This interesting article gives a couple of useful clues: http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/cont...9;s+top+stories VW are using NiMH batteries from Sanyo (who also supply Honda) in their hybrid programme, though are having problems integrating the electric motor with the gasoline engine smoothly enough. Mercedes are aiming to be the first to bring out a Lithium-ion (from SAFT) powered hybrid - the mild-hybrid S-class in 2009. Will they beat Toyota to it? Prius 3 is scheduled for the end of 2008....
Volkswagen is the European version of GM, although somehow they don't seem to have that image in the US. Remember this quote from the VW CEO about hybrid technology: Original story here. Guess they decided to "rape physics" after all. Now it turns out to be not so easy to rape, uhm, reap the rewards... Hey, Toyota took almost a decade to get here, what were you thinking?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(clett @ Mar 19 2007, 06:34 AM) [snapback]408287[/snapback]</div> This story is quite a shock to me. I have been driving VW's since 1972 (8 in all) and sometime after I bought my '95 Jetta I remember reading a story about VW outfitting 50 Rabbits (Polos ?) with hybrid diesel engines, the standard I-4 with a flywheel and a starter/generator in-line with the crankshaft, and dispatching them to Switzerland for a one year test drive. They were reported to be successful and very popular with the chosen test drivers but VW felt the time was wrong so they shelved the technology. Apparently that story was untrue. As a VW loyalist their decision to not continue with the hybrid technology made me quite unhappy and I slowly rotated in the wind (not generating any power!) for years before giving up and just last weekend purchasing a 2002 Prius with 24,500 miles that is a really neat car. I don't know what VW was up to but they blew it and lost a long time customer.
VW/Audi actually had hybrids on the public roads years before the Japanese did. In 1989 they revealed the Audi Duo, based on the Audi 100 Avant Quattro. It had a 12.6 horsepower electric engine, and a 136 horsepower gasoline engine. Later, they upgraded this to a plug-in hybrid diesel Duo (using lead acid batteries!) and leased it to various councils in Europe. Owners generally liked it, but unfortunately management felt at the time that it wouldn't catch on, so production ceased to focus on diesel development. Incidentally, Baynunah in Abu Dhabi have just placed an order with SVE to supply 10,000 plug-in hybrids....
