" (p. 1). While conveying this breakthrough for Volkswagen, Nerad felt that is was important to recognize that these two automobile tests were performed at the demanding, 6,578 foot high, Simplon Pass (2003, p.1).
Nerad (2003) also concedes that, "Together with the Paul Scherrer Institute in Zurich, Switzerland, Volkswagen developed a low-cost hydrogen fuel cell with extra high performance "supercaps", or ultra capacitors, that can store a fuel-cell engine's electrical energy for use during strenuous driving, such as passing on grades. These supercaps eliminate the need for heavy energy storage batteries that are a problem with many other experimental hydrogen vehicles being tested and are a big drag to lift" (p. 1).
Ripley (2003) insists that, "hybrid vehicles – [are] not just for the lunatic fringe [anymore]" (p. 1). Ripley (2003) confirms that, "the first two gas-electric hybrid vehicles to hit the American market--the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius-were greeted with a collective yawn" (p. 1). However, Ripley (2003) concedes that, "[these two vehicles] were remarkably good, especially when compared to the nearly useless pure electrics like the GM EV1 that preceded them" (p. 1). In 2002, Honda and Toyota were only capable of producing only a few thousand hybrid vehicles a year because of the low consumer demand (Ripley, 2003). Honda and Toyota maintained discretion, during hybrid production, to insure that any growing pains, in performance, were fixed before mass interest and production proceeded. This well thought out plan, set the stage for Honda to unveil their Civic line