The Most Interesting Hybrid Cars of 2010

Although hybrid cars have slowly been gaining in popularity around the world, a very small percentage of consumers have actually switched to them. This is largely because they have remained much more expensive than traditional cars. It is unlikely that this will change in 2010, but prices on hybrid vehicles have been steadily coming down. 2010 offers more cars than ever before. Here are a few of the newest options.

 1. Chevrolet Volt

The Chevy Volt has been hotly anticipated ever since it was announced, and it is expected to finally be released in 2010. This car operates on Chevy's Voltec technology. The first 40 miles of a car trip are powered by the onboard lithium-ion battery. After that, a gas engine will power the vehicle for 300 more miles. Even better, it can be charged via a standard household power outlet. The price is expected to be around $32,500.

2. Fisker Karma

The Fisker Karma is a sleek sports car made by Fisker Automotive. Like the Volt, the first 50 miles are powered by an electric battery. Fisker claims that you only need to refuel this car once per year as long as you drive less than 50 miles per day. You can even opt for an option to have solar panels installed on the roof of the car, which can provide about 5 more miles per week of free driving. Although it is an electric hybrid, this car packs some serious power. Its top speed is 125 mph, and it can jump from 0 to 60 in 5.8 seconds. The price is pretty steep, at $87,900.

3. Hyundai Sonata

The Sonata is a popular line which Hyundai has been producing since 1985. Starting in March 2010, they will begin selling a hybrid version. This new car will be powered by a lithium polymer battery and will be based on their Blue-Will (another hybrid car from Hyundai) concept. Pricing has yet to be released, but traditionally Sonatas have been priced under $20,000.

4. Honda CR-Z

This new model from Honda features a hybrid gas and electric system. Although a six-speed manual transmission is standard, an automatic transmission is also available. Sales for these vehicles began in select countries in February 2010, and they are expected to become available in the United States in mid-2010. The current price in England is 16,999 British Pounds, which translates to about $25,250.

5. Toyota Auris

The Auris is a new hybrid car from Toyota. Similar in style and design to the Corolla, the Auris HSD Full Hybrid is slated for release in the second half of 2010.

6. Persu Hybrid

The Persu Hybrid is a very interesting vehicle which is being developed by Persu Mobility. You may have heard of this car when it was being developed under its previous name, the VentureOne. This vehicle looks like a car until you scrutinize it more carefully. Then you'll notice that it only has three wheels. As such, it is officially classified as a 3-wheel motorcycle. This plug-in hybrid vehicle is capable of making 45 degree turns, and it is scheduled for an exclusive California release in late 2010.

7. Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid

The Prius has thus far been the most widely known and celebrated hybrid car of all time. Beginning in 2010, they are introducing their first plug-in model. This car will be able to travel 14.5 miles on battery power before the gas engine kicks in. The great news is that it only takes 3 hours to fully charge the battery. The not so great news is that is won't be offered worldwide until 2011, and it is expected to cost $48,000.

Hybrid Cars Go Stylish

Hybrid cars are taking the world by storm - figuratively, literally. And here are just two of the latest hybrid cars that avid car fans and buyers are sure to love.

If you want an eco-friendly hybrid car that not only drives like a dream but is a weight off your conscious too, then you must see the PGO Cevennes Turbo-CNG. This nifty little hybrid car will run on bio gas making it essential in today's fight against global warming.

You may be forgiven for thinking that hybrid cars are going to end up looking, well, ugly. This is simply not the case where the PGO Cevennes Turbo-CNG is concerned. Looking at the car's rounded edges and the sleek design you may as well be looking at one of the top sports cars in the world. With a soft top to boot, you can make sure your next luxury car is a hybrid one.

The PGO Cevennes Turbo-CNG has been developed by BRA GmbH. This company has been at the very forefront of the development of hybrid cars for well over ten years now. They are based in Germany and they have developed not only environmentally-friendly hybrid cars but cars that have excellent style and design, as well.

