Here's What's Hot On CBS11TV.COM:
Oct 3, 2008 10:00 pm US/Central
New Technology Revolutionizing Car Buying
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Remember those cartoons with the futuristic looking cars? Those days could soon be a reality as several automakers enter the new car technology revolution. The new technology could also help you find out if a car is right for you and your family.
Derek Hausheer loves talking about his Toyota Prius Hybrid. He purchased it about a year ago to help save money on gas. But now he's also thinking about some of the new fuel-saving technology that's right around the corner.
"Other fuel solutions seem to be the smart thing to do for saving money and for just helping out the planet," Hausheer says.
From fully electric cars, to hydrogen fuel cell, and more advanced hybrids, the auto industry is scrambling to make consumers happy in a new fuel-conscious economy.
Drew Campbell, President of the New Car Dealers Association of Metropolitan Dallas, says the industry is now shifting away from gas guzzling SUVs to more in-demand fuel-saving cars of the future.
"It's really caused a transformation in our industry as to what's going to be important going forward," Campbell says. "When demand dropped off, they had to shift gears very quickly."
At a recent event in North Texas, Rick Wagoner, CEO for General Motors, talked a lot about the future of the auto industry. "We've ramped up our commitment to electrically driven vehicles in a big way and are now in the midst of a radical transformation," he told the audience.
GM is generating a lot of buzz over its new electric, plug-in car - the Chevy Volt. It will get about 40 miles on a fully charged battery that can be plugged in at home in a regular electrical outlet.
Brian Cooley, auto technology expert for CNet.com says for longer drives a gas generator will kick in to charge the battery. "The gas engine kicks in for the extended range, and then you can expect say 400 miles on 8 - 9 gallons of gas."
The question is, will North Texas consumers go for that kind of car which could retail between $30,000 and $50,000? Cooley says that all depends on you. "Depending on where you drive and how much you drive, and what your expectations are, these may or may not be a breakthrough," he said.
Just last week, Chrysler announced plans for electric versions of three of its popular vehicles - including the family-friendly minivan. According to Cooley, however, these cars are still at least three years away, as batteries and other technology within the cars still need work. "How fast can the battery recharge? How much of a charge can it hold? How long can you go during the day until you have to charge up at night," he asks.
What about maintenance on the new fuel conscious vehicles? Ron Minton with AAA Texas says technicians will have to learn a completely new system. "It's going to be some pretty extensive training as with most new systems that come out on cars," he explained.
As far as mechanical maintenance, though, Minton says most things won't change too much. "The suspension, the brakes, the steering...this is all going to remain pretty much the same," he said.
Other automakers, like Honda, are working on fuel-cell vehicles that will use hydrogen to help generate electricity. The underlying issue with these cars, though, is where can you fill up your tank with hydrogen gas? "If you think putting electrical charging stations in parking lots is difficult, and it is...try putting hydrogen fueling stations on every street corner," says CNet.com's Brian Cooley.
While the new car technology is still years away from being on showroom floors, Drew Campbell says local car dealerships are excited about the possibilities, and consumers should be too. "I think the consumer will then have some real choices to make about which direction they want to go," he said with enthusiasm.
As for the hybrids out now, experts say if you're looking to buy one, do the math to make sure you're not actually losing money. Here's a simple cost calculator to help you figure that out.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Hollywood Hair
CBS News Interactive: Oil And Gas Use
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
