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Jim Motavalli

The Future is Bright: A first look at a new plug-in hybrid

The Bright team is putting together a plug-in hybrid from scratch. Working on a shoestring, they plan to unveil a working prototype in May.
Fri, Mar 06 2009 at 11:44 AM EST
Read more: HYBRID CARS

A peek at the Bright. (Credit: Bright Automotive)

 Bright Automotive is “showing a bit of leg” with its new plug-in hybrid vehicle, which should be available in model year 2013. This picture, teaser though it may be, is a world exclusive.

 
The company, based in Indiana, is a spinoff of the highly regarded Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). Its partners (not necessarily investors) include Google.org, Alcoa, Johnson Controls, RMI and the Turner Foundation. CEO John Waters, who cut his teeth at General Motors’ Delco Remy division (which later became Delphi,) spent two years at RMI, and the Bright project incubated there. In fact, he helped develop the battery pack for GM’s EV-1 electric car.
 
“We built up tremendous leadership in alternative technology vehicles, but it was not valued at the time by GM or Delphi,” Waters says. Unlike GM, which is heavily constrained by tradition and the need to build new cars on existing platforms, Bright started with a clean sheet of paper and in just a year has a driving prototype that it will show off at the Electric Vehicles Symposium in Norway in mid-May.
 
Waters won’t say much about the car, but it is projected to have 30 miles of all-electric range, and the ability to travel 400 miles. Under the hood will be a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and, most likely, lithium-ion batteries (nickel-metal-hydride are a possibility).
 

If all goes well and the company is fully funded (a big if), it will produce 30,000 cars in its first year, ramping up to a capacity of 50,000. The factory location is yet undecided, but it could be in Indiana, where many of the EV-1’s innovations were developed.

 

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Comments(5)

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Posted By Indu - Sat, Feb 27 2010 at 11:16 AM EST

Diesel Cars

This is a wonderful opinion. I like the cars. The things given are unanimous and needs to be appreciated by everyone.
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Indu
Diesel Cars

Posted By Brian H - Wed, Jul 15 2009 at 6:19 AM EST

Hybrid is passing phase

The only reason for hybrids to exist is battery range and recharge limitations. Those are quickly going by the board. The Tesla Model S will have a 300 mile max range (deluxe battery pack), a 45-minute 80% fast-charge option, and swappable batteries (40 seconds in one provider's version).

Also check out the ultra-successful trials of fully electric yard trucks with 60-mile range at LA Port. Cost about 15% as much per mile, clean, safe, quick -- the drivers and managers both love them. .... More

Posted By Ryan N. - Fri, Apr 03 2009 at 2:08 AM EST

Bright Automotive

It so nice to know that there are lots of companies producing ecofriendly vehicles, which, will help lessening pollution in the environment. Their aim is to unveil a hybrid car that will get up to 100 miles to the gallon. The new "Car czar," Edward Montgomery will undoubtedly be a fan, as he is set to take an oversight role of the automotive industry since they got so much of our money. You shouldn't think about a personal loan for one yet –they don't plan to have it ready to ship until.... More

Posted By Anonymous - Mon, Mar 30 2009 at 4:04 PM EST

electric vs hybrid

I can still see Ford emerging from this fiscal mess with their hybrid line of cars. They see that car buyers will be looking for greener cars and have a line of hybrids to fill that need. I don't see electric cars as more a more green alternative to hybrids unless you are charging it with your own solar panels. If you don't have your own solar panels then you are still using greenhouse gas producing power plants to recharge. Not any real green energy or savings as you spin your electric.... More

Posted By Anonymous - Sat, Mar 07 2009 at 11:53 AM EST

The Dying North American Auto Industry

“We built up tremendous leadership in alternative technology vehicles, but it was not valued at the time by GM or Delphi,”: This is why the North American auto industry is going the way of the dinosaurs.

Just like them, they are being replaced by smaller, more flexible players. According to Mark C. Henderson, hybrids are just the beginning and may not have a much brighter future.

He sees the industry moving towards more conservational and environmental vehicles. That would.... More

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