What’s with all the Hybrid Hype anyway? In today’s climate, it’s almost uncool to not supply your customers, whether they be car buyers, home appliance shoppers or Whole Foods regulars, with non “green” materials. Pretty much every major auto maker either has a hybrid car already on the market, or will have one within the next year (for the 2011 – 2012 model years).

But with every Joe-blow engineer rushing out their idea for a hybrid drive train, or the smart auto makers buying the technology from someone smarter, there will be no shortage of hybrid car variants soon. Are we really getting a quality vehicle, and most importantly are we getting savings at the pump?

Don’t get us wrong, Automopedia loves fuel efficient, technologically advanced rides. And now that the tech is out there, auto makers can take advantage of it at a good rate, for both their wallets and yours. It’s not just a flash in the pan marketing scheme, hybrid sales are going up. There is a question of affordability, up front. Back in 2005, a CNN Money article exposed the larger price tags of hybrid variants by Japanese auto makers compared to their gas-online siblings. In today’s hybrid world, companies like Ford/Lincoln and Honda are selling hybrids at around the same price as the non-hybrid versions. That 2005 article was also published for the Government decided to give larger cash incentives to those purchasing green vehicles.

Are hybrid cars perfect? Not at all. But no vehicle is, not even KITT from Knight Rider or the General Lee. A hybrid vehicle requires different, sometimes more expensive maintenance than an regular internal combustion engine. With more hybrids coming out, auto makers will be looking for less-expensive alternatives to materials (cheaper parts, that is). John Viera, Ford’s director of sustainability and environmental policy, said to HybridCars.com: “We feel that outside the communication and the hype, there is no silver bullet. There’s no fuel type or technology, including electric, that is the perfect solution.”

And in the end, no matter what the dealer claims (40, 100, 230 miles on a single charge) only real world tests during your daily commute will prove what a Mazda, Toyota, Chevy or Audi hybrid is really made of.

Are you saving the earth? No. Are you helping? Probably. Are you saving at the gas pump? Indeed – though maybe only to put back into the higher cost of maintenance/insurance. One fact seems certain, hybrids are here to stay. With every major car company investing millions upon millions in this technology, someone’s going to want a payoff at the end of the quarter. The question remains, can you afford it after the hype is gone?

Everyone is getting on the electric car bandwagon – From Tesla to BMW, Chevy and even Toyota. Before, the main focus was on sheer eco-friendliness, but now Sports and Luxury are becoming just as important for auto makers, as their research and development people construct the hybrid/electric vehicles we may all one day drive. But there are many obstacles up against those who take money away from Big Oil and Governments. Yet, it doesn’t stop foreign auto companies from putting together some fancy hybrid rides. Check out our favs below.

BMW Concept ActiveE: 1-Series Goes Electric

BMW’s ActiveHybrid series is one of the most ambitious luxury alternative fuel concepts ever imagined. The German auto maker claims its vehicle has a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 and a 40-kW electric motor. How much power that combination creates is a mystery thus far- although we know the 7 Series ActiveHybrid needs to be gas-electric, while the 5 Series can run on electric-only power. Now that’s impressive.

Mercedes CLS – F800 Style Edition

One of the more spectacular options that goes along with owning a Mercedes F800 is its lithium-ion battery pack can be recharged from household currents or local charging station. Convenient! Mercedes says its F-Cell technology also could be adapted to the F800, bundling a 136-hp, rear-drive electric motor that generates 214 pound-feet of torque with a fuel cell stack. Range is said to be nearly 375 miles. The concept’s hybrid powertrain provides 0-60 acceleration in 4.7 seconds and a top speed limited to 155 mph, says Mercedes.

Tesla Roadster – Death Becomes It

One of the most infamous electric sports cars out there is Tesla’s Roadster. It’s been killed off several times already, and when the all-electric sports car seems like it’ll hit more dealerships outside of California, three Tesla execs die in a small plane crash. Conspiracy theory much? And just this week, Tesla Motors announced they will cease production of the Roadster in 2011. They already have a planned replacement, Model S, for 2013 – but the company needs to start paying off a $465 million loan with the Department of Energy. And you thought college loans were bad. We still have high hopes for Telsa – they’ve been through hell, which could make them stronger in the end.

5 by Peugeot – French Environmentalist Auto

Even the French are into going green. With their “5 by Peugeot” the auto maker has combined a luxury hybrid with the speediness of German cars. It uses a front-mounted 163 bhp 2.0-liter diesel engine, which works with a 27 kW electric motor at the back. The two combine for 147 kW / 200 PS when both systems are in use, providing power to all four wheels. At low speeds, the 5 goes all-electric, and has upwards of 61.9 MPG US. Too bad we’ll never see a Peugeot in ‘Merica outside of their bicycles.

Electric Zamboni For 2010′s Vancouver Olympics

As more auto makers are turning to luxury hybrids, sports electric and plug-ins for the future of production models we are optimistic The Electric Car will survive – no matter what Government Black Ops have to say about them.

Now on a somewhat related, and embarrassing note – The electric Zamboni was part of Canada’s attempt at a green Vancouver Olympics, and was a failure not once, not twice, but thrice! According to Jalopnik, “The Canadian-built electric ice resurfacers (note: Zamboni is a brand of ice resurfacers, these are built by Olympia) used at the Richmond Olympic Oval are supposed to help the environment but it cost the second half of the 500M speedskating pairs after one ice-resurfacing machine couldn’t properly clean the ice. Then a second machine failed. Then they brought in a third and it, too, screwed up the course.” Good try, Canada – but leave the trendy green car stuff to Americans…and Europeans…and Japanese.

