will make sure we are part of the low-carbon future.”

Pump prices

Aside from who pays, questions are being raised about the timing of this scheme.  As the UK heads into recession, the tension between doing what is best for the economy versus what is best for the environment could be a problem for the government.

Last week Gordon Brown insisted petrol companies drop prices at the pumps to help hard-up consumers. But Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon denied long-term targets would be set aside for short-term benefits.

‘Right position’
He said: “We must look at these things not only in terms of the impact on the environment but actually in terms of the impact of our economy and the truth is using low-carbon vehicles can often be a great deal cheaper than using their carbon emitting counterparts. “So looking at ways in which we help to develop that market is the right position for government to be in even in these difficult circumstances. ”

Critics say promoting electric vehicles only makes sense if other sources of pollution are tackled simultaneously. Shadow climate change minister Greg Clark said: “The government’s policy when it comes to tackling climate change simply isn’t joined-up.

“They’re signing up quite rightly to targets, but at the same time planning for a third runway at Heathrow and expanding the capacity at Stansted. “We think high-speed rail networks can help secure better transport for the future and help us meet our targets for reducing emissions.”

Car manufacturers are being encouraged to participate in a £10m scheme to make motoring greener and create thousands of jobs . Geoff Hoon, the transport secretary, has today invited car manufacturers to bid to take part in an initiative to run electric car and ultra-low carbon vehicle demonstration projects, overseen by the Technology Strategy Board.  The project will also see about 100 electric cars provided to various towns and cities to allow families and other motorists the opportunity to give feedback on the practical steps needed to make greener motoring an everyday reality.

Building on an announcement made by the prime minister, Gordon Brown in July this year, today’s plans could lead to the creation of 10,000 British jobs and help preserve many thousands more. The green motoring initiative is part of a wider government plan to make the most of the low carbon economy, with the possibility of about a million green jobs generated by 2030. The government also said today that up to £20m had been dedicated to UK research into improving technology that could make electric and other green cars more practical and affordable.

This follows the publication of research which concludes, if correctly managed, the UK power system could support widespread use of electric cars and their charging needs, without requiring large numbers of new power stations. The government has already committed to removing the barriers that could slow a changeover to greener motoring. This includes a commitment to facilitate the roll-out of charging infrastructure through the planning system, collaborating with other countries to develop international standards and considering how best to encourage the right consumer market to promote electric and other low carbon vehicles.

Work also continues with energy companies and the National Grid to assess the impact of the widespread use of electric vehicles on the electricity system. As part of a £20m programme to ensure road transport emissions are reduced and to encourage the mass production of green vans, the Department for Transport has also announced that a number of companies have been shortlisted to bid to provide electric and low carbon vans to some councils and other public sector bodies, such as the Royal Mail.

Business minister Ian Pearson said: “Currently, less than 0.1% of the UK’s 26 million cars are electric. The government is committed to bringing lower carbon vehicles to Britain’s roads as soon as possible. We need to act now to ensure that the UK is at the forefront of this new industry.

“The UK’s automotive sector has a global reputation for research and development, design engineering and manufacturing. The development of electric vehicle technology is an opportunity for the UK to take the lead and, given the current state of the global economy, we need to seize that opportunity now.”

Professor Dan Sperling, the director of the institute of transportation studies at the University of California, Berkeley, who is speaking at a “green motoring” conference in London today, said: “I am delighted that Gordon Brown has shown such leadership by taking this first critical step forward in the UK. He is to be commended in calling this important international meeting and setting the ball rolling for a low carbon vehicle future for the UK. “I am looking forward to discussing with experts from around the world how we can move forward one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century - the transformation of cars and the car industry.”

Paul Everitt, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: “The automotive industry is committed to achieving significant and sustained reductions in CO2 emissions.  “It is working on a portfolio of technologies that include further improvement in conventional petrol and diesel powertrains, as well as a variety of electric, hybrid and fuel cell capabilities. It is important that the UK continues to attract investment into lower carbon vehicle research, development and demonstration, and today’s announcements are very welcome.”

