You soon won't be able to buy a new Chevy Malibu Hybrid (they're being discontinued), but if you think GM's fuel-conscious sedan is the car for you - and you happen to be in NYC today, head on down to Times Square. eBay has been running a series of live game show promotions called "Let's Make a Daily Deal," hosted by actor and comedian Mario Cantone, and wants to go out with a bang. For the last day (today), the grand prize is the aforementioned Chevy Malibu Hybrid. The car will be awarded to a winner of a special bonus game that'll take place during the first round of today's "show." Lots of other stuff - electronics, jewelry, etc. - will be handed out to the 60 contestant, so if you've ever been curious where your eBay seller fees go, now you know. The event starts at 1 p.m.


[Source: eBay]

The green-conscious tinkerers over at Ecomodder have a new hero today: user HyperRocket, who is apparently a Ford Motor Company fuel economy technical expert who wanted to really maximize fuel economy with a small vehicle. He started with a 250cc Kawasaki Ninja drivetrain and added a bullet-shaped enclosure, two seats and as much safety equipment as he could. The result is a road-legal, two-passenger, three-wheeled vehicle than can get up to 125 mpg when driving at 65 mph. The entire package weighs just 505 pounds and has a drag coefficient of just .16. Wow.

After putting 3,200 miles on the trike, HyperRocket wants to sell it. Why? So he can get to work on a plug-in hybrid version, of course. The trike is currently listed on eBay for $15,600. Thanks to Ben for the tip!


[Source: Ecomodder, eBay]

To date, Jeep has offered two diesel-powered models to American consumers, a Liberty CRD that was discontinued when new emissions regulations took effect and the currently-available Grand Cherokee. Over in Europe, on the other hand, most Jeeps are available with a diesel engine option and at least one Wrangler fan has taken advantage of that fact. German Wranglers come with a VM Motori 2.8-liter four cylinder like the one formerly offered in the Liberty, so the seller of this unit on eBay ordered a full factory set of powertrain parts and had it installed in a 2007 Wrangler Unlimited. The Jeep is also equipped with the European gauge cluster that is required for the full wiring harness to work. Even though this is a conversion, it uses all factory parts and didn't require any kludging to install. As such, everything at least looks professional and original. Interested buyers in California or the north-east probably need not apply since this certainly won't pass emissions tests in those states.


[Source: eBay]

How's this for self-promotion? AutoblogGreen reader Anthony B. sent us this tip about an all-electric Toyota RAV4 EV that's up for sale on eBay - and why not? It's his car. This 1999 RAV4 is a bit different than the other ones we've mentioned before because it's in Japan. Oh, and it's right-hand drive.

According to the vehicle description on the auction page, only 60 RHD RAV4 EVs were made, and only three are known to be in private hands today (anyone out there want to confirm or deny this? EVNut makes it look likely).

The vehicle is currently in Osaka, Japan but is listed on the UK eBay site. There are reportedly 46,276 miles on the odometer and it comes with extras like heated seats. Anthony says he gets about 100 miles per charge from the 10-year-old vehicle. Apparently, the Japanese RAV4 EV has a second charging port that allows a generator to be connected and power the battery while it's moving down the road. Anthony writes that "It drives like a dream!" So, why is he selling it, again?


[Source: eBay UK]

The classic Volkswagen Beetle is one of the most common choices for electric vehicle conversions for a number of reasons, such as its availability, rear-drive architecture and light weight. Despite these advantages, the Beetle has a close cousin known as the Karmann Ghia that might be an even better choice due to its superior aerodynamics. Plus, it's really cool looking, which is nice.

If you'd rather not worry about performing the conversion yourself, we've got good news. A classic Ghia from 1974 that's already been electrified has recently popped up on eBay. Located in Denver, the electric vehicle is currently bid up to about $5,100, which would make it a pretty compelling deal.

A dozen 6-volt lead acid batteries from Energizer send their electrons through a 450-amp controller from Altrax on to an electric motor from D&D. An aftermarket stereo from Sony plays good vibrations through a 12-volt converter that powers the vehicle's accessories. Have a good look at our gallery below.