The car itself isn't due to be released until March 2008, but you can be sure it will open to a fanfare of utter amazement! The car is only likely to cost around 48,000 Euros making it not only environmentally-friendly but also friendly on your pockets, as well.

The Cadillac Provoq concept

America has realized that the gas-guzzling, environment-harming vehicles are not going to save the world any time soon. The eco-drive and style brought by hybrid cars have finally found their way to America and they have managed to do it in amazing degree... Not that we expected anything less of course.

As the flag bearer of hybrid cars, the Cadillac Provoq concept car has two main points. On the one side, it clearly shows the style, class and beauty that is renowned with Cadillac cars. It also has in its favour the hybrid car technology that is actually making the car a sure heart-stopper.

The Cadillac Provoq concept car is made to appeal to the luxury car owners; it oozes class and style and is sure to stand up in its own right against other luxury cars. If it is luxury next to hybrid car technology that you are looking for then you need not look any further.

The Cadillac Provoq concept hybrid car has wheels that are powered by the car's 94bhp motor, which of course is electric. The car's rear wheels have the 54bhp motor each. These features enhance the Provoq's mileage for every small amount of gas it consumes - saving the planet and your pocket from hundreds of dollars spent on fuel. This is something that Cadillac Provoq owners would be very much proud of.

The PGO Cevennes Turbo-CNG and the Cadillac Provoq concept will fit right into any city or town and with their sporty look and sleek design they are simply head turners.

Future of Hybrid Cars

There are many design concepts being considered for maximum public exposure and benefits on the drawing board of car designers today that look to the future hybrid car needs and considerations that will serve the public well in the course of the next century. Many of these hybrid car designers are taking past and proven sales performers and have begun reworking their designs from the ground up.

Instead of a front wheel drive platform, there are automobile designers that are building on a rear platform design for one of the nation's best selling and widely recognized car frames in America and worldwide. The hybrid car designs of the future are including sports car models that have been all-time favorites with the world in the past and are now being revived with the brand new hybrid engine in mind.

There is an aggressive training program in place at one of Americas largest car manufacturing companies that is preparing their technicians to repair the growing styles and variations of hybrid cars that are emerging onto the automobile market.

With the extreme difference in battery features and dramatic variance in voltage levels, there is a void that needs to be filled by someone who is equipped with the necessary battery cabling devices that can handle 270 volts instead of the normal 12 volt battery systems. Regular car technicians are typically capable of handling battery recharging requirements, but with the futuristic applications that are applied in hybrid battery design, the best service these car technicians can provide at present is that they can still provide oil changes and tire rotations should the need arise.

With a mindset of grasping and expanding the propulsion features that are somewhat limited in today's hybrid car designs, there are retro styling efforts that are focusing on providing hybrid cars with optional V8 engine capacities.

There are considerations in place to use solar cells in the framework of hybrid automobiles. The electrical power will be produced through the boot lids and bonnet placement of these solar cell modules. Through the use of solar cells it will then be possible to utilize the battery charging capabilities when the car is not turned on or in motion to replenish batteries that have been depleted through the use of air conditioning or through continuous operation when the hybrid automobile is delayed in traffic jams at different times of the day. This lightweight body structure design would benefit the energy savings to the consumer and make the car more manageable on the highway.

There is an effort in hybrid car design that is turning the out of the ordinary hybrid vehicle into a replica of what is parked in the driveway every day of our life. This blending in effect is meant to bring the hybrid full circle into the acceptable graces of the American public.

The future hybrid car will need to focus more on greenhouse gases that negatively effect the environment as well as a hybrid car that will be even more fuel efficient. Without these changes, the production and sales of any type of vehicle will not be possible due to the degradation of our atmosphere.

There are many views about hybrid cars in the futures that will change its fuel source from the heavy duty batteries in use today, to hydrogen-power fuel cell. This will take away the need for hybrid cars to have to use gasoline completely in order to transverse down the major highways.