Evert Geursten, the co-founder of No Internal Combustion Engine (nice), which supplies “green” vehicles, said: “Despite the economic downturn, the government knows it can’t afford to postpone action on climate change. “Electric vehicles are emissions-free, but also a recession-busting form of transport, with motoring costs a fraction of those for standard petrol and diesel models. It’s a winning combination that benefits the environment and our customers today.”

Fuel-efficient vehicles are a very reliable segment overall, European cars are improving, and, on average, Ford continues to build the most reliable American cars. Those are some of the results of Consumer Reports’ 2008 Annual Car Reliability Survey announced today at an Automotive Press Association luncheon in Detroit.   More details, and a list of models with the best and worst predicted-reliability Ratings, will appear first on www.ConsumerReports.org. The reliability report will also appear in the December issue of Consumer Reports, on sale November 4 and in the latest Consumer Reports Cars publication, Best & Worst for ‘09, which also includes predicted-reliability ratings for more than 350 models.

A total of nine hybrid models for which Consumer Reports has sufficient data rated above average in predicted reliability, most from Japanese automakers. From the Family Cars category, the Toyota Prius, the Toyota Camry Hybrid, and the Nissan Altima Hybrid, as well as the luxury Lexus GS450h Hybrid sedan are all among the most reliable. The Lexus RX400h and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid are among the most reliable in midsized SUVs, while the Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid small SUVs rated above average in predicted reliability. The Honda Civic Hybrid is also above average. In addition, conventional gas sippers such as the Honda Fit, Scion xD, Smart ForTwo, and Toyota Yaris had few problems.

Ford’s three nameplates - Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury - lead the domestic automakers and continue to pull away from the rest of Detroit.  Except for some truck-based vehicles, almost all Ford products are now average or better. Excluding those, Ford’s reliability is now on par with good Japanese automakers. The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan continued to rank among the most reliable family cars. The freshened Ford Focus sedan rated above average, a vast improvement from when the new model debuted in 2000 with below-average reliability.

European automakers, particularly Mercedes-Benz, showed signs of a comeback. Six Mercedes models, including the redesigned C-Class and E-Class (V6) sedans and the ML350 SUV have improved to average reliability and are now recommended. Last year, no Mercedes models had average or better reliability and so could not be recommended by Consumer Reports.

Still, Japanese cars are the most reliable overall, leading 15 of 16 categories in Consumer Reports’ predicted reliability ratings. The Scion xD has the best predicted reliability score for all new cars with about 80% fewer problems than the average model.

European, Japanese Brands Rebound; Korean Brands Excel; Chrysler Struggles

Though Mercedes-Benz has shown improvement, a third of its models still have reliability problems, and no models scored above average. Overall, the brand moved up five places, from last year’s 32 to this year’s 27, in Consumer Reports survey. Audi and BMW also continue to improve. Two-thirds of Audi’s lineup scored average or better, while most versions of the BMW 3 Series and some 5 Series are average or better. Volvo also improved leaving only the redesigned XC70 wagon rated below average in reliability.

Last year Consumer Reports called out three Toyota models that slipped to below average: the Camry V6, Tundra V8 4WD, and the Lexus GS AWD.  But Toyota seems to have rectified some of the problems since all 42 of the Toyota, Lexus, and Scion models in the survey scored average or better. The three models noted above scored average.

Nissan showed striking improvements, with the troublesome Armada SUV, Titan pickup, and Infiniti QX56 SUV finally gaining average reliability. The new Nissan Rogue and Infiniti EX have started out above average.  Nissan moved up in the Makes Rankings six places to fourteenth, while Infiniti moved up one spot, to sixth place when compared to last year’s results.

The two closely related South Korean nameplates, Hyundai and Kia, rank right up there with the better Japanese makers. Most models scored above average or better.

General Motors is a mixed bag. Among the bright spots is the redesigned Chevrolet Malibu with above-average reliability for the 4-cylinder model and average for the V6. The Buick Lucerne V8 and four-cylinder Pontiac G6 are both above average. The Chevrolet Avalanche is now average.  But a quarter of GM models are still well below average. Newer designs that did well in our testing, like the highly rated Cadillac CTS and Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook SUV triplets, were below average in reliability.

