Hybrid Cars Enter the Mainstream Auto Market

Modern Hybrids with Better Fuel Ratings Appeal to Auto Buyers

Aug 22, 2009 Laurence O'Sullivan

The Toyota Prius by becoming the bestselling car in Japan, shows that modern hybrid cars, with better fuel ratings and lower prices are becoming popular to auto buyers.

A report, filed by Reuters on August 6, 2009, entitled “Toyota’s Prius Tops Japan Auto Sales for 2nd Month” states that, “Toyota Motor Corp's Prius hybrid was Japan's best-selling car in July for a second straight month, underscoring robust demand for fuel-efficient vehicles.” This highlights the fact that modern hybrid cars are becoming more acceptable in the mainstream auto market.

Why Buy a Hybrid Car?

There are many reasons that consumers would purchase a hybrid electric car or hybrid SUV, not least being the greater fuel economy and lower greenhouse gas emissions such vehicles produce.

“A Wedge Analysis of the U.S. Transportation Sector” published by the EPA in 2007 estimates that with a 30% market penetration, hybrid electric vehicles could be responsible for a 40% vehicle fuel economy improvement.

The same report also estimates that increased use of hybrid cars could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 29% with the possibility of up to 60% should plug in hybrid vehicles become available.

More automakers are producing more hybrid vehicles and in a greater range than ever before.

Plug in hybrid vehicles, such as the upcoming (2011) Chevrolet Volt, are promising an EPA ratings of over 200 mpg. In a press release from GM, dated August 11, 2009, Frank Weber, a GM executive said “"The 230 city mpg number is a great indication of the capabilities of the Volt's electric propulsion system and its ability to displace gasoline."

New Hybrid Car Models

New Toyota Hybrid Models. The flagship Toyota Hybrid is the Toyota Prius, with 4 models ranging in price from $22,000 to $27,000. These have EPA mileage ratings of 51mpg city driving to 48 mpg highway driving. Toyota also produces 2 models of the Highlander Hybrid SUV, with EPA ratings of 27/25 mpg, ranging in price from $35,000 to $41,000.

New Lexus Hybrid Cars. This is the luxury car section of Toyota and it produces 4 hybrid models from the RX Hybrid 10 at $42,000 right up to the LS Hybrid 09 at over $100,000.

New Ford Hybrids. Ford has the saloon hybrid 2010 Fusion Hybrid, starting at just over $27,000 with EPA ratings of 41/36 mpg and the hybrid SUV, the 2010 Escape Hybrid at $31,500 with ratings of 34/31 mpg.

G.M. Hybrid Models. G.M. offers saloon hybrids, hybrid SUVs and Pickup Hybrids. The Malibu Hybrid is their saloon offering at $25,500 and ratings of 26/34 mpg, the Tahoe Hybrid SUV comes in at $51,000 with ratings of 20/22 mpg and the Silverado Hybrid Pickup costs just over $44,000 with mpg ratings of 20/22.

Chrysler Hybrids. Chrysler has hybrid versions of its popular Aspen series and Durango models. The Chrysler Aspen Hybrid is a premium hybrid SUV with a price tag in excess of $46,000 and ratings of 20/22 mpg, while the Dodge Durango Hybrid is another hybrid SUV with the same price and ratings.

Hybrid Car Mileage

As is apparent from the EPA mileage ratings for most of the hybrids, hybrid cars perform much better in city driving than on highway driving. That is because in the city speeds are much lower and there is also much more stopping and starting, giving the battery the opportunity to run the car without using the gasoline engine. Most modern hybrids can run on gasoline mode, electric mode or a combination of both. This helps lower gas consumption and reduces the emissions of greenhouse gases.

Figures from the Annual Energy Review 2008 published by the Department of Energy in June 2009 show that transport was responsible for the daily use of over 13 million barrels of petroleum in the U.S. alone. Greater market share for green cars such as hybrid vehicles can help reduce this dependence on fossil fuel based sources of energy, giving the world time to develop more environmentally friendly modes of transport such as all electric cars or vehicles running on hydrogen or carbon neutral biofuels.

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