LA Auto Show 2008

So did you catch any of the press releases from the 2008 LA Auto show? Were yo you able to attend? What were some of your favorite vehicles?

Here is a short list of the few I thought were worthy.

- Toyota Camry CNG Hybrid
- Mitsubishi iMiev
- Dodge Zeo concept
- Jeep renegade concept
- Saturn Flextreme concept
- Honda FC Sport Concept
- Honda Insight
- Mercury Milan hybrid

These are just some of the ones that stand out for me. I wish all these cars were more ubiquitous and they just cannot get to showrooms fast enough in my opinion.

Tell me which cars get you excited and ready to open up the purse strings!

The Hyundai Propane Hybrid

I love to write about new and innovative vehicles that will help us become oil free, and the Hyundai Propane Hybrid is one of them. As far as I know, there is no other propane hybrid vehicle in the world, making this one of a kind.

Recently, Toyota announced the natural gas Camry at the LA auto show which will join the Honda Civic GX as the only OEM CNG vehicles available to the public. Having the Hyundai would give us yet another gasoline alternative. You can buy propane fueled vehicles today that have either been converted or have come from fleets, but they originally were not offered to the public.

Here is some info from Greencar.com:

"Korea's Hyundai Motor Co. has developed and will soon market a hybrid electric vehicle that combines hybrid power with an alternative fuel, in this case LPG (liquid propane gas, or propane). This is the first time that a major automaker has moved in this direction with LPG, which is a popular alternative fuel in some countries but a distant candidate for the job in the U.S. Several automakers, including Ford with its E85 ethanol Escape Hybrid demonstrator, are actively exploring ways to remove gasoline from the hybrid equation.

Hyundai's Avante/Elantra LPI (Liquefied Petroleum Injection) model also accomplishes a first with its use of advanced lithium-polymer (Li-Po) batteries with an internal combustion engine. It will use Hyundai's 1.6 liter, four-cylinder Gamma engine. A 20 hp (15 kW) DC electric motor and continuously variable transmission (CVT) are used in a mild hybrid configuration. Hyundai has not provided fuel economy numbers but says they will be competitive."

This car would be PERFECT if it came with a plug and the ability to run on electric for 10 miles or so.

I live in Ohio and there are propane fueling stations everywhere, so having one of these cars would be great. The natural gas vehicles are more difficult to refuel as there are only three stations in all of central Ohio.

Toyota Camry CNG Hybrid

Unveiled at the LA Auto Show, the Toyota Camry CNG Hybrid vehicle is one that is desperately needed. The only other OEM natural gas vehicle currently offered is the Honda Civic GX.

From Green Car Congress:

"The CNG Camry Hybrid concept was designed by the TMS Advanced Product Strategy group and built by Metal Crafters of Fountain Valley, Calif. To convert the stock Camry Hybrid to a CNG vehicle, the gasoline fuel system was replaced with a CNG fuel system including two Lincoln composite Type 4 CNG tanks installed in the spare tire well area.

The CNG Camry Hybrid retains the 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine with Hybrid Synergy Drive. The concept delivers net (all power sources) 170 hp (127 kW); the production Camry Hybrid delivers net 187 hp (139 kW).

The CNG Camry Hybrid stores sufficient natural gas at 3,600 psi to support a 250+ mile range, with combined fuel economy of 33 mpg gasoline equivalent. (The gasoline Camry Hybrid has a combined fuel economy rating of 34 mpg.)"

I like this car, a lot. The range is very respectable at 250 miles, although I would think a hybrid system could do better. This vehicle should get 40 to 45 mpg gasoline equivalent. Why isn't it able to match the Prius in fuel economy? I feel that the added expense of the hybrid system is not justified in this case.

Also, I would like to see Toyota offer plug in capability with this vehicle to make it even more green!