Chrysler trails the pack. Though the Dodge Caliber hatchback and Jeep Patriot SUV are above average, almost two-thirds of its products rate below average. The new Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans earned low scores, as did the Chrysler Sebring V6 and Dodge Avenger sedans and Jeep Liberty SUV. The Sebring convertible had the worst predicted reliability score: 283% worse than average.

Full reliability history charts and predicted reliability on hundreds of 2009 models, plus a list of what’s up and what’s down, best and worst models, and a comparison chart of brands can be found online at www.ConsumerReports.org and in the latest Consumer Reports Cars publication, Best & Worst for ‘09 ($5.99 U.S./$6.99 Canada), on sale November 11, 2008 everywhere magazines are sold.

Findings are based on responses on more than 1.4 million vehicles owned or leased by subscribers to Consumer Reports or its web site, www.ConsumerReports.org, the biggest response in the Annual Car Reliability Survey’s history. The survey was conducted in the spring of 2008 by Consumer Reports’ National Survey Research Center and covered model years 1999 to 2008.

Consumer Reports’ expert team of statisticians and automotive engineers used the survey data to predict reliability of new 2009 models. Predicted reliability is CR’s forecast of how well models currently on sale are likely to hold up. To calculate predicted-reliability ratings, CR averages the overall reliability scores (used car verdicts) for the most recent three model years, provided that the model remained unchanged in that period and also didn’t substantially change for 2009.  If a model was new or redesigned in the past couple of years, one or two years’ data may be used, or if that’s all that’s available.

Consumer Reports Annual Car Reliability Survey is used in determining which makes and models are recommended to consumers by CR. Consumer Reports recommends only models that have performed well in tests conducted at its 327-acre Auto Test Center in Connecticut, and that have average or better predicted reliability based on its annual survey.  In addition, vehicles must perform well in government or insurance-industry crash and rollover tests, if tested, in order to be recommended. Occasionally, Consumer Reports may recommend a redesigned model too new to have compiled a reliability record if the previous generation, and the manufacturer’s reliability track record has been consistently outstanding, and if the model meets the other criteria.

Consumer Reports is one of the most trusted sources for information and advice on consumer products and services. CR has the most comprehensive auto-test program of any American magazine or web site; CR’s auto experts have decades of experience in driving, testing, and reporting on cars.

Read the glossy magazine ads, watch the slick TV commercials, listen to Hollywood celebs rave about their choice of cars on talk shows, and you’ll get the idea that hybrid cars can save the planet.  Chrysler’s electric drive vehicles are only prototypes so…The Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle (shown here) is the b…The EV1 pioneered electric vehicle technology.  While some of them clearly curb pollution, hybrids aren’t the answer - at least not for everyone. Many folks can’t afford one, don’t like what’s available, or want to drive a car that doesn’t use gasoline and spew smog into the skies.

Hybrids may be billed as a pollution solution, but they still run on gasoline, and some models increase gas mileage only by 2 or 3 miles per gallon while adding thousands of dollars to the cost of a car.  “There’s a lot of green-washing going on out there,” said Spencer Quong, senior vehicles engineer for the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Experts say there are plenty of other options for motorists eager to combat global warming. Off-the-shelf options range from electric vehicles to conventional gas-powered cars to cars that run on compressed natural gas. For those willing to leave the fossil-fuel grid altogether, there’s biodiesel or plug-in hybrid conversions.

Don’t write off conventional cars, the experts say. Many gas-powered cars get mileage nearly as high as - or sometimes higher than - many hybrids. Auto manufacturers have begun producing higher-mileage compact cars such as the Honda Fit (35 mpg) or the Toyota Yaris (36 mpg). Of course, as the familiar auto dealer disclaimer says, your mileage may vary. Driven carefully - no quick starts, no high speeds - they can get squeeze more miles out of a gallon of unleaded.

Many used cars on the market also get respectable mileage, and at a far lower cost than even a used hybrid. The EPA Web site includes fuel efficiency ratings for used cars as well as new vehicles.  Quong recommends drivers consider smaller vehicles, depending on their needs and how often they actually use a large vehicle. Drivers with families may need an SUV or minivan, and contractors or landscapers might require vehicles with hauling capacity, he said. For them, he recommends smaller pickups or crossover sport utility vehicles - SUV’s built on a car frame.

“There are things people can do without buying a new car,” he said. “They can tune up their engines, properly inflate their tires, take the extra stuff out of the trunk. They can take off from stops much more smoothly.”

Think plug-in
Electric cars are also an option - even for those who can’t afford a $98,000 Tesla or other costly boutique vehicles. Neighborhood electric cars, which cost from less than $10,000 into the $20,000s, are gaining popularity - despite having a top speed of 25 mph in California and a range of about 50 miles.

For many drivers living in urban regions, like much of the Bay Area, that makes electric cars a realistic alternative, according to Marc Korchin, owner of Green Motors, a Berkeley auto dealership specializing in electric cars and plug-in modifications of Toyota Prius hybrids.

Korchin suggests that drivers who already own a conventional fuel car keep it - for freeway driving or longer trips - and buy a neighborhood electric vehicle for jaunts around town, which constitute the majority of trips for many drivers. Korchin calls that approach “a hybrid in two cars.” And it’s something he practices.

“If I go to work, I get in my electric car and it costs 2 or 3 cents a mile for the 2-mile drive,” he said. “If I go to see my mom in Fremont, I take my gas car and it costs 60 cents a mile. When you’re driving a gas car, you’re driving with an albatross around your neck.”

Neighborhood electric vehicles are no longer just golf-cart-style vehicles confined to retirement communities and resorts. Several models are on the market, including the Zenn that Korchin sells, which look like average compact cars - except for the green plug portal where the gas tank would be. Larger models, including sport utility vehicles and small pickups, are also available.

And while the vehicles are restricted to 25 mph, Korchin said, they’re not timid.  “They’re anything but sluggish,” he said. “They’ve got a lot of torque. You can beat almost anything off the line at a stoplight. You just can’t go faster than 25. It’s really much less of a limitation than most people think.”

Freeway-ready electric vehicles are available, but many of them are costly - ranging from around $40,000 to over $100,000 - and pretty funky looking. General Motors is working on its much-hyped Volt plug-in electric car - a mass-market electric car - but it’s not scheduled to be on showroom floors until 2010.

Other options
Other cleaner vehicles available now include compressed natural gas cars, most of which are confined to fleet cars owned by businesses and government agencies. The Honda Civic CNG vehicle is the lone vehicle available to consumers, Quong said, though Toyota has announced plans for a CNG-powered Corolla.

Biodiesel is another cleaner choice, though the fuel is not widely available, and using the fuel may invalidate some warranties. Cars that run on E-85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and gasoline, are also available at dealerships, but the fuel is hard to find in California.

And for some hybrid owners who want to charge into the future, and boost their mileage to around 100 miles per gallon, businesses including Korchin’s will modify their Priuses by installing larger battery arrays, computer software and, of course, a place to plug in the extension cord.

“Commuters have lots of options when it comes to dealing with high fuel prices and global warming,” said Quong. “Do research - look for the cleanest car you can afford that meets your needs.”

Conventional, hybrid or other?
Is what you’re driving the most ecologically friendly vehicle? We culled references that show you how vehicles stack up.  A good reference is a Web site run by California’s Air Resources Board - www.driveclean.ca.gov. It allows users to search for clean vehicles, compare them, and learn about the various clean vehicle technologies.

The Environmental Protection Agency also offers a comprehensive listing of fuel economy information at www.fueleconomy.gov. The site lists mileage ratings, allows drivers to compare vehicle fuel efficiency, and get mileage ratings reported by other drivers.

And by the beginning of 2009, California drivers will get some extra help. State law will require all new vehicles to display a sticker, like the fuel efficiency label, that shows a 1-10 global warming score and a 1-10 smog score. In both cases, the higher the number, the greener the vehicle.

