There’s a decidedly European influence in the Malibu Hybrid new version. That makes 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid takes on a much sportier and refined look than the previous generation of this Chevy car and more European than anything else in a Chevrolet showroom
The 2009 Chevrolet Malibu 4 doors have a taut and uplevel design and sophisticated shape that rival both the Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry. It is not as performance oriented as the Nissan Altima, and not as conservative looking as the Toyota Camry. For example, the Chevrolet Malibu’s short rear deck profile and round taillights loosely echo the iconic Chevy Corvette.
General Motor’s new 2-tiered grille is flanked by large jeweled headlamps – upfront. Its entire front fascia very much resembles that of the Saturn Aura.
The 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid grants a premium look that is often seen on more luxurious with brightwork around the side windows. The 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid exterior rides atop 16 inch, 17 inch, or 18 inch aluminum wheels.
Overall, the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu exterior is bold, elegant lines and a crisp, attractive sheet metal taut proportions, looks masculine, brawny, modern, and many more. The best overall design since Ed Welburn as the top design in General Motor.
You can’t stop the increasing of gasoline price. But you can eliminate this problem when you decide to moving to electric vehicle. Some people say that one way to eliminate stops at the pricey pump is to go electric – EV Conversion
An EV Conversion is known as the procedure of modifying a gasoline fuel powered vehicle into an all electric vehicle. And if you interest in this project and need to conversion your vehicle to electric, here’s a list of ev conversion companies to get you started.
Alaniz Technologies Corp. - Located in Texas, Alanis converts gasoline powered vehicles into all electric rides. They have been working in a variety of option available. They offer 65+mph and 20-70 miles on a single charge (depends on battery chosen). Visit their website to get more information about electric vehicle conversion. (http://www.alanizcorporation.com/)
Ampmobile Conversions LLC – Based in South Carolina, This company can converts gasoline powered cars and trucks to all electric power vehicles. Ampmobile has been working with and researching to get more efficient ways to convert your vehicle to electric cars and trucks. Ampmobile also provides mini workshops for DoItYourself or DIY-ers. To get more information about Ampmobile ev conversion, visit their web http://www.ampmobileconversions.com/default.asp
Canadian Electric Vehicles Ltd. – Canadian Electric Vehicle or CEV was established in 1991 to convert ICE to electric power – including heavy duty diesel truck conversions for the industry of airline. They also selling conversion kits for various vehicles – they offer custom build options and components for modifications. Industrial companies, governments, and many individuals become their customers. Visit their website to get more information about their ev conversion. http://www.canev.com/
Clean Ride Electric Vehicles – Based in Minnesota, Clean Ride Electric Vehicles restores and electrifies VW classic beetles from top to bottom. They can give you an electric motor by replace the ICE and fuel system and 6 12-volt lead acid batteries and upgrade standard components. Your VW can get a top speed of 50 mph in a 20- to 30-mile range. http://www.clean-ride.com/index.html
EVPorsche.com – Based in West Palm Beach, LA, CA, and Florida, EVPorsche can convert any vehicle to all electric power vehicle – but for Porsche sports car, conversions due to their dependability, engineering, and lightweight design. EVPorsche company offers you a wide variety of battery, model and range configurations to meet driving styles and needs. With their electric vehicles, in 5 seconds you can get 0-60 or even faster with two motors and series to parallel switching. (http://www.coolgreencar.net/ or EVPorsche.com).
From its inception, the Chevy Volt was designed to travel 40 miles without using a drop of gasoline. General Motors drew the line in the sand, citing studies that show the majority of US drivers, on average, travel less than 40 miles per day. In a refrain repeated over and over again by GM executives, and bandied about in advertising, the company has held firm to its promise of 40 miles of electric driving before the small onboard engine would be called into service.
However, one year prior to its release, journalists are discovering that the Chevy Volt will fall short of the 40 miles of all-electric range under a number of conditions.