Sources: Jalopnik | Inside Line | Worldcarfans

As consumer demand for electric cars continues to grow so has the number of electric car companies. Automopedia.org brings you ten up and coming electric car companies that you should keep your eye on. These companies are leading the way in developing electric vehicles for all types of uses. From affordable compact city vehicles to high performance sports cars, there is an electric car company out there building your dream green machine.

1. Tesla Motors
www.teslamotors.com
Based out of Silicon Valley, Tesla Motors was found by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning in the summer of 2003. The private company’s first production vehicle is an all electric sports car called the Tesla Roadster. The vehicle can travel 221 miles on a single charge and the ability to go 0-60 in under 4 seconds. The company has plans to introduce a sedan in 2009 and an affordable model codenamed “Bluestar” by 2012.

2. Commuter Cars
www.commutercars.com
Commuter Cars is an electric car company out of Spokane, Washington founded by Rick & Bryan Woodbury. The company’s current production model is the the narrow 2 door, the Tango T600. The vehicle cost $108,000 and requires minimal assembly upon delivery. Actor George Clooney was the first to receive a T600in August 2004.

3. Global Electric Motorcars
www.gemcar.com
Global Electric Motors (GEM) was founded by ex GM employees in 1992 and purchased by Chrysler in 2000. The company currently offers 6 different models and has produced over 35000 vehicles. The vehicles are plug in battery electric and have an average range of 30 mph. GEM vehicles have been very popular fleet vehicles, on military bases, airports, golf courses, parks and senior communities.

4. AC Propulasion
www.acpropulsion.com
AC Propulsion was founded in San Dimas, CA in 1992 by Alan Cocconi. The company produces a top of the line sports car called the “AC Propulsion tzero” as well as electric vehicle drive systems. AC propulsion has also developed prototype vehicles including a Volkswagen that has been modified to run on electricity called the “Plug Bug.”

5. Venturi
www.venturi.fr
Venturi is a French automaker that was founded in the mid 80′s. The company started off producing high end sports cars under the names MVS, which in English stand for sport car manufacturer. In 2001 the manufacturer was bought by Gildo Pallanca who has since shfted the focus of the company to electric powered vehicles. The companies current models include the Eclectic and Astrolab. The low speed Eclectic is the first ever energy autonomous car, with solar panels, a wind charger and the ability to be plugged in. The Astrolab is a hybrid that runs on a plug in charge or solar energy.

6. Think
www.think.no
Think is an Aurskog, Norway electric car company founded in 1991. The company has had its ups and downs, with company ownership changing hands multiple times, but a revamped model of the Think City is currently in production. The vehicle will be available in the US by the second half of 2008 and features a 106 mile range and a top speed of 62mph.


7. ZENN
www.zenncars.com
ZENN Motor Company is a Canadian based company that manufactures neighborhood electric vehicles. The company was found by a professional photographer named Ian Clifford who started the business after finding it difficult to purchase an electric vehicle in Canada. In 2001 the company teamed up with French automaker Microcar, utilizing the company’s small diesel powered vehicles. ZENN is currently working with EEStor, a company that has developed a battery that gets 800 kilometers per charge.

8. Lightning Car Company
www.lightningcarcompany.com
The Lightening Car company develops high performance electric sports car at its Peterborough location. The company’s first production car, the Lightening GT, went on sale in 2008. The vehicle features all wheel drive, can get 250 miles per charge and has a top speed of 150mph. The compnay is currently taking deposits on the Lightening which will br delivered in 2009.

9. Nice
www.nicecarcompany.co.uk
The NICE Car Company was founded in 2005 in London. The young company has already began distributing the Mega City, an electric city car that was developed by Aixam-Mega. NICE is also a distributer for Vectrix, Mega Mult-itrucks and electric scooters by e-max and Oxygen.

10. REVA
www.revaindia.com
REVA is an India based manufacturer of an electric city car. The automaker has produced more electric cars than any other company and sales continue to increase. The REVA is a 3 door hatchback that can accommodate 2 adults and 2 children. The vehicle’s top speed is 45mph and has a range of 50 miles. The vehicle may be imported to the U.S. Where it can be used as a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle. The compnay plans to offer models with increased range, speed and acceleration in 2008.

Hybrid vehicles. They’re a huge topic right now in the car world, and everyone is getting riled up about them. But what’s the big deal? Over 300,000 hybrid vehicles are running on American roads today, and the number rises everyday. How does a Hybrid car work? How safe are they? Why should I drive one? How much do they cost? Which companies make them? Will they really save me that much gas in the long run? These were the questions running though my head, and here are some of the answers I found.

Many people know that Hybrid cars are better for the environment than regular cars, but do they really know why? Hybrid engines combine two sources of power: a rechargeable battery and gasoline. They are also built smaller to accommodate the 99% of the time that you’re not going up a hill or accelerating quickly. When acceleration is needed, however, the battery provides the car with an extra boost of power. Some hybrids, like Ford’s new Escape Hybrid SUV, can run up to 25 miles per hour before the gas engine even kicks in. Another thing that’s pretty sweet about Hybrids is that when you stop, so does the engine. Well, the gas one at least, the battery is what keeps the car running, even though it doesn’t sound like it is. It took me a while to get used to this with my Civic Hybrid, but after a while you learn to appreciate the quiet. This video gives a detailed inside look into Toyota’s Prius.

So, sure, the hybrid has all this technology in it, but does that make it as safe as a regular gas running vehicle? yupp. And while you might think you look fly in your new Hummer, guess again. Green vehicles are currently and will continue to be a hot trend in the US. Can you really take someone with a 35 gallon gas tank seriously as temperatures and gas prices continue to rise? Show your intelligence to the world and be seen in a hybrid vehicle today! Now that’s sexy.