If your wallet is taking a beating from high gas prices and all this talk of green energy has inspired you to shop around for a hybrid car, new fuel-efficiency ratings may help you.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ranked 10 hybrid vehicles. Topping the list: the Toyota Prius, which gets 48 miles (77 kilometers) per gallon on city streets and 45 mpg (72 km) on the highway.

The Honda Civic Hybrid is next, racking up 40 mpg (64 km) for city driving and the same as the Prius on the freeway. No. 3 is the Nissan Altima Hybrid, which takes you 35 miles (56 kilometers) per gallon in the city, 33 miles (53 kilometers) per gallon on the expressway.

* Tied at fourth for providing 31 to 34 mpg (50 to 54 km) per gallon are three cars: the Ford Escape Hybrid FWD, Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD and Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD

* Two Smart Fortwo models — the Convertible and Coupe — rank fifth, offering 33 to 41 mpg (53 to 66 km)

* At sixth is the Toyota Camry Hybrid, at 33 to 34 mpg (53 to 54 km)

* The Volkswagon Jetta and the Jetta Sportswagon, both stick shifts, are seventh, at 30 to 41 mpg (48 to 66 km)

* The companion automatic Jettas are eighth, at 29 to 40 mpg (47 to 64 km)

* The Toyota Yaris stick shift is ninth, with 29 to 36 mpg (47 to 58 km)

* Rounding out the list: the automatic transmission Toyota Yaris, which gets 29 mpg (47 km) in stop-and-go traffic, and 35 mpg (56 km) on the highway. Most hybrids are automatic, but a few manufacturers offer stick-shift versions.

The EPA didn’t rank the efficiency of other alt-energy cars, such as those powered by hydrogen fuel cells. But you can check out their mileage — as well as their “greenhouse gas score,” here. The hydrogen-fueled Chevy Equinox, test driven for a Scientific American article, received a 5 out of 10 on the EPA’s greenhouse gas scale (and got 17 to 24 miles, or 27 to 39 kilometers per gallon). The EPA did not rate another hydro-car, the 2008 Honda FCX Clarity, also featured in that piece.

Does it cost less to operate a hybrid vehicle?  Here are some of the advantages:

Drivers can save anywhere from $500 to $4,250 over five years with selected hybrid vehicles, according to an October release by ConsumerReports.org.
HybridCars.com says maintenance of hybrid cars could cost less than conventional cars because there is less wear and tear on the engine and brakes compared to conventional vehicles.

There also are government incentives to own a hybrid.

North Carolina offers tax incentives of up to $2,000 for select hybrid car purchases. Federal tax credits are also available for select models.

There are drawbacks to hybrid ownership, however.

Batteries for hybrid cars are designed to last for the life of the car and most dealerships offer 8- to 10-year warranties. If a hybrid battery needs to be replaced, however, the cost for a new one ranges from $3,000 to $8,000, according to HybridCars.com.

“They’re not cheap; they don’t tell a lot of people that,” said Wilmington Nissan sales consultant Maurice Gabriel.

“If you get into an accident and the battery is damaged, it becomes a hazmat problem,” said Val Boudreau, owner of Wilmington Car Doctor. “It’s not all green.”

Unless under warranty, hybrid cars will need a specially trained technician for service and that could cost more money than traditional vehicle maintenance, Gabriel said.

“You have to be specially trained, like when you go to the hospital with heart problems, they need a cardiac person,” Gabriel said. “A lot of places here are not hybrid-trained.”

Chrysler LLC’s answer to the much-anticipated Chevrolet Volt could be three to five years away, the Free Press has learned. The Auburn Hills automaker launched a special division within the company last fall called ENVI — pronounced like “envy” — to bring electric-drive vehicles and related advanced-propulsion technologies to market. “ENVI is currently developing electric vehicles for the three Chrysler brands and is planning on product within three to five years,” Nick Cappa, a Chrysler spokesman, told the Free Press in an e-mail.

General Motors Corp. has promised a breakthrough electric-drive vehicle — commonly referred to as a plug-in hybrid — called the Chevy Volt by 2010. The move by Chrysler comes as some dealers quietly question why Chrysler is not stepping up efforts to bring more hybrid technology to market quicker in light of $4-a-gallon gasoline and tanking SUV and truck sales.

