Sales of the Ford Fusion Hybrid accelerated by a whopping 64 percent to 2,486 units. Ford also added nearly 25 percent more sales of the Ford Escape Hybrid. At this point, Ford has decisively leapfrogged Honda to become the number two seller of hybrid cars. Toyota owns 68 percent of the hybrid market; Ford holds 14 percent; and Honda has dropped to nearly 9 percent of hybrid car sales. The upcoming Honda CR-Z hybrid might help the company regain the second place spot—and Honda executives are promising a clean-slate approach for future hybrids.

Sales of the Altima hybrid, which is only available in eight states, soared by 253 percent. It’s unclear if publicity about the company’s all-electric Nissan Leaf helped raise the green perception of the entire Nissan brand.

BMW shipped the first 7 units of its $103,000 ActiveHybrid 7. Those units, combined with 12 reported sales of the BMW X6, reveal the company’s half-hearted efforts with hybrids. General Motors and Mercedes haven’t fared much better.

Clean diesel sales were up by 8.4 percent to 6,961 units in May compared to last month. Volkswagen continues to dominate clean diesel sales with nearly 80 percent of the market, led by the Jetta TDI, which single-handedly is responsible for 62 percent of all clean diesel purchases.

Despite the rebound in May, hybrid gas-electric cars continue to lag behind the overall market in year-to-date sales, with an 8.5 percent increase so far in 2010 over last year—compared to a 17.2 percent increase in the overall market. That’s not a big surprise, considering that average U.S. gas prices are about 20 cents lower than this time last year. Public outrage over the Gulf oil spill has created a latent demand for fuel-efficient or petroleum-free alternatives—but as long as gas is cheap, sales of hybrids, clean diesel and upcoming plug-in cars will be dampened. If and when gas prices start to climb, Toyota and Ford will be well positioned with hybrids, and Volkswagen with clean diesel vehicles.

After you read this article, you may read my other articles such as: Daimler Hybrid, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, 2011 Mini Cooper, Hybrid Car Pros and Cons, 2011 Lexus CT 200h, Audi Q7, Chevy Hybrid Truck, Chevrolet Aveo, BMW X6, Hybrid Gasoline Electric, Hybrid Cars History, Infiniti M35, 2011 Lexus LS 600h, and 2011 BMW 5 Series Hybrid.

Read more at http://www.hybridcars.com/hybrid-clean-diesel-sales-dashboard/may-2010.html

Beginning in 2011, a similar number of drivers will lease BMW’s next electric test vehicle, the four-passenger ActiveE—essentially an electric-drive version of the BMW 1-series. This BMW electric car will allow the company to further refine the requirements for a line of large-volume future electric cars, as part of its “Megacity” project. That name, the current working title for its 2013 small electric car, is based on the idea of targeting urban commuters in, well, megacities. Although the ActiveE will cleverly package the power electronics to allow for a decent sized trunk, the Megacity is expected to be a four-seat, three-door hatchback—similar in size to a Honda Fit.

This BMW electric car puts out 125 kilowatts (170 horsepower), a similar amount of power as found on other 1-series Bimmers. The ActiveE’s 32-kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery pack is slightly smaller than the Mini E’s. All of the vehicles apparently are targeting about 100 miles of range on a single charge—although aggressive driving and cold weather conditions have reduced the Mini E’s range by 20 or 30 miles according to multiple reports from drivers. That’s exactly the kind of information that BMW wants to gather from its test drivers. And that’s why this BMW electric car will use liquid cooling to control temperature range, as a strategy to maintain driving range despite cold weather.

BMW appears to be very serious and specific about its electric car program. For example, the company yesterday announced it will use its plant in Lepzig to produce the electric vehicles. The inside story is that BMW executives believe that zero-emission electric cars, and fuel cells for that matter, are a must—that is, if the company is going to meet stricter guidelines for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the world’s major global auto markets.

Source: HybridCars.com

Related articles: BMW Hybrid Cars, BMW X6, BMW Accessories, BMW SUV, BMW Vision, BMW X5, and BMW City

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Adrian van Hooydonk, director of BMW’s group design, explains the BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics as “the sport car of the future, the way BMW imagines it.” This two door concept vehicle to be unveiled at the forthcoming Frankfurt Auto Show. Think of it as a vehicle of the many fuel-efficient technologies that BMW has in several stages of development. Some of the technologies already appear in production vehicles, while the feasibility of rolling out other systems stretch the future to the point of never.

BMW company has a great goal to combine groundbreaking efficiency and breath-taking speed. In the BMW Vision, that boils down to 4.8-second 0-to-60 mph acceleration and 63 mpg.

