Hybrid Car News

In what may be the worst public-image reversals of the century, the already beleaguered Toyota corporation’s taken another hit. Along with the massive gas pedal recall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reporting over 100 complaints about poor brake performance on the flagship Prius.

Further proof that the grassroots electric-vehicle movement is alive and thriving, we ran across this wonderful website, The Electric Vehicle Photo Album. As a website, www.evalbum.com is nothing fancy, but it is exactly what it says it is—a photo album of electric vehicles. From bicycles and boats to conventional conversions and homebuilt hack-jobs, this site’s collection of nearly 3000 homebuilt electric vehicles is sure to spark your EV enthusiasm.

In their goal to sell one billion hybrid vehicles, Toyota knows it needs to expand beyond the Prius line. Meet the Toyota FT-CH Hybrid Concept. Measuring in at about the same size as the Yaris, the FT-CH will be even more fuel efficient than its Prius older brother. Expect to see this urban cruiser in 2012 with a sticker price just south of $20K.

If you thought going full electric was going to slow you down, check out the Tango Commuter Car. With 805 hp, 1,000 ft-lbs of torque and 2,000 lbs of batteries under the floor, the Tango Commuter Car can out accelerate and out maneuver the Tesla Roadster, the Porsche 911 and most motorcycles on the road. Too bad it’s so fucking ugly. Oh yeah, and it costs $108,000.