[Source: eBay Motors]

One of the most unusual vehicles to grace last year's SEMA show in Las Vegas is now up for auction on eBay. Called the Batsmart, this little vehicle was unlike most of the high-octane pieces of rolling artwork at the event in that it used just three pistons and 70 horsepower to move along its twin passengers. What it loses in power, though, it makes up in style, right?

Designed by George Barris himself, creator of the original Batmobile from the mid '60s, the Batsmart features a faux turbine and rocket launchers to go along with its full custom body kit, which includes the requisite rear batfins and rodent-like pointy nose. Click here to see the auction page and be sure to check out our gallery below. Thanks for the tip, Mick!



[Source: eBay via All Cars All The Time]

Seeing old Toyota RAV4 EVs pop up on eBay is nothing new. One of them usually goes up for auction several times a year. The one up for sale this week, though, isn't one of the vehicles that was originally built by the manufacturer. Instead this one is an aftermarket conversion done by a company known as Powered By DC, LLC. It uses a 30.7 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack which is claimed to provide a 100-mile range at freeway speeds. According to the listing, it has accumulated about 5,100 miles since being completed in December and the builders are putting on about 100 miles a day for testing. The bid as of this writing is $10,000 and the Buy It Now price is $50,000. The sellers say this vehicle is being sold to fund the construction of a new vehicle based on a current-generation RAV4.

[Source: eBay]

We were skeptical of the technology claims, but didn't take the time to double-check another of the "facts" stated in a recent (and now ended) eBay auction for a Chrysler LeBaron convertible. It turns out that while BrocktonEnergyLLC used "Experimental X-prize" in the name of the auction, the folks over at the Progressive Automotive X Prize never heard of him. The X Prize's Bethann Buddenbaum writes:

This group was not involved in the competition in any way, and it seemed from their description that they tried to make the entry goals but couldn't, so they were selling the vehicle and giving up the idea. Admittedly, their ad was misleading, but who would have thought that it would get picked up by so many bloggers including Wired?

Buddenbaum made the same point in a comment on our original post. It's almost like you can't be skeptical enough these days. We'll try to turn our BS radar up even higher.

[Source: Auto X Prize]

The current bid for the plug-in Prius you see above is $21,100, but the pesky reserve price has not yet been met. Considering the $10,000 price tag for the Hymotion plug-in conversion kit that this vehicle sports, someone might be able to get a really good deal on a PHEV, especially considering that this Prius is pretty loaded, with a leather trimmed interior, a navigation system and a backup camera. This 2007 Prius only has 14,800 miles on it and the warranty on the Hymotion pack that lasts for another 35 months (until January 2012). The seller is Green Motors and, according to a sticker on the battery pack, the conversion was done last month by our friends over at Green Gears. The car was in an front end collision, but, to give bidders some piece of mind, Green Motors is offering test drives to anyone who can get out to Berkeley before the auction ends in four days. Thanks to Paul G. for the tip!


[Source: eBay]

Here's an interesting auction on eBay: a 1993 smart Roadster in California. Why single out this particular machine? First, there were no smart Roadsters in 1993, as the model officially went on sale in ten years later in 2003. In fact, smart didn't even exist yet, having been founded as a company in 1994 and selling its first production automobile in 1998. Second, smart cars were not officially imported to America until 2008. Regardless, here we are with one yellow and black smart Roadster at in the United States that you are free to bid on.

Apparently, the car was brought into the U.S. by some enterprising individual who managed to get it through customs, though it's being sold with a bill of sale only – no title, so good luck ever getting it registered for public roads. Pity, since it's an attractive machine that's sure to extract plenty of mileage from each gallon of fuel via its 81-horsepower, 700cc, three-cylinder powerplant. Production ended in 2005, by which time over 43,000 were made, though none of those were ever sold in the States.


[Source: eBay via Automobile Magazine]