First, BMW engineers combine a turbo charged small diesel engine and the mildest forms of hybrid technology use the rear axle. In Europe this series car comes on the kind of combo in BMW1′s standard. The Vision’s setup is a little more similar to the BMW 320d, which uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel to deliver 162 hp, while gifted over 57 mpg, also to debut in Frankfurt. The BMW Vision takes it a step further by downsizing the engine to a 1.5-liter three-cylinder diesel engine mated with the more robust hybrid system found in the costly BMW ActiveHybrid7, estimated in the US early next year.

If you don’t satisfied with 162 hp, BMW adds a second motor to drive the front wheels exclusively by electricity. This power can put out 356 hp when the motors and the diesel engine are called into service. The BMW Vision is aerodynamic and lightweight. The design features an aluminum chassis and suspension, and an outer skin made mostly of polycarbonate glass. The car’s ‘slimy’ design boasts a drag coefficient of 0.22 –Toyota Prius just 0.25.

BMW Vision utilizes plug-in hybrid technology to lessen the fuel efficiency penalty paid for power. This make BMW Vision becomes more of a fantasy. The combination of hybrid techonologies and diesel is generally viewed as cost unaffordable. As BMW is promising, with enough battery power to permit the BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics to travel for 30 miles of all-electric drive, would send costs through the roof.

Moreover, BMW Vision only needs a 187-pound 10.8 kWh battery to achieve the 30-mile all-electric goal. To pull that off, BMW Vision will release the battery pack’s capacity by 80 percent, which is likely to considerably lessen the durability of the battery.

Slipping further into fantasy-of course, the vehicle is mostly eye candy-the BMW Vision‘s energy management system uses sensors to anticipate the driver’s needs to regulate engine, electrical components, motors, and even front grille louvers for great performance and maximum efficiency. For instance, the management system could anticipate traffic congestion ahead to boost regenerative braking or expect a merge on to a highway to let the engine hum and the motors buzz. BMW says the system can even help you more quickly find a parking space.

Another articles by Johan Young you may interest in reading: 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Best Selling Hybrid-1, Best Selling Hybrid-2, and Best Selling Hybrid-3.

Follow these tips to find the right BMW accessories for you.

1- Online is the one of the best choices to start your search for the right BMW accessories. There are various stores or dealers that offer BMW accessories from floor mats to graphics and many more in between. You can see pictures, read reviews and take it to your door. Moreover, many online stores and dealers offer deeply discount or free shipping service.

2- BMW dealership may also be able to help you to show the BMW accessories for your car. You can speak with someone personally to pick out the right BMW accessories that best suit your personality and of course with your wallet.

3- Join in BMW clubs in your country and get more ideas for your BMW accessories. They will help you to search for accessories for you. You can find them via BMW car dealers, Internet, or Yellow Pages.

4- Finally, if you have complete research and searching for your BMW accessories, its time to install. It’s more difficult than seeing; you need instructions to ensure that you are installing the accessory correctly. It would best if you contact your BMW dealership, BMW owners, car club, chat forums or online forums. They will give you best advice to get your BMW outfitted and more suited to your personality. Try it now and have fun!

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BMW ActiveHybrid X6

The BMW ActiveHybrid X6 has a great performance. This hybrid will sell for $89,725. BMW ActiveHybrid X6 mates a 4.4 l twin turbo 400 hp V8 engine with two electric motors which can deliver 86 hp and 91 hp each. This car is geared for great performance. You can get 0-60 speed in 5.5 seconds. BMW ActiveHybrid X6 system means a 20 percent over the conventional X6 – but that only adds up to 17 miles per gallons (city) and 19 miles per gallons (highway).

Standard features of BMW ActiveHybrid X6 include leather interior, 20” aero wheels, 7 speed automatic transmissions, rearview camera with top view and heads-up display.

Mercedes Benz ML 450 Hybrid

Mercedes Company shows slightly more deference to fuel economy in their ML 450 Hybrid – with 275- hp, 3.5 liter, V6 engine and two motors providing 335 hp. This hybrid will deliver 21 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway fuel economy. If we compare with V8 ML 550 which rates just 13/18, it’s a nice boost.

Curiously, you can get the Mercedes Benz ML 450 Hybrid as your own with only on a lease of $549 a month for 60 months (for 36 months you must pay $659 each month. Roban Moran, the spokesperson of USA Mercedes tells us that the company offering this vehicle as lease because the company has a limited supply of batteries available. Reading this issue, we assume that Mercedes has some concerns about replacing or maintaining the nickel metal hybride batteries in the future.

German carmakers has a great interest about hybrid gas electric vehicle – with the BMW ActiveHybrid x6 and Mercedes Benz ML 450 Hybrid, they have arrived to the hybrid party with keg sized jugs of luxurious stuff. Unfortunately, the most exciting green car party has already moved on to electric cars and plug-in hybrids with much greater potential to reduce fuel use and emissions.

Other post you may be interested in reading: Audi Q7, Top Safety Vehicle, and Solar Energy.

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