Honda optimizes Civic hybrid for UK

Interest in hybrids gains in Europe

Honda has added a satellite navigation system to the Civic Hybrid for the UK market. The voice activated Sat Nav system will become standard equipment on all Civic hybrids sold in the UK.

"It's the first time a Hybrid has featured factory-fitted Sat Nav as standard equipment, meeting a growing demand in the sector, particularly from corporate customers wanting high-spec, low emission cars." (more)

A good time to buy a Civic hybrid?

Good selection, good deals?

Let's be honest. The first generation Civic hybrid wasn't the best looking vehicle. The second generation Civic hybrid, however, is a fine looking vehicle.

While many in the auto world are discussing the end of hybrid cars because of the death of the Accord hybrid, what they should be talking about are the deals available for the Civic hybrid.

Not only is Honda offering good leases, nice rates on financing, but they are ready to bargain - at least in Southern California. While the sticker price is around $23,000 for a standard hybrid Civic or $25,000 for a Civic hybrid with a navigation system, I've been told Honda dealers are ready to make deals below sticker price.

So, maybe now is the time to make a deal if you've been considering the Civic hybrid.

2 new Honda hybrid vehicles by mid 2009

What Honda's next hybrid won't look like?

By mid-2009 Honda plans to begin selling its new economy hybrid, which will cost less than the Civic hybrid. Earlier reports indicated the vehicle might be a hybrid version of the Honda Fit, but now it appears the vehicle might be more like Honda's Remix concept.

In addition, Honda is also planning a sports coupe, but it will not look like the one pictured above - previewed at the Geneva Auto show. Instead, the new hybrid coupe is also supposed to be influenced by the Remix.

Perhaps, much like Toyota's plans for the Prius, will Honda make multiple derivatives of the same basic hybrid - two derivatives of a new, unique hybrid? Regardless, Honda is planning to produce 200,000 of these new hybrid cars - a significant uptick in Honda's hybrid vehicle production.

(Source: AutoBlog)

Only 3 hybrids on 'pump-buster' list

The Honda Civic Natural Gas Vehicle is the top 'pump-buster'

Only 3 hybrid vehicles qualified as top 'pump-busters' by vehicle category according to Forbes Magazine - a point that Forbes appears to relish. Of course, there simply aren't any hybrids that fit into most of the vehicle categories chosen by Forbes, but who cares about those kinds of details?

Still, the Honda Civic hybrid, the Toyota Prius hybrid and the Ford Escape hybrid each qualified as the top 'pump-busters' in their respective categories.

The Honda Civic hybrid recalled

More than 45,000 Honda Civic hybrids are being recalled to fix a voltage converter defect. If the problem is not fixed, the voltage converter could cause a short circuit that might stop the engine and prevent the engine from being restarted. According to Honda, there have not been any reported accidents or injuries due to the defect. Civic hybrid owners will be contacted by mail regarding this problem so that their vehicles can be repaired.

Hybrid vehicles still offer excellent reliability - Consumer Reports

Hybrid vehicles are very reliable according to Consumer Reports survey research. The Honda Accord hybrid and the Toyota Prius hybrid are the number one and two most reliable family cars, and the Honda Civic hybrid took third place for most reliable small car. The Toyota Highlander hybrid and the Lexus RX400h took the first and fifth spots for most reliable midsized SUVs.

The only hybrid to suffer a bit this year compared to last year was the Ford Escape hybrid, which dropped from above average to just average.

(Source: CNNMoney)

Civic and Escape hybrid sales up big in October

Sales of the Honda Civic hybrid were up 890% in October compared to October 2005, reaching 2,288 units sold. The Ford Escape hybrid and the Mariner hybrid hit 1,602 units combined, up 30.6% compared to October 2005. The sales of all other hybrid vehicles were down in October 2006 compared to October 2005.

So what is the story? Why are sales of the Toyota Prius, for example, down while the Civic hybrid is up? Or why are sales of the Highlander hybrid down, while sales of the Escape hybrid are up?

Well, I'd bet it all comes down to tax incentives. October was the first month that tax incentives for Toyota hybrids were cut in half.

While Prius sales were down about 12%, Toyota still sold 8,733 of the hybrid vehicles - far more than Honda's Civic hybrid. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see what happens over the next couple of months. If gas prices begin to again go up, I think Prius sales will be fine despite the lower tax incentive. If gas prices remain stable, this downward trend might continue.

(Source: Green Car Congress)

Prius and Civic hybrid most fuel efficient vehicles for 2007 according to government

The government has released its Top Ten Most Fuel Efficient Vehicles for 2007. According to the government's report, the Toyota Prius hybrid is the most fuel efficient vehicle for 2007, followed by the Honda Civic hybrid. The Toyota Camry hybrid was third.

A total of four hybrid vehicles were in the Top Ten. The two-wheel drive Ford Escape hybrid was the most fuel efficient SUV.

(EPA)

Hybrids only 9% more efficient than regular vehicles?

Are hybrid vehicles only 9% more fuel efficient than conventional vehicles? That's what J.D. Power claims, according to the Detroit News. While noting that interest in hybrids is growing, J.D. claims that hybrid buyers have unrealistic expectations in terms of performance.

While I agree that some buyers have unrealistic expectations, I have to question the 9% figure. Other studies have claimed the same, but those studies were done using track testing. For the majority of drivers, track testing is about as accurate for gauging real world fuel economy as are EPA estimates of hybrids.

Moreover, saying 'hybrids' are only 9% more efficient than conventional models is completely deceptive. For example, some hybrids were not produced to achieve the highest fuel efficiency possible. The Honda Accord hybrid, for example, is really a performance hybrid, though it achieves excellent fuel mileage for that performance. The same is largely true of both the Lexus RX400h and the Toyota Highlander hybrid, though these vehicles are - for their class - more fuel efficient than the Accord hybrid.

In terms of fuel efficiency, both the Ford Escape hybrid and the Toyota Prius hybrid, are the two hybrids most designed for fuel economy. While the Civic hybrid is a very fuel efficient vehicle as well, so to is the standard Civic. Additionally, the Civic hybrid doesn't offer as much electric assist as the hybrid Escape or Prius.

