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Hybrids Lose Lifetime Energy
Hybrid advocates trumpet the environmental benefits of the gas-electric vehicles. But a new study says that the overall energy picture for hybrid vehicles isn't as favorable as it seems. CNW Marketing Research, of Bandon, Ore., says that when the total cost of hybrids to the environment is calculated, including factors like recycling batteries into a "dollars per lifetime mile" figure, hybrids come up short against gas-powered vehicles. CNW's energy cost per mile driven figured that the most "energy expensive" vehicle from 2005 is the Maybach at $11.58 per mile, while the Scion xB checks in at the bottom of the scale, at $0.48 a mile. Some hybrids, like the Honda Accord Hybrid, actually get higher lifetime costs than their gas counterparts: the Hybrid Accord has an energy cost per mile of $3.29 while the gas version's is $2.18. CNW accounts for the differences by citing the investments in lightweight materials along with the cost of recycling batteries. The auto industry as a whole, CNW says, has an average dollar per lifetime mile of $2.28; GM's HUMMER H3's figure was $1.949 per mile, lower than the Honda Civic at $2.42 a mile. "If a consumer is concerned about fuel economy because of family budgets or depleting oil supplies, it is perfectly logical to consider buying high-fuel-economy vehicles," says Art Spinella, president of CNW Marketing Research, Inc. "But if the concern is the broader issues such as environmental impact of energy usage, some high-mileage vehicles actually cost society more than conventional or even larger models over their lifetime."
2006 Hybrid
Buyers' Guide (9/12/2005)
What to look for in the new wave of
fuel-sippers.
On Friday, Delphi Corp. set out
its plan to recast itself as a smaller, nimbler company. In the process, the
company also asked the courts to cancel its UAW contracts, setting off a
firestorm in
Read more about the delicate situation at Delphi
GM Says Turnaround Gaining
Meanwhile, as
Read more in today's story on GM's
turnaround
Kia
Rondo Coming to the

2007 Kia Rondo
SAE Congress Goes Global
The Society of Automotive
Engineers (SAE) will kick off its 2006 Technical Congress today in an atmosphere
of unprecedented global participation, though blemished by ongoing
reorganizations at General Motors and Ford and bankruptcies of such leading
suppliers as
The host company for the first
time at
Running through Thursday, April 6,
the Congress will feature more than 200 technical sessions and make available
over 1500 technical papers. A new facility, OEM/Supplier Park, will be
unveiled, including special exhibits from the American automakers, BMW and
U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W.
Bodman will be the featured speaker Thursday night at the annual Congress
banquet in the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center Hotel. Always held in
downtown
SAE Meeting Set for Detroit
(4/2/2006)
Revived interest sparks new ideas at tech
conference.

WORLD REPORT
China
Car Makers Get Ratings Cuts, Too
A key
Chinese partner of General Motors Corp. and Volkswagen AG has had its credit
rating reduced. Hong Kong-based Xinhua Far East China Ratings has downgraded the
debt of Shanghai Automotive Co. Ltd., one of GM's principal partners in
The
action was prompted mainly over concerns about the diminishing attractiveness of
Xinhua said there are also doubts about whether Shanghai GM will be
able to sustain its level of sales when a new government policy requiring more
fuel-efficient vehicles takes effect. Xinhua also confirmed the ratings for FAW
Car Co. Ltd. but changed its outlook for the company from stable to negative.
"Xinhua Far East expects the (FAW's) target market may face greater price cut
pressures, with more and more new models expected to be launched and compete in
this niche as a result of its relatively high profit margins," said the
report.
Xinhua also confirmed the rating of Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. Ltd., which is a major partner of Ford and Suzuki. The outlook for Chongqing, however, was changed from stable to negative. The outlook change reflected concerns about the company's pricing power in the mini-vehicle segment and doubts about the sustainability of growth of its self-branded products. "Price competition has intensified in the mini-vehicle category and, even though it enjoys rapid sales growth, this growth has been unable to offset the negative effect on earnings by widespread price cutting. Changan Auto's profit margin fell significantly toward the end of 2005, following the decisions to cut prices to maintain its position in the market," the Xinhua report noted. -Joe Szczesny
FROM THE SOURCE headlines from the latest press releases
Delphi Outlines Transformation Plan
X PRIZE Foundation Challenges Innovation at SAE Congress
Hybrids Consume More Energy in Lifetime Than Chevrolet's Tahoe SUV


Name | Symbol | Last | Change |
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Autobytel, Inc. | ABTL | 4.82 | |
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Autoliv Inc. | ALV | 56.58 | |
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AutoNation Inc. | AN | 21.55 | |
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ArvinMeritor Inc. | ARM | 14.91 | |
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American Axle & Mfr. Holdings Inc. | AXL | 17.13 | |
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Ballard Power Systems Inc. | BLDP | 6.77 | |
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BorgWarner Inc. | BWA | 60.04 | |
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Cummins Inc. | CMI | 105.10 | |
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Dana Corporation | DCN | 0.66 | |
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DaimlerChrysler AG (ADR) | DCX | 57.41 | |
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Dura Automotive Systems | DRRA | 2.40 | |
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Eaton Corporation | ETN | 72.97 | |
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Ford Motor Company | F | 7.96 | |
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General Motors Corporation | GM | 21.27 | |
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Gentex Corporation | GNTX | 17.46 | |
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Goodyear Tire & Rubber | GT | 14.48 | |
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Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (ADR) | HMC | 30.96 | |
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Johnson Controls Inc. | JCI | 75.93 | |
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Lear Corporation | LEA | 17.73 | |
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Magna International Inc. | MGA | 75.69 | |
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Motorola Inc. | MOT | 22.91 | |
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Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (ADR) | NSANY | 23.78 | |
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Sonic Automotive Inc. | SAH | 27.76 | |
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Siemens AG | SI | 93.17 | |
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Sirius Satellite Radio | SIRI | 5.07 | |
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Toyota Motor Corporation (ADR) | TM | 108.90 | |
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TRW Automotive Holdings | TRW | 23.30 | |
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Tower Automotive Inc. | TWRAQ.PK | 0.085 | |
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United Auto Group Inc. | UAG | 43.00 | |
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Visteon Corporation | VC | 4.60 | |
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XM Satellite Radio Hold. | XMSR | 22.27 |
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