WP: GM, DaimlerChrysler Join To Develop Hybrid-Car Technology

[DeepModem Mom]

Rivals Join To Develop Hybrid-Car Technology
DaimlerChrysler, GM Had Spurned Gas-Electric Idea

By Greg Schneider
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 14, 2004; Page E01


General Motors Corp. and DaimlerChrysler AG are throwing their combined weight behind a new hybrid technology for cars and trucks, setting the stage for what had been a niche product to spread to the mainstream for American consumers.

The popularity of Toyota Motor Corp.'s gas-electric hybrid Prius has forced the hand of manufacturers who once regarded the futuristic sedan as a fad. Buyers still wait months to get a $24,000 Prius, which was Motor Trend magazine's car of the year for 2004 and has become a pop culture icon.

Americans are showing lasting interest in hybrids partly because of concerns about high gas prices and instability in the Middle East. At the same time, Toyota and Honda Motor Co. -- which builds the Civic Hybrid -- have succeeded in winning state and federal tax breaks for people who buy such cars. Yesterday, the IRS announced that the new Escape Hybrid sport-utility vehicle from Ford Motor Co. also qualifies for a federal tax deduction. Virginia, California and other states have granted the cars exemptions for driving in high-occupancy-vehicle express lanes.

Those forces have become too much to ignore. While GM is still pushing toward a future of hydrogen-powered fuel cells and DaimlerChrysler has been touting super-efficient diesel engines, the companies yesterday said they will team up next year to develop a new hybrid system....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62110-2004Dec13.html

[Yuugal]

1. here we go

"""the IRS announced that the new Escape Hybrid sport-utility vehicle from Ford Motor Co. also qualifies for a federal tax deduction"""""

The Escape doesn't do much better with the hybrid engine than it does with a standard 4 cyl. Pretty soon we'll see the 10mpg gas guzzlers getting tax breaks for being a hybrid because they'll find a way to use a 8.0 liter hybrid engine to run 50 inch plasma TVs in the back for the kiddies. The only way there should be a tax break is if the car actually saves gas.

My Toyota Echo gets 40mpg on the highway and all I got was this lousy t-shirt. Ughh.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. Hummers get 12 Iraqis to the gallon. The people who put these things

out should be taken out to the woodshed. Remember how many Ahnold has.... several I heard....

[Chalco]

3. If I'm not mistaken, Daimler, Chrysler already makes a hybrid

and sells it in Europe. They drive hybrids over there because they are concerned about pollution.

It's called The Smart Car.

[sphincter]

4. Here is a link to the project

http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/dccom/0,,0-5-7145-1-442663-1-0-0-0-0-0-9-7145-0-0-0-0-0-0-0,00.html

[kysrsoze]

5. Evidently the Smart will come to the US soon. The US mfrs are pathetic

Yes, quality is up, especially against all the electrical problems the European cars are having. But aside from a few choice Chrysler and Cadillac models, and the Corvette, US cars are pathetic to drive and look at. They are also extremely unrefined and don't handle well.

Ford's grand new 500 is a boring ripoff of the Passat with an underpowered engine. GM's styling of cars like all the Buicks, Chevys and Pontiacs is attrocious. Look at the GTO - it looks like a bloated Sunfire. They can't give them away.

[brentspeak]

6. Although, isn't the new Mustang selling extremely well? (n/t)

[Chalco]

7. I was in Italy

last summer attempting to buy real estate. The realtor who took us around had a converter on his car that could switch between gas and hydrogen depending on what was available.

Why can't we?