Consequently, comparing some hybrids is about as accurate as comparing apples to oranges. Thus, averaging their fuel economy is completely useless.

Even worse, if the Silverado hybrid was also included in the 'hybrid class' by J.D., then the results are completely skewed against hybrid fuel efficiency. The Silverado hybrid isn't even a mild hybrid in my book. In fact, its not even a hybrid in my book.

Consequently, the class of current hybrid vehicles are actually a very diverse group of vehicles. To average their fuel economy is misleading at best and, ultimately, deceptive. Studies by both Consumer Reports and Edmunds very much call into question the number, 9%.

Some hybrids are more fuel efficient than other hybrids. Some hybrids offer more power than other hybrids. Some hybrids perform better on highways compared to other hybrids, and some hybrids perform better in urban slow-and-go or stop-and-go traffic than other hybrids. Inevitably, hybrid fuel efficiency can ONLY be assessed vehicle by vehicle. Even then, two different drivers of the same hybrid can still achieve vastly different outcomes.

So, don't take this 9% very seriously. It might be true for some hybrids, but it certainly isn't true for all hybrids. If you want to read more about real world fuel economy from real world hybrid drivers, check out these hybrid testimonials.

Prius, Escape hybrid break even in 3 years

According to a study by Edmunds.com, many hybrid cars now pay for themselves over time. For example, both the Toyota Prius and the Ford Escape hybrid can pay for themselves in just 3 years when gas is $3.00 and you drive at least 15,000 miles per year. Additionally, the Saturn Vue, Camry hybrid and Civic hybrid will pay for themselves in 6 years.

Of course, good things never last. Because tax credits for hybrid cars are capped at 60,000 vehicles per manufacturer, the full tax credit for the Prius and other Toyota hybrids, will only be available until Sept. 30. After that time, Toyota hybrid buyers will only qualify for half the tax credit.

As for the other hybrid vehicles, you still have plenty of time.

The Best Hybrid Vehicle

So, you think the Toyota Prius is the best hybrid vehicle, or maybe you like the styling of the Honda Civic hybrid?

Maybe you only like SUVs and so you believe the Ford Escape hybrid is the best hybrid available?

Well, unfortunately, the best hybrid vehicle simply isn't being produced.

So, what would it take to create the best hybrid? In a word, a plug. (Finished in Comments)

London adding 117 new hybrids to police fleet

The London Metropolitan Police force will be adding 117 new Honda Civic hybrids to its fleet.

(Source: Just Auto)

The connection between the Prius and the Hummer

There is no connection between the Toyota Prius and the Hummer. Thus, when I saw the headline, Prius: As Obnoxious as a Hummer?, I almost ignored reading the article, but, inevitably, I couldn't resist, especially after I read the article, Prius Responsibility.

The author notes, "As a dyed-in-the-wool enthusiast, I find superficial excess repulsive in whatever form it takes. Yes, I think heavy-duty trucks and SUVs are a garish display of vehicular excess unless they're towing, hauling, or otherwise justifying their gluttonous existence. But it wasn't until the second-generation Toyota Prius became the darling of the Hollywood left and the Brie & Merlot quasi-literati crowd that similar feelings of disdain for this posterchild of parsimony began to well up inside me."

Wow! While I understand what the writer is saying, and while I also share some of his disdain, I also know many Prius drivers that vote Republican and drive a Prius because of National Security beliefs.

Sometimes generalizations and stereotypes are just that, generalizations and stereotypes.

Finally, the author concludes, "So at the end of the day, do I hate Priuses or their drivers? Not necessarily. Just drop the "Look at me! I'm saving the environment! Aren't I great?" attitude and that your car is superior when there are other models out there that are as fuel-efficient or better."

Here the author again makes an assumption that Prius buyers only buy the Prius because of 'looks'.

How ridiculous! First, Toyota designed the Prius in such a manner because of aerodynamics and that design leads to better fuel efficiency. It also leads to better cargo space. Second, when it comes to urban driving - stop-and-go driving - it is simply hard to compete with the Prius, even for the Honda Civic hybrid. So, what other vehicles out there do as well or better in urban driving conditions in terms of pollution and fuel efficiency - please? Third, the Prius has simply been road tested like no other hybrid and when buying an emerging technology, it isn't unusual for early adopters to stick with the most popular brand.

Sure there are some annoying Prius drivers out there, but there are a lot of cool Prius drivers out there as well. Let's not forget, critics constantly tell us that you can't save money buying hybrid cars, such as the Prius. Consequently, those Prius drivers have paid EXTRA money to try to make a better world, to try to fight pollution, to try to end foreign oil dependency.

That deserves at least a little respect.

Honda hybrid tax credits now official

The IRS has officially determined the tax credits for Honda hybrid cars. The 2006 Civic hybrid qualifies for a $2100.00 tax credit. The Accord hybrid actually qualifies for a better credit than originally estimated, if it offers updated control calibration. Thus, the new credit is $1300.00. For those without the calibration, the credit is $650.00. The Honda Insight qualifies for a $1,450 tax credit. More on tax credits for hybrid vehicles.

Newsweek's Green Gap: Hybrid Critics have become boring

I was just reading Newsweek's Green Gap which asks, "Hybrids might be hip, but are they saving consumers enough at the pump to compensate for their high sticker price?" Over and over auto writers have noted that the Honda Accord hybrid and the Toyota Highlander hybrid are not selling well because of their sticker price. So hybrid cars are dead, right? Well, not exactly, the Toyota Prius and the Toyota Camry hybrid are hot, the Honda Civic hybrid is also hot. Ultimately, hybrid sales keep going up, and the hybrid market is only just emerging, only just being understood. It seems today's media loves to talk about hybrids. Recently, I questioned whether there was a media bias against hybrids. When Toyota announced a recall that includes the Prius, but wasn't limited to hybrids, nor was it related to hybrid technology, yet most of the media focused only on the Prius, not the fact that the majority of the affected cars were NOT hybrids.

Surprise, surprise hybrids top city picks by Forbes

According to Forbes, the soon to be deceased Honda Insight hybrid and the Toyota Prius are the two top cars for city driving. The Honda Civic hybrid came in at number 6. Of course it isn't a surprise that hybrid cars would dominate the list of best city driving cars. If they didn't, that would have been a surprise.