Edmunds’ John O’Dell yesterday took a brief test drive of the Chevy Volt, and grilled Chevy Volt Chief Engineer Andrew Farah. O’Dell discovered that the 2011 will indeed deliver 40 miles of battery-only range on the EPA city cycle, a driving circuit with an average speed of just under 20 mph. But the Chevy Volt’s battery range will be diminished under these conditions:
Aggressive acceleration
Sustain high-speed driving
Exceptionally hot or cold ambient temperatures
Driving in hilly or mountainous terrain
O’Dell writes, “If you pull out of the driveway with a full charge, hop on an uncrowded freeway and motor away at 65 miles an hour, you won’t get 40 miles on battery power alone.”
Does It Matter?
From the beginning, the 40-mile number seemed arbitrary. After all, how many Volt owners are going to complain if the engine comes on after 38 miles or 35 miles? The Chevy Volt is expected to be the only mainstream relatively affordableplug-in hybrid on the market—it goes on sale in late 2010—with anywhere near 40 miles of all-electric range for quite some time.
But if Chevy Hybrid Cars does fall short of 40 miles of electric range, and 35 or 30 miles proves to be enough for satisfied owners, it begs the question of how much all-electric range is needed after all. Earlier this year, researchers from Carnegie Melon University found that the extra cost and weight of batteries needed for 40 miles of all-electric range are cost-prohibitive. Researchers said, “Large-capacity plug-in hybrids sized for 40 or more miles of electric-only travel are not cost-effective in any scenario.”
This Chevy Hybrid Car is expected to cost about $40,000. Could GM reduce the cost of the Volt—and potentially sell more units maybe even at a profit—by downsizing the battery pack to allow for 30, 20, or even 10 miles of all-electric range? Does it strike a better balance between cost and EV-range to tap into gasoline when needed throughout the driving cycle—the “blended” approach expected from Ford and Toyota, as well as GM’s own future plug-in hybrid SUV? Or maybe those who must have a long all-electric range would be happy to pay $10,000 less and give up the ability to take their electric car on long-range trips? The Nissan Leaf is expected to sell in the low $30,000s and will never use a drop of gasoline, because it’s purely electric and doesn’t have a gas engine.
The new era of plug-in hybrids and electric cars will bring these questions and many more. Perhaps the biggest question—at least for GM one year before the release of the Chevy Volt—is whether or not it should continue to make the 40-mile claim when it might not be true for many of its owners.
GM has announced that it will stop the producing of Chevrolet Malibu mild hybrid versions in June 2009. This action (stop the producing mild hybrid technology) is one more sign that the GM is cutting back on technologies and programs that are unsuccessful and expensive too – in the other side, this ways also reducing unprofitable dealerships and brands.
The main reason why GM cutting the car is the poor sales of the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid. The officials of GM said that inventory of the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid is backing up on dealership lots. When the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid debuted at the 2008 MLB All-Star Game, Ed Peper, the General Manager of Chevrolet said that the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid is winning package that will leadership in the midsize sedan segment and meet the needs of the Chevrolet customers – with its uncompromising design and fuel economy.
In 2008, The Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid available in the market as directs competition to the Japanese automakers, the Toyota Camry Hybrid. The Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid is a stylish 5 door midsize sedan but used a mild hybrid technology; the fuel economy compared with the conventional Malibu was a very modest 2 mile per gallons jump to 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway.
But for 2009 the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid rating is increasing to 26 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway and this meaning 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid a much healthier. There is no difference in the lowest end MSRP between the two vehicles remains the same. As comparison, the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid starts at $24,695 and the conventional Malibu starts at $20,745. In the others words, the cost per mpg improvement was cut in half.
Nancy Libby the spokesperson of GM said, “The hybrid improvement is primarily the result of new battery charging control software that reduces load on the engine, and the hybrid also uses new 17-inch low rolling resistance tires – They were 16-inch tires in 2008.”
And when we compare 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid with the Toyota Camry Hybrid, we will notice that in the EPA category Toyota Camry Hybrid is the winner. But if we look in their base level MSRP, Toyota Camry Hybrid is $1,500 higher than the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid. Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid MSRP at $24,650.
Based on General Motor’s long wheel based Epsilon platform, the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid’s powertrain is defined by Ecotec 4-cylinder 2.4 liter and electric starter motor generator (36 volt) tied to a nickel metal hybride battery pack. Output stands at 164 hp, plenty for a car of its weight and size. Energy is channeled through a smooth shifting 4 speed transmission.
