NAFTC eNews | January/February/March 2008

Consortium Updates
From the Office of the Executive Director
Odyssey Recruitment Begins
NAFTC Attends Fifth Annual National Biodiesel Board Conference
MATC Conducts First Responder Safety Training – Hybrid Electric Vehicles Course
NAFTC HQ Hosts WV BioEnergy Forum
NAFTC Conducts Annual D.C. Business Meeting

Industry Headlines
Venture Capitalists Invest $3.4 Billion in Renewable Energy in 2007
GM Forms Ethanol Partnership
More Hybrid Rental Cars To Be Available
Biodiesel Movie Wins Sundance Film Festival Award
Honda Plans for New Hybrid
EPA and Scholastic Collaborate on Children's Book
National Hydrogen Association Launches Alternative Fuel Web Site
Toyota Mulls Hybrid Sports Car

Let's Clear the Air!"

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Upcoming Events and Training

Honda Plans for New Hybrid

Honda is planning to develop a hybrid vehicle to compete with the Toyota Prius, according to Honda CEO Takeo Fukui. Its most recent hybrid vehicles have been hybrid versions of other Honda model cars, such as the Civic. The last hybrid-only model offered by Honda was its Insight, which was discontinued after model year 2005.

"The real competition has just begun," said Fukui.


Honda's first hybrid-only model since the Insight will be available in early 2009. Credit: autodeadline.com

Honda's Chief of Automobile Operation, Takanobu Ito, has said the new vehicle will be moderately priced, costing less than the Civic Hybrid, which retails for a starting price of $23,235. The new hybrid will be available in early 2009 and feature a lighter hybrid motor system to improve fuel efficiency. By 2010, Honda hopes that hybrids will account for 10 percent of the company's global sales.