Featured Hybrid Automotive Shuts Down

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by jacktheripper, Jul 1, 2026 at 10:54 PM.

  1. jacktheripper

    jacktheripper Senior Member

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    Running a business is never easy, and making money is never guaranteed. The closing of Hybrid Automotive is a good reminder that even good people and good ideas can still run into very tough challenges.

    At the end of the day, the only way to survive long-term is to keep improving, keep innovating, and keep listening to customers. No product is ever really “finished.” There is always something we can make better, safer, more reliable, or more affordable.

    And yes, there will always be copycats watching from the sidelines, ready to copy the moment something works. That is just part of the game. The best way forward is to keep building, keep improving, and keep fighting!

    Jack

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    #1 jacktheripper, Jul 1, 2026 at 10:54 PM
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  2. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Well wishes!
     
    #2 hill, Jul 2, 2026 at 5:51 AM
  3. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    +1
     
    #3 ETC(SS), Jul 2, 2026 at 8:11 AM
  4. notspam3

    notspam3 Member

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    Elon should buy them - that way they could sell stock at an IPO for 3 trillion dollars. No need to earn a profit to keep the doors running.
     
    #4 notspam3, Jul 2, 2026 at 12:57 PM
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    I suppose there just aren't enough people rebuilding batteries
     
    #5 bisco, Jul 2, 2026 at 1:19 PM
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    Just to clarify @jacktheripper : this is your business? I'm inferring it, but would be good to clarify.
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Jul 2, 2026 at 1:32 PM
  7. Hayslayer

    Hayslayer Active Member

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    No, Hybrid Automotive is the place that made the Prolong Charger kits.
     
    #7 Hayslayer, Jul 2, 2026 at 1:40 PM
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    Jeff something or other, used to post here
     
    #8 bisco, Jul 2, 2026 at 1:42 PM
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  9. PriusV17

    PriusV17 Active Member

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    Jack, you can buy them out. There was good investment into the tech and product. If you see it has value to your business, then consider offering to buy them out or buy their IP and CAD data, and circuit rights. Or even continue their manufacturing contracts. So that you can make it a product for your site. That way all that investments they made doesn't go to waste and still sells as a product. You can make improvements on those products too. But it is a risk though if the demand is very low. You have buying power if they are completely going out of business and need cash.
     
    #9 PriusV17, Jul 2, 2026 at 3:22 PM
  10. PriusV17

    PriusV17 Active Member

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    Twinkies was about to disappear until it was bought out.
     
    #10 PriusV17, Jul 2, 2026 at 3:26 PM
  11. PriusV17

    PriusV17 Active Member

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    Their tech is really designed for nimh and for short term fixes. Since failing modules are still failing modules. Today's batteries have built in self balancing. Even though Toyota's are not. Lithium and Sodium seems to prefer to be balanced rather than full charged and then dissipate heat to balance. It's good to have if you need to charge a completely dead hv pack. Which is rare.
     
    #11 PriusV17, Jul 2, 2026 at 3:42 PM
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