Efficient Hybrids by Jim Parks on Creators.com

Recently

Cloning the Extinct? Editor's Note: The Today's Green Minute column is not available this week. The following column originally was published in December 2008. It's possible that a baby wooly mammoth carcass that Russian scientists discovered in 2007 — which has …Read more. Clean Air Equals Longer Life Editor's Note: The Today's Green Minute column is not available this week. The following column originally was published in May 2009. If you doubt that clean air has an effect on your health, now there's scientific proof that you're wrong. Cleaner U.…Read more. LED Price Reduction Editor's Note: The Today's Green Minute column is not available this week. The following column originally was published in November 2009. Panasonic's LEDs received some nice buzz at the Japanese electronics fair, CEATEC — and it all centers …Read more. Water Footprint Editor's Note: The Today's Green Minute column is not available this week. The following column originally was published in December 2009. As the public's understanding of the carbon footprint increases, a new aspect — the water footprint …Read more.

Efficient Hybrids

They're called "Hyper-Milers" — car geeks whose quest is to squeeze the absolute last drop of efficiency out of their hybrid cars. The more gifted Hyper-Milers have used their schemes of automotive thrift to get over a 100 miles to the gallon, but these techniques have remained on the fringe. Until now.

Ford has partnered with researchers at the University of Michigan in a project that uses the highest of tech to hurry along the development of even more fuel-efficient hybrid systems.

With 175,000 computer design simulations conducted, the mission is to develop a software system that would present drivers with settings that make the most of fuel efficiency and driving preferences.

Four-wheel drive SUVs and luxury sports cars have had settings like this for a while now, but Ford wants to take the concept to a newer greener level.

Questions can be sent to Jim Parks at jrparks@mac.com. To find out more about Jim Parks and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.