Some dealers tell the Free Press they’ve been told not to expect the bulk of the automaker’s lineup to have a hybrid option in the near future. Alan Helfman, vice president of Helfman River Oaks Chrysler Jeep in Houston, said he has been told not to expect many hybrid offerings before 2012. “It’s lamenting. … You don’t have to have every car — not everyone wants a hybrid — but it’s obviously a profound proportion of the industry right now,” he said. Another dealer, who didn’t want to be named because product plans are secret, echoed those thoughts: They “need to put that hybrid in.”

Around September, Chrysler will begin to offer two hybrids: the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango — both SUVs and both priced below GM’s similar models. GM and Chrysler teamed up with Mercedes-Benz and BMW to develop a two-mode hybrid system.

Chrysler, beyond announcing plans to have a Dodge Ram hybrid in its 2010 model year, remains mum on hybrid plans, other than to hint that more is to come. A market forecast by J.D. Power and Associates predicts that Chrysler will offer a hybrid option with the Dodge Grand Caravan next year and with the Dodge Avenger car and Journey crossover in 2013.

One independent dealer told the Free Press that Chrysler officials have said it could be as long as 2012 for a Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Paul Lacy, an industry analyst with Global Insight, however, predicts Chrysler will be marketing a hybrid version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee in the 2010 model year as part of the automaker’s response to recent federal legislation that requires it to make more fuel-efficient vehicles. “As soon as the energy bill starts to take effect, they’ll pound in on these things. They won’t have a choice,” Lacy said. He also said he expects a Dodge Charger hybrid by 2011.

Private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management acquired majority control of Chrysler from now-Daimler AG last August. Since then, Chrysler has undergone dramatic changes as it races to remake itself as a smaller company and deal with a worsening U.S. auto industry.

Chrysler’s U.S. sales are down 22%, hurt particularly by its truck-heavy lineup. The privately held automaker has also had to battle speculation about its financing, issuing statements to deny bankruptcy fears and to say it is beating financial goals. “The big thing for Chrysler is money. It’s a cost thing. … They don’t have any,” Lacy said of why Chrysler can’t rush hybrids to market quicker. “They have been involved in a cooperation with GM … but they haven’t really made any commitments. They’ve also put a lot of money into their up-and-coming diesel lineup.”

The automaker said pulling forward hybrid models is no simple matter. “There’s a full plan in place for hybrids at Chrysler,” Cappa said. Chrysler has given few details about what its ENVI efforts will produce. “ENVI is going to play a lot deeper role than a lot of people think going forward,” Cappa said.

“If you want to go ahead and make everything a full hybrid system, fine, but what if you can turn everything into a range-extended vehicle and take it beyond the 2020 campaign for 35 miles per gallon?” Cappa asked. “The new technology ENVI is developing could do that.”

Last year, Chrysler announced plans to spend $3 billion to develop more fuel-efficient powertrains. A big part of that announcement has been the development of a new V6 engine, axle and dual-clutch transmission, all of which Chrysler executives promise will deliver fuel savings.

And there are Chrysler’s diesel efforts. The new Dodge Ram is expected to have a diesel option to introduce after 2009. Carl Galeana, vice president of Van Dyke Dodge in Warren, said he’s frustrated about the hybrids but hopes Chrysler’s diesel plans will help.

“I don’t know if hybrid is going to be the magic wand,” Galeana said. “I think we’re certainly going to see diesels and other things that will be just as meaningful as a hybrid car and maybe more, as far as functionality and real-life usage.” He said the company will be better off by 2010. “If we’re able to get some decent European diesels in the mix, I think that will help us a great deal.”

In the transportation world, it is one of the trendiest ways to fight global warming: Stir a little vegetable oil into your fuel.  Biodiesel is a chemically created fuel from animal fats and vegetable oils that is blended with traditional diesel. The result emits fewer pollutants, such as sulfur, and is thought to be less of a contributor to climate change because it is from a renewable source. Governor Deval Patrick has filed a bill to require diesel fuels and some home heating oil to contain a minimum percentage of biodiesel by 2010. Communities from Keene, N.H., to Cambridge use it when possible in municipal vehicles, such as power snow plows and dump trucks.