More than a Honda Fit hybrid?

Sure the Honda Insight is dead, but it will result in a brighter future for hybrid vehicles. In the past, Honda has been unsure about the future of hybrids, but the announcement that Toyota is going to produce a new 4 door hybrid that is more fuel efficient than the Insight and cheaper than the Civic hybrid is great news for hybrid consumers. While the new car might be similar to the current Fit, I think that Honda has realized that they need more than a Fit hybrid to challenge the Toyota Prius. Thus, I expect Honda's new hybrid to be a unique vehicle - a move Ford and GM need to heed.

New Honda hybrid, bolder hybrid plans

Honda appears interested in challenging the success of the Toyota Prius hybrid car, and has announced a new, family hybrid that will be priced less than the Civic hybrid. Rumors have been running wild that the Fit will be converted into a hybrid utilizing the Insight hybrid powertrain, but Honda did not name the vehicle. Even more interesting, is the expectation that Honda believes the vehicle can achieve U.S. sales of more than 100,000. In the past Honda has been much more bearish regarding hybrid vehicles than Toyota, but such a move seems to indicate that Honda is afraid to give Toyota too big a lead in hybrid production.

Used hybrids fetching a premium

Used hybrid cars, particularly the Toyota Prius, are losing little value - even after a year or two - according to recent data. The Honda Civic hybrid is also doing well in used sales. Since some hybrids, especially the Prius, are so hard to find, buying a used one can offer a better selection of colors and other amenities which could be putting a premium on used hybrids. Thus, if you were hoping to find a bargain on a slightly used Prius, you probably won't have much luck until gas prices drop significantly.

GM and Ford Claim Hybrid Car Pool Lane Discrimination

Sometimes I think it is best just to keep quiet. This is one of those situations for Ford and GM. "Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp., seeking to boost sales, want the federal government to force New York and California to let solo drivers of their hybrid vehicles join those of Honda and Toyota cars in highway carpool lanes." (JSONLINE)

While I like the Ford Escape hybrid, it doesn't achieve the kind of mileage that the Honda Civic hybrid or the Toyota Prius hybrid achieves. More important, the Toyota Highlander hybrid also doesn't not qualify for HOV lane access in these states - so there is no discrimination. The point of New York and California HOV legislation was to promote the very best fuel efficiency.

Both of these American companies should be leading the fight against foreign oil dependency, instead they survive only by increasing America's dependency.

No Surprise: Hybrid Sales Surged in 2005

You've come a long way baby!

In 2005, sales of hybrid cars more than doubled, significantly led by the Toyota Prius (AP). Still, hybrids only account for around 1% of total U.S. auto sales. While gas prices make hybrid vehicles more appealing, the price of hybrids will still have to come down in order to make hybrids desirable to a significant percentage of American consumers. Inevitably, most potential hybrid buyers cannot help but notice the price of a standard Camry compared to a hybrid Camry or a standard Civic compared to a Civic hybrid. If it takes five years or more to recover this investment, you've already lost most Americans. Nonetheless, as the Prius clearly demonstrates, unique hybrids can be hot sellers.

Ford's Slow Hybrid Sales Surge 50% in April

Last week I read at least 4 articles talking about the slow sales of hybrid vehicles. MotorTrend, for example, carried the article Hybrid Sales Running On Empty.

Then, today, I read that Ford increased its sales of hybrid vehicles by 50% in April - some slump(Reuters).

While it is true that incentives played a role in the sales increase of the Ford Escape hybrid, I bet rising gas prices also didn't hurt. Still, the whole "hybrids losing momentum" sentiment was really annoying.

Sales of the Toyota Prius weren't slow, nor were the sales of the Honda Civic hybrid. These two vehicles account for the far majority of hybrid vehicle sales, yet because the Honda Accord hybrid isn't selling well - a performance hybrid - hybrid sales are slumping?

Hybrid cars are an emerging technology and not every hybrid is going to sell well - there will be winners and losers. Additionally, costs and the price of gas are extremely important. Still, with no end in sight for high gasoline prices, I expect a lot more slow sales from hybrid cars.

Nonetheless, I don't get it. Why does it seem so many want to see hybrids fail?

First small riceburners, then hybrid cars

Hybrids will prove America wrong, again

I remember my parents picking me up from grade school one afternoon in the late '70's. Across the street from school, my father noticed my teacher's new Honda Civic. He laughed and said, "Who would ever want to drive a small riceburner like that? Honda is a motorcycle company, not a car company."

Well, needless to say, the rest is history. Not only did Honda do well selling cars no one "would ever want to drive", but so too did Toyota and Nissan. Just a few decades later, these 'riceburners' have knocked the American auto industry against the ropes and a TKO is very possible.

My father was a Union machinist and back in the '70's buying such a vehicle, regardless of how reliable it was or much gas it saved, was simply un-American. And it wasn't just my father, but most of America that felt that way.

Many Americans still feel that way today, which is why I think so many Americans are SO against hybrid cars. If hybrids take over much the same way riceburners did, it might just spell doom for American automakers.

According a Detroit News poll, the majority of Detroit-area readers don't believe hybrid vehicles will be around long. (See the Poll)

I say, get your head out of the sand. Don't make the same mistake twice.

The days of cheap oil appear to be over, and there probably isn't a windfall tax that can do anything to change that. A windfall tax can't stop problems in Iran or Nigeria. A windfall tax can't stop a billion new drivers from China and India.

The world has changed. Fuel efficiency and pollution will be the key drivers of not just automotive technology, but of all technology. In fact, clean and green technology is not only possible, as the Toyota Prius hybrid car so beautifully demonstrates, but it is destined to improve greatly, while getting significantly cheaper.

$3.00 gas is only the beginning, the beginning of the hybrid car revolution. Flex fuel hybrids, diesel hybrids, gasoline hybrids, hydrogen hybrids, and fuel cell hybrids - hybrids are THE future.

Toyota Prius is one of the safest small cars

The Toyota Prius is one of the safest small cars, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, especially when it includes optional side airbags. The Honda Civic also is a top car, but the Civic hybrid wasn't specifically mentioned. (More From CNNMoney)

Reduced Accord hybrid sales are not the end of hybrid cars

One might think the end of hybrid cars is near. Carlos Ghosn, whose Nissan Company has no hybrid technology, and Honda make some bearish comments regarding hybrids, suddenly, hybrids are no longer hot.

"We've had to reevaluate our position [regarding the Accord hybrid]," Honda Executive Vice President Dick Colliver recently stated. "It's having a hard time in the market." (MSNBC)

Well, it isn't necessarily surprising that the Accord hybrid might see a production decrease. Nonetheless, Honda's other two hybrids, the Civic hybrid and the Insight are seeing very good sales. Moreover, Honda has never been as bullish regarding hybrids as Toyota and they are still not.

More important, the Toyota Prius is still attracting waiting lists and is blowing all the competition away. The Prius is a unique vehicle powered by excellent technology.

Let's face it, sticker shock is the most important factor in buying a vehicle. Even if all hybrids saved $2000 compared to their conventional cars after 5 years, but customers had to pay more upfront, the majority of buyers would still go for the most immediate savings.

As hybrid technology becomes cheaper and gas prices go higher, America's perception of hybrids will continue to improve. Today, however, if you want to sell a 100,000 hybrid vehicles, produce a unique hybrid.

Automakers misusing hybrid technology?

Many environmentalists are mad, mad that the word 'hybrid vehicle' is being misused by automakers, and they want the word hybrid vehicle to only describe fuel efficient vehicles. Therefore, only hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius or the Honda Civic hybrid, deserve the label 'hybrid car'.

"With the emergence of performance-oriented hybrids and ultra-mild hybrid systems, environmentalists now see the technology as one more example of how Big Auto has hoodwinked consumers into believing their products are as green as they can possibly get." (MSNBC)

While it's true that some hybrid technology, currently, offers very little improvement in fuel efficiency, where do you draw the line?

"We think that hybrid technology ought to be reserved for the environmental and consumer benefits [it] can deliver," says UCS's Jason Mark. "Every quasi-hybrid under the sun is being labeled as a hybrid for public relations benefits." Mark thinks that hybrid technology should be put to better uses than turning a 16-mpg vehicle into an 18-mpg vehicle. "The point is not to turn extreme gas-guzzlers into moderate gas guzzlers."

So, what should these 'hybrid' vehicles be called? Gas guzzling vehicles with hybrid technology?

Maybe.

Still, if more and more hybrid vehicles are produced, won't customers start to realize which hybrids offer the best fuel efficiency bang for the buck? More important, the government should offer better tax incentives for the most fuel efficient hybrids in each class.

The hybrid vehicle revolution is dead?

The Wall Street Journal reported that sales of some hybrid cars are slowing, according to Car and Driver. That magazine cited such evidence as interest free loans for the Ford Escape hybrid, as well as new financing deals for the Toyota Highlander hybrid, and cuts in production on both the Highlander hybrid and the Honda Accord hybrid.

Of course, the Toyota Prius hybrid car is burning off the lot, and the Honda Civic hybrid is also seeing strong sales.

So, what's the problem? Cost effectiveness.

Ultimately, I believe there two main types of hybrid consumers: those driven by the environment and foreign oil dependency and those driven by saving money on gas.

The Prius and the Civic hybrid fit the demands of both of these consumer segments. The rest of the hybrids don't fit the majority of consumers in either one of these segments very well.

Still, the best of hybrid technology is yet to come and even large hybrid SUVs will eventually see lower prices and higher fuel economy.

Hybrid vehicles are far from dead.

Accord hybrid versus the Camry hybrid

Hybrid Competition Heats Up, A little

Slowly, albeit very slowly, competition amongst hybrid cars is building.

Already we have the Toyota Highlander hybrid versus the Ford Escape hybrid versus the Lexus RX 400h, as well the Toyota Prius versus the Honda Civic hybrid, and soon we'll have the Toyota Camry hybrid versus the Honda Accord hybrid.

Both the Accord and the Camry are already top selling cars in America. So, how will the hybrid battle between these two champions play out?

Unfortunately, it probably won't be much of a battle.

The Accord hybrid is a performance hybrid, offering some of the best performance of any Accord. For the power offered, the Accord hybrid offers good fuel efficiency. Ultimately, however, the hybrid Accord was built to perform on the highway, not to set fuel efficiency records.

The Camry hybrid, on the other hand, will offer significant gains in both fuel economy and pollution reductions compared to a standard Camry. While the hybrid Camry will still perform well, it wasn't designed for 0 to 60 supremacy, however the hybrid Camry should offer exceptional fuel efficiency.

Ironically, the real competition in the hybrid vehicle wars will probably be between the Camry hybrid and the Prius.

The Beautiful Lexus RX 400h hybrid vehicle

For those who need luxury, but want a hybrid

I'm a take-the-subway-everywhere kind of guy, and when it comes to hybrid cars I'm more inclined to the Toyota Prius, Civic hybrid, or Insight.

For me a vehicle purchase is more about transportation not some sort of status symbol. I don't take public transportation, walk to the store, or drive a hybrid to make others feel guilty. I do it because I feel guilty if I don't.

So, when my friend told me he was interested in hybrids, I strongly urged him to buy the new Civic hybrid or the Prius - he needed seating for four, so the Insight wasn't an option. Thus, I was a little surprised when he stopped by last night in his new Lexus RX 400h hybrid.

He was in a rush, but he still took me for a quick trip around my neighborhood.

I hate to admit it, but I'm a bit jealous. The Lexus 400h is a gorgeous vehicle. While still not my cup of tea, I'm proud of my friend. Inevitably, he is causing significantly less pollution and he is investing in hybrid technology. Considering he was a devout gas-guzzler not long ago, this is a huge improvement.

Are automakers destroying hybrid technology?

Yesterday, Business Week printed the article, Are hybrid sales running out of gas, which argues that other than the Toyota Prius hybrid, the sales of most other hybrid cars are slowing.

Unfortunately, I basically agree with Business Week that the costs of hybrids are an issue that is slowing hybrid sales. Hybrid vehicles do save gas, but they do not always save enough gas to justify the higher costs, especially hybrid SUVs.

Thus, only those with the wallet and the passion to fight foreign oil dependency or for the environment, can afford these vehicles.

A much larger customer segment; however, can afford vehicles such as the Prius or the Honda Civic hybrid. Still, the conventional Civic isn't a gas-guzzler, so you inevitably start comparing the Civic hybrid to the conventional Civic. For most consumers, up-front costs will eventually dominate.

The Prius, on the other hand, is unique. It is the hybrid vehicle, not a conventional vehicle with hybrid technology.

If someone wants to buy a sports car, they wouldn't typically want to buy a souped-up Chevy Malibu, they would want to buy a Corvette. Simply putting a badge on a Chevy Malibu that states 'Corvette Powered' doesn't make the Malibu a Corvette, even if they both have the same engine and performance.

Vehicles, such as the Ford Escape hybrid or the Toyota Highlander hybrid, will always have an audience, but they will never meet the sales demand of the Prius. If there were a unique hybrid SUV; however, it would dominate hybrid SUV sales.

Nonetheless, in the next year gas prices are going to go up significantly as refineries go from MTBE to ethanol additives. Additionally, in the next couple of years we will probably see multiple, significant spikes in the price of gasoline. All of these events will renew interest in ALL hybrid vehicles.

Additionally, hybrid technology is and will continue to advance. These advancements, and the potential small business tax credit for hybrid vehicles, could make hybrids, such as the Escape and Highlander, very cost-effective - perhaps even long term bargains.

Still, the only way hybrid technology will ever take off is when a number of unique hybrid vehicles are competing against each other. If automakers don't take this approach, the potential of hybrids will never be reached.

Intellichoice Best Overall Values of 2006: A lot of hybrids

In the last 2 weeks, hybrid cars have picked up some great press.

Consumer Reports picked two hybrid vehicles, the Toyota Prius and the Toyota Highlander hybrid, for it's Top 10 Best Values in automobile's issue. The Prius hybrid was also found to be the most satisfying to owners, with 95% of those owners interested in buying another Prius.

Then Edmunds/CNN released a report that the Prius, Ford Escape hybrid and the Lexus RX400h hybrid were among the 10 hottest cars in America because these vehicles fly off the sale's lot.

Intellichoice also picked a number of hybrids as the Best Overall Values for 2006. The Toyota Prius, the Ford Escape hybrid, and the Toyota Highlander hybrid were included in the 8 Overall Best Values. The Honda Civic hybrid and the Honda Insight also picked up awards in Best Values in their Class. (more)

Consumer Reports and Hybrid Cars: What you need to know

What's the word on hybrids?

Consumer Report's Annual Auto Issue is one of the most important sources for unbiased ratings and reviews of automobiles. So, what can we learn from Consumer Reports when it comes to hybrid cars.?

First, we learned that the Toyota Highlander hybrid is the best SUV over $30,000 and that the Toyota Prius hybrid is the Best Green Vehicle.

Second, we learned that the Prius is the Most Satisfying vehicle according to owners. A whopping 95% of Prius owners would buy another Prius (more).

Third, we learned that hybrid vehicles have thus far proven to be extremely reliable. In fact, the Prius and the Honda Civic hybrid topped CR's rankings of Most reliable, with just 4% of owners reporting problems. In addition, the Highlander hybrid, Lexus RX400h hybrid and the Accord hybrid also did very well in reliability.

Of course, the long term reliability of hybrids is still a question, a question that can only be answered once enough hybrids have been on the road for more than a decade. Ultimately, the reliability of hybrids is extremely important as it is the factor in determining the overall value of hybrids, which brings us to our final point.

Fourth, are hybrid vehicles worth the cost?

According to Consumer Reports, only two hybrids can save you money after the first five years: the Prius and the Civic hybrid. Of course, once the capped tax credits for hybrids expire, these vehicles will then cost more than their conventional counterparts, well, maybe.

The article, Hybrids: Save gas, lose money, notes that "six hybrid gasoline/electric vehicles, will lose 2 percent to 3 percent more in value over five years of ownership than otherwise identical non-hybrid vehicles." While the Prius can save $406 after 5 years and the Civic hybrid saves $317, the rest of the hybrids lose money after five years: Ford Escape Hybrid ($1,883), Honda Accord Hybrid ($4,263), Lexus RX400h ($4,171) and Toyota Highlander Hybrid ($5,508).

Of course, as in life, few things are ever black and white.

To start, there is no "identical non-hybrid vehicle" to compare to the Prius. If the Prius were simply a hybrid Corolla, it would be called the Corolla hybrid. Quite simply, the Prius is a unique vehicle and when you consider performance, reliability and customer satisfaction, the Prius is a unique, awesome vehicle.

As for the rest of the hybrid vehicle segment, it is true that cost is an important concern. Still, for those that care, can you really put a cost on foreign oil dependency or a cleaner environment? Sometimes doing the right thing is neither the cheapest nor easiest thing to do.

Furthermore, the Consumer Reports study makes several important assumptions. For example, it assumes that your auto insurance will cost more. Overtime; however, this might not be true, especially when you consider that some insurance providers have already offered discounts to hybrid drivers.

CR also assumes extra financing costs for hybrids. Already, Ford has begun to offer incentives and better financing deals on its hybrid vehicles, so this 'cost' might not remain an extra cost.

The most important assumption affecting the costs of hybrids; however, is extra depreciation, which CR claims could range from $2,900 to 6,300 after 5 years. These are huge numbers that cannot, at this point in time, be backed by fact.

For example, if hybrid batteries generally last the life of these vehicles, which Toyota engineers claim is quite possible, then these numbers will be horribly wrong. Additionally, as more hybrids are built, hybrid battery costs will come down.

Moreover, it could turn out that replacing the battery packs of older hybrids could make hybrids twice as fuel efficient as before with new battery technology, such as lithium batteries. Not only would this reverse depreciation costs, but it would double fuel savings costs.

In 10 years, it could turn out that replacing the hybrid battery pack on an old hybrid actually results in a better hybrid than when new. Imagine the effect this would have on resale value.

Additionally, "Hybrid supporter and Prius owner James Bell, publisher of the automotive guide IntelliChoice, recently sold his two-year-old Prius for just $4,000 less than he originally paid for it -- a remarkably low rate of depreciation." (more)

So, hybrid depreciation is a complete wild card.

Furthermore, "We really like hybrids in terms of their overall performance" and environmental benefits, says Doug Love, a spokesman for Consumers Union.

In conclusion, the CR study does demonstrates that hybrid vehicles do pose some risk when it comes to long term value; however, the CR study largely assumes the worst case scenario. If hybrid batteries are very reliable and/or new battery technology could cost-effectively make old hybrids twice as fuel efficient, then hybrids could end up as long term bargains.

Consumer Reports and hybrid car costs

Civic and Prius hybrids DO save money

If you read the Consumer Reports Best and Worst Cars of 2006 issue, then you know that Consumer Reports reported that in the short term - 5 years - not one hybrid saves money compared to their conventional counterparts.

Well, CR has admitted that it made a mistake and that the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic hybrid actually do save money, $406 and $317 (more).

So, some hybrid cars actually do save money!

Why gas-guzzling is great!

What's better than a gas-guzzling SUV that can go offroad?

A more powerful, even greater guzzling SUV that can't go offroad. It's pure guzzling pleasure, a message to the world that the price of gasoline means nothing, nor does common sense.

Now that's saying something!

As for global warming and foreign oil dependency, those are just treehugging conspiracies - every real American knows that.

That's why I can't wait for the new muscle cars from Ford and GM, so I can fly by those granola-eating Prius and Civic hybrid drivers. They act like they are saving the world. Give me a break, they aren't making a dent in foreign oil dependency. That's why I buy GM products, they understand America. Just look at Bob Lutz.

"There's enormous good will for the glory days of American cars, when they really were American and didn't try to be Japanese or German," says GM car czar Bob Lutz.

Gas guzzling is the essence of America. Since we're the best in the world, we can do whatever we want. Besides, if I wasn't using so much gas, those people in the Middle East wouldn't have any money and that would breed real terrorism. The truth is gas-guzzling helps fight terrorism. The richer we make those people the less they'll want to kill us.

I'm the real American. America is about choice, even if it is a stupid choice, such as buying a hybrid car.

Be a real American, buy the biggest gas-guzzler you can find! Together we can change the world!

Hybrid cars and reliability

Can you trust hybrid technology?

I regularly receive e-mails that ask, "Are hybrid cars reliable?"

Well, according to Consumer Reports, they are. In fact, both the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic hybrid were found to be the most reliable vehicles by CR, with just 4% of owners reporting problems.

Additionally, the CR study also picked the Toyota Highlander hybrid as one of its Top 10 vehicles of 2006, a ranking which also includes reliability. Two other hybrids, the Lexus RX400h and the Honda Accord hybrid also received high marks.

Sure it is possible that the smaller production lines of these hybrid vehicles eases the ability to ensure their reliability. Moreover, the long term reliability of hybrids is still somewhat of question, since hybrids simply haven't been around long enough. Yet, first generation Prii and Honda Insight hybrids have proven to be reliable after several years.

While the long term reliability of the hybrid battery pack will remain a question for another decade, based upon current evidence hybrids appear extremely reliable. If the hybrid battery pack lasts the life of the vehicle, as many Toyota hybrid engineers believe, the long term value of hybrids has been significantly underestimated.

The Toyota Prius is one awesome vehicle

Don't believe me?

Just look at what Consumer Reports said about the Toyota Prius hybrid, "an unbeatable combination of economy, acceleration and interior room."

Moreover, the Prius is the Most Satisfying Vehicle according to CR. 95% of owners are interested in buying another Prius. The only vehicles that even compare to this kind of customer satisfaction are the Corvette at 93% or the Infiniti M35/M45 at 92%.

Still not enough?

While there have been many myths regarding the reliability of hybrid cars, it has been much ado about nothing. The facts demonstrate that the Toyota Prius is extremely reliable. According to CR the 2005 Toyota Prius was the most reliable vehicle, as only 4% of owners reported problems.

O.K., that isn't totally true. The Honda Civic hybrid actually tied the Prius as most reliable according to owners.

While long term reliability will not be proven for a few years, at this point in time the evidence indicates that hybrids are very reliable.

Are luxury hybrids worth it?

Soon Lexus will be offering two luxury hybrids

What's the point of hybrid cars? To many it's all about fuel efficiency as hybrids represent an answer to foreign oil dependency or less cost on fuel. To many others, however, hybrids are simply about the environment.

Hybrids, even luxury hybrids, significantly reduce automobile emissions and that is great for the environment.

Still, some owners of the Lexus RX400h hybrid have complained about fuel efficiency. In reality; however, the RX400h offers very fair fuel economy for the performance that it provides.

Does this fuel economy justify the extra cost? Probably not. Yet, if fuel economy is your primary concern, why are you buying a luxury, performance-orientated vehicle?

The truth is, the Lexus RX400h is an "excellent" vehicle according to Consumer Reports. For the level of performance, the RX400h provides very good fuel economy. More important, the Lexus RX400h protects the environment and invests in hybrid technology. Eventually, this hybrid investment will lead to greater fuel economy in luxury hybrid vehicles.

Performance hybrids such as the Lexus RX400h and the upcoming Lexus GS450h hybrid sedan were not designed to save money at the gas pump. If you want to save money at the gas pump, then you buy a Toyota Prius or a Honda Civic hybrid.

While I'm not a huge fan of performance hybrids because foreign oil dependency is an important concern for me, I still appreciate these hybrids. Inevitably, an investment in any hybrid will lead to better, more fuel efficient hybrid technology for all hybrids, including luxury hybrid vehicles.

For luxury vehicle buyers, I give Lexus hybrids two thumbs up, way up.

Interested in a hybrid vehicle? Now might be the best time

So, you're thinking about buying a hybrid vehicle, but you just aren't ready? Well, now might be your best opportunity.

In the last several weeks gas prices have dropped, yet last week's suicide attack on a Saudi oil refinery could have pushed the price of gasoline up far more than Katrina. Almost certainly, we are in the calm before the oil price storm and gas prices will eventually spike this year. When that happens, as it did after Katrina, interest in hybrid cars will also spike.

Even without a spike, tax credits for Toyota hybrids will expire before the end of the year. So, if you are interested in a Prius or Highlander hybrid you should act now, if the credit is important. Interest in the Prius is always high, but if gas prices skyrocket again, finding a Prius could prove almost impossible.

While tax credits for the Honda Civic hybrid or the Ford Escape hybrid, for example, will probably last through the year, finding one of these vehicles might also prove nearly impossible following another surge in energy prices.

So, if you want to buy a hybrid this year, now could be the best time. Of course, if you are waiting for the Camry hybrid, there isn't much you can do until at least May.

Hybrid cars and Gas costs: Still a huge misunderstanding

Fortune Magazine is publishing an article on the development of the Toyota Prius in its March 6th issue. As a preview, Alex Taylor III wrote the article, Toyota's recipe for success.

Taylor doesn't seem critical of hybrid cars and appears to try to be objective in touching on the major hybrid issues. He is, ultimately, laying down the foundation for how Toyota's hybrids might completely dominate the future of automobile sales after all.

Still, he notes, "Critics complain that hybrids are inherently uneconomical because the $3,000 or more the technology adds to the cost of the vehicle can't be recouped with greater gas mileage; that they didn't improve fuel efficiency that much; and that some American models were being built more for performance than to benefit the environment."

To which Taylor states, "The knocks against hybrids are all true. But what the critics didn't put a price on was the value of being seen as eco-sensitive without giving up performance."

"Does it save enough money to pay for itself?" asks Jim Press, president of Toyota Motor Sales in the U.S. "That's not the idea. What's the true cost of a gallon of gas, if you factor in foreign aid, Middle Eastern wars, and so on? The truth is on our side."

While I agree with Mr. Press about real cost of gasoline, I have a bigger issue. Are hybrid vehicles "inherently uneconomical"?

There is simply no way that you can argue that a Toyota Prius is "inherently uneconomical", even without the current hybrid tax credit, and I'd say that the Honda Civic hybrid is close to this category as well. These vehicles are cost effective and do recover their costs for many drivers, especially those that drive in urban areas.

But let's just run a few simple numbers. In Southern California, where I live, it isn't uncommon to spend $100.00 per week on gasoline. That would add up to $4800.00 per year. Let's say a hybrid saves 20% - even though many save more - on your fuel needs. That would be roughly a $1000.00 per year. In 5 years you've saved $5000.00? What's the problem?

O.K., let's cut that it in half. $50.00 per week, $2500.00 per year and after 5 years you've saved $2500.00. Still not bad, and on the Civic and Prius you've recouped your costs. That's at current gas prices, which could go up significantly in the next 5 years. So, what's wrong with this bet, especially if protecting the environment is an important concern? This isn't treehugger craziness, it's just common sense.

To describe hybrids as simply "inherently uneconomical", is simply "inherently ignorant." Hybrids like the Prius recover their costs, while significantly reducing emissions. You're not losing money to be green. In fact, for many drivers it is a cost benefit to own a Prius.

Yes, cost-effectiveness isn't true for all hybrids, but it will be true for most hybrids in the future based on emerging hybrid technology. Most hybrid buyers understand this investment in the future angle, in addition to the real cost of gasoline and oil dependence.

That's why we shouldn't have capped tax credits for hybrid vehicles. Instead, we simply should have ended the $25,000 + tax deductions for the Detroit's worse gas-guzzlers.

That's "inherently uneconomical" for the welfare of the United States.

Fit Honda adding another hybrid vehicle to lineup

Honda set to offer the first subcompact hybrid.

In 2007, according to unofficial reports, Honda will begin offering the Honda Fit Hybrid, a subcompact hybrid. With a starting price of just $11,790.00, the Fit hybrid should shake up the world of hybrid cars.

According to the report, the new Fit will achieve fuel efficiency in the range of the Toyota Prius hybrid or the Honda Insight hybrid.

Some analysts already speculate that this move is a sign that Honda now believes that hybrid vehicles will have a much more critical role in the future. In the past, Honda has indicated that it wasn't sure about the future of hybrids. In addition to the Insight and Fit hybrids, Honda also offers the Civic hybrid - now in its second generation - and the Accord hybrid.

Ironically, this will be Honda's fourth hybrid car. GM, on the other hand, has stated that it is mostly interested in putting hybrid technology only in its large vehicles. Thus, one cannot help but wonder if GM is not sealing its fate with its stubborn refusal to challenge Japan in small cars and the new battle for fuel efficiency supremacy.

Washington Post rips hybrid's HOV access

I try to not get too involved in politics. When push comes to shove, it takes a lot of money to be successfully elected to higher office, and almost as soon as a politician is elected, they are already thinking about their reelection. Thus, I think politics - on both sides of the aisle - are about money. As a result I have little faith in either party and am a registered Independent.

Nonetheless, I thought the Washington Post was a liberal paper, but I guess not when it comes to hybrid cars, the environment, or foreign oil dependency.

Since Sunday the paper has taken an agenda against hybrid cars and HOV lane access. On Sunday, the Post printed an editorial calling for the end of HOV lane access for hybrids because "As plenty of the region's commuters know, hybrid vehicles are the main culprit in the ever-worsening traffic in the region's carpool lanes."

The Post points out that 22% of vehicles in the HOV lane are hybrids, which tops the 15% of illegal users also using the HOV lanes. Yet, does the Post care about the illegal users? No, only the hybrid vehicles, which the post states " Hybrids' environmental advantages have diminished as stricter federal rules have required gas-powered cars to have cleaner engines, starting with 2004 models."

So now the Post believes that current gasoline automobiles solve all of America's problems? According to the Post there is now no reason to worry about pollution, global warming, or foreign oil dependency?

I can't help but wonder what the editors at the Post drive, but I bet its BMW, Mercedes, and Lexus. Gas-guzzling means nothing to this fine group of Americans because the cost of gasoline means nothing to people who make the kind of money editors for the Post make.

On a side note, I also wonder how many editors at the Post have children enlisted in the Military - I'd bet not many.

While I understand that hybrids might cause problems for HOV effectiveness and that is an issue worth addressing, to claim that hybrid's environmental impact is now insignificant because of new gasoline vehicles is a complete travesty - an absolute joke.

Yeah, all the gas-guzzlers idling in traffic everyday aren't really a problem anymore, at least not if they are 2004 or later models - as long as you aren't worried about the billions of barrels of oil they waste every year in traffic. And, oh yeah, in congestion even 2004 gasoline vehicles create significantly more pollution than hybrids, but who really ever drives in congestion? Don't we all drive 55 mph on the highway all the time?

So, hybrids are the problem, I mean they do make up almost 1% of all vehicle sales in America, isn't that already enough? Isn't that enough change for one lifetime? Haven't we almost solved global warming and foreign oil dependency already anyway?

I say if you care about the environment, if you care about foreign oil dependency, or if you care about obscene oil company profits, then you should toast the post. Cancel your subscription.

If everyone in America drove a hybrid, such as the Toyota Prius or the Honda Civic hybrid, foreign oil would not be needed. That's a goal worth striving for and it's far more important than HOV congestion - by far.

Yet, this isn't even an issue for the Post. How pathetic.

Maybe, just maybe, in the short term, the Post could focus on the 15% of illegal drivers in the HOV lane. How much money could be made by fining all of those drivers? Additionally, HOV traffic would be less than it was before hybrids if illegal users were punished and forced to stop using HOV lanes.

But that's not the point of the Post. Instead, let's not focus on people breaking the law, let's focus on hybrid cars - didn't you know, they are America's real problem.

Re: AutoWeek's Newest Diesel versus Hybrid Vehicle article

"Heavy-duty diesel pickups have proved popular here, but hybrid-powered vehicles dominate the market for fuel-efficient cars, in part because they generate better environmental buzz. Consumers are willing to pay a premium for the gasoline-electric Toyota Prius and Ford Escape Hybrid." AutoWeek

Sometimes it's very hard to take AutoWeek seriously, especially when they write things that don't make sense.

First, I'm willing to admit that clean diesel achieves 20 percent better fuel efficiency than conventional gasoline engines, but the technology does cost more.

Second, in Los Angeles, where I live, the price of diesel is almost a dollar more than standard unleaded. So, how exactly is a clean diesel going to save me any money, even if it is 20% more efficient?

Third, in Los Angeles, almost all of my driving is stop and go driving. In such conditions, a hybrid vehicle like the Toyota Prius will perform much better than a Jetta Diesel.

Fourth, the Big 3 are focusing almost exclusively on diesel trucks, not cars. So I have to wait a decade before I have a selection of diesel cars to compare to the Civic hybrid, Prius hybrid, Camry hybrid and Malibu hybrid, etc?

So in my case, in real world driving, selection and costs, how does a diesel compare to a hybrid vehicle? The facts demonstrate that it just doesn't. So, it isn't about environmental buzz, as AutoWeek states, it's just basic facts.

Granted if more petroleum were refined into diesel, the costs would go down, but that's a 'what if'.

If AutoWeek wants to play 'what if' games, let me counter with a 'what if' game.

What if new hybrid batteries become 100% more powerful at the same weight and cost as today's hybrid batteries? Such technology is completely possible within the next decade - which is the same period of time that AutoWeek speculates it would take diesels to really take off in the U.S. in a way that would drive diesel fuel prices lower.

If such hybrid technology were available, then diesels - even with cheaper diesel fuel prices - simply wouldn't compare with the capabilities of hybrid cars. The potential of hybrids has barely been tapped. In the coming decades, hybrids will become significantly more powerful, fuel efficient, and clean.

Diesel technology, on the other hand, has largely reached its potential. Yes, clean diesel technology is a good thing, which can compete with hybrids in the short term, but only in the short term. Inevitably, the best utilization of a diesel engine will be to put it in a hybrid vehicle.

Clean diesel hybrid vehicles are an excellent push into the future. To quit at clean diesel is just far too short-sighted, and a silly argument against hybrids.

Once again I just don't get AutoWeek. Why are they so afraid of hybrid cars?

What happens when the Prius loses its tax deduction?

Since the new Clean Vehicle Tax Credit was approved last year, I've complained that the credit was biased against Toyota. By capping the tax credits by manufacturer at just 60,000 hybrids, it's obvious that Toyota will quickly run out of deductions because of demand for the Toyota Prius.

In recent days Secretary Snow has essentially admitted that the credits were partially written to help out domestic automakers, and maybe - in hindsight - that wasn't such a bad idea.

Thus, the story of 2006, when it comes to hybrid cars, will continue to be the Toyota Prius hybrid. Because not every Toyota hybrid sold is going to qualify for a tax deduction, will this have an affect on the Prius and Toyota hybrid sales?

Will this simply even the playing field between Toyota and other automakers for the hybrid market? Will Toyota counter with some kind of discount? Will sales on the Honda Civic hybrid and Ford Escape hybrid explode? Will hybrid sales, overall, decline?

While the Clean Vehicle Tax Credit might offer a deduction of $3400.00 to buyers, how much will that affect most people's taxes? Sure, the tax credit could be worth several hundred dollars for the average buyer, but is that really the clinching factor for most Prius buyers?

I guess we'll see.

Of course, if gasoline prices continue to rise, the lack of tax credits for the Prius might not even matter. I think next year the U.S. will see sustained gasoline prices near $3.00, minimally. In California, $4.00 per gallon gasoline is going to be fairly common, and it won't just be a spike, such as after Katrina.

Speaking of hurricanes, if another Katrina hits next year, the predictions above will be blown away.

Anyway, that's hybrid story for 2006.

The myth of hybrid car fuel economy

"Indeed, hybrids have increasingly faced sobering publicity about the "myth" of real-life fuel economy. Many drivers have reported to be disillusioned about underperforming the advertised mileage on their hybrids, which are most effective in stop-and-go city driving but help little on highways." CNN

To date, I've not heard one owner of a Toyota Prius hybrid or Honda Civic hybrid complain about their fuel mileage. Yes, I have heard complaints from Lexus RX400h owners, but the Lexus is a performance hybrid.

Still, I've talked dozens and dozens of Prius owners and the average fuel economy, combining both city and highway, is between 45 and 55 mpg. I've also talked to drivers that have achieve more than 60 mpg in some driving conditions.

In real world driving, what other vehicles are even coming close to that kind of fuel economy?

All kinds of conventional vehicles are not coming close to their EPA estimates, but their owners don't care, they didn't buy their car for fuel economy.

Sure some owners of hybrid cars are unhappy, but consumer satisfaction surveys demