If any car could be built and marketed for $5000 someone would have it on the lot right now. How is a dual drive high tech hybrid going to be cheaper than a two cylider economy car?

WE DO HAVE A 3000 USD 4-DOOR CAR IN INDIA- WHY NOT A 5000 USD HYBRID CAR ?.WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE TO US - THE ECONOMIES TO SCALEON LARGE SCALE PRODUCTION SHOULD MAKE FEASIBLE - THE ONLY COUNTRY I CANTHINK OF AT THE MOMENT WHO CAN MAKE THIS MIRACLE A REALITY IS CHINA.

The economies of scale aren't there yet, and the developed world is happy to pay a 15-20K premium on a hybrid. If they weren't, they simply wouldn't make them.

I wouldn't trust China yet, at least until they were obligated to use genuine approved battery systems.

If China takes over the car industry, it will be the final nail in our coffin.

I agree that there should be a low cost high milage car-hybrid or otherwise. I do believe that the high end car manufacturers are missing the boat. There is not a Lexus version of the Prius or Acura Version of the Civic Hybrid. As a business opportunity, there are many folks of means who would purchase a hybrid if it had the name and all of the ammenties and appointments of the breed but they have nothing to choose from.

MY IDEA IS TO CREATE A CHEAP HYBRID CAR WITH ALL THE BASIC SAFETY FEATURES.A 25000 DOLLAR CAR IS DIFINETLY MORE POLLUTING THAN A 5000 DOLLAR HYBRID CARWHICH HAS A SMALLER ENGINE- JUST A LITTLE MORE THAN A 500 CC BIKE- IF GUYSIN THE US CAN AFFORD A 25000 DOLLAR HYBRID CAR AND CARE TOO LESS FOR A ENVOIRNMENTAL CAUSE I HAVE NOTHING TO COMMENT ABOUT.

I JUST HINTED AT CHINA WHICH IS KNOWN FOR CHEAP GOODS - EVERY THING CHEAP NEEDNOT BE BAD- IT COULD WELL BE MADE IN THE US. THE QUESTION IS HOW MANY GUYS IN THEUS ARE GOING TO BUY A 25000 DOLLAR HYBRID CAR WHEN A 3000 DOLLAR 2ND HAND CAR WOULD DO THE SAME JOB OF TRANSPORTING YOU.

I've suggested a couple of ideas along these lines-

1.) "Hybrid replacement transmission," essentially replace the automatic transmission in a conventional front-engine, rear-wheel-drive full-size automobile with a motor/generator, and install batteries in normally "unused" places in the car, such as under seats and in the front part of the trunk (boot). At speeds under 20 mph the electric motor propels the car, over 20 mph the original ICE takes over. This would be an aftermarket replacement "kit" for a used car.

2.) Hybrid conversion for front-wheel-drive car- replace the rear "beam" axle with an independant rear suspension and differential and half-shafts to propel the rear wheels, powered by an electric motor; again, batteries are installed wherever there is unused space.

I have two front-wheel-drive vehicles in my driveway, I may attempt this conversion on one of them (or both, if it's successful). Both vehicles are paid for, and conversion for both should cost far less than the $25,000 price for a Prius.

Hybrids are always going to be more expensive than pure ICE or electric vehicles, because they have to incorporate dual drive systems, even if they share a powertrain. Maybe the least expensive development would be to "hybridize" an electric car, by installing an ICE-powered generator (series hybrid), rather than adapting an ICE car (parallel or series-parallel).

I think it might be interesting to make a 'hybrid' that only has an electric powertrain, but has an independant gas engine dedicated to charging. That way, you don't have to worry about two sets of half-shafts or transmissions and the gas engine could be as simple as a 12-horse riding lawnmower engine directly coupled to the alternator. I think this charging set-up could be had for less than $600usd

You'd normally use the car as a plug-in electric and only use the gas engine on longer trips. And it need not be powerful enough to provide constant electrical power--if you need to go a longer distance, you'd start the generator engine before you've used much of your electric power and as you drove you'd let the electric deplete. Then when you got to work or stopped for lunch on your trip, you'd leave the generator running in the parking lot until it was full-charge again.

You'd simply allow some additional time and this way the electric car could have the range you need--which I guess is the primary argument now against them. Also, you could use this in conjunction with the vertical wind turbine that deploys in the parking lot, and the skin covered with photovoltaic cells.

But now my car is getting complex again, that that's the problem I want to solve.