But a study by a chemist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution shows that people might not be getting what they think from the pump. Fuels advertised as having 20 percent biodiesel actually had anywhere from 10 to 74 percent, the study of about 10 small-scale retailers found.

The percentage is important because too much biodiesel in fuel can clog fuel lines and too little would not get the environmental payoff people expect. Most diesel vehicles can use up to a 20 percent biofuel mix without any trouble.

“There is a lot of good feeling about biodiesel, but if we are going to sell it, we have to make sure what is being sold is accurately prepared,” Christopher Reddy, the lead author on the study published in Environmental Science & Technology, said in a phone interview yesterday. He said his study confirmed the findings of a federal study two years earlier. Amber Pearson, a spokeswoman from the National Biodiesel Board, said yesterday that the study was from such a small sample of the nation’s 1,300 biodiesel retailers it was hard to draw a conclusion.

Reddy was not even looking at blending percentages when he launched his study. He and colleagues stumbled on the discrepancy while studying the potential effects of a biodiesel spill in Buzzards Bay. While they determined that such an impact would probably be minimal in coastal regions, they discovered there were widely varying blends of the diesel they were studying.

Reddy thinks the problem is not deliberate. Most of the places he got samples from were small-scale operations that mix the fuels themselves. For Steve Russell, fleet superintendent in Keene, the study is a reminder. His municipal fleet runs on fuel with 20 percent biodiesel. Russell said he just got back from Los Angeles, where he heard complaints about the performance of biodiesel, some potentially because of the grade or quality.  “My retort was make sure your distributor is legitimate, ask for product testing sheets so you know what you are getting,” he said.

The norms of bar food are greasy fries, a juicy hamburger with grease dripping onto the plate, nachos with tons of greasy meat and chicken wings soaking in oil. Many people eat these delicious foods, but very rarely do people contemplate what happens to the oil and grease when the server takes the plates away.

However, University of Calgary chemistry professor Dr. Ian Hunt and 300 second-year students did. Hunt and his students managed to turn waste vegetable oil and fat from the Den kitchens into biodiesel. According to Hunt, the Den was cooperative in seeing the waste go to a good cause.  “This project means that we can take waste vegetable oil and we can use that to make biodiesel,” he explained.

The waste is taken to labs in the chemistry department of the university. In the lab, students take 50 grams of vegetable oil and mix it with an alcohol and a base, heat it and the reaction creates biodiesel.  “Oils are made up of triglycerides and we break down the oil and fat to make a derivative of the fatty acids,” explained Hunt. “That is what biodiesel is: a methyl ester of a fatty acid. The biodiesel is similar to polyester and some types of solvents.”

The students then powered a diesel engine in a lab with the created fuel. The project was designed to be something that students can relate to. Biodiesel, oil and energy are all topics that are mentioned frequently in the news.  The project could potentially grow to using the fuel in vehicles around campus. The U of C currently has several vehicles that run on biofuels. The university could take this procedure and make its own fuel for the campus vehicles.  “If the U of C fleet trucks wanted to use the fuel, then the U of C could have the chemical engineering students’ partner with chemistry students to make a biodiesel plant for a semester project,” said Hunt.

There is an opportunity to take this from a small project to full use on campus. The quantity could be increased by the students and put into use around campus. We are taking a waste product that would only be thrown away, and turning it into fuel.  If biodiesel were to become more dominant as a source of fuel, the potential for huge demand for waste could be created, he noted. This type of fuel is also renewable unlike coal, oil, and natural gas.

“At some point you might want more waste oil than there is waste,” said Hunt. “But at the same time, it is better than the waste going to a landfill. This type of fuel is renewable; people can grow and produce vegetable oil.”

According to Hunt, biofuels may cause price increases for many types of vegetables and grains resulting in higher prices for consumers.  “The downside of [an increased use of] biofuel is that it will push up the costs of grains and vegetables,” said Hunt. “The impact of growing the vegetables, pesticides and tractors will also effect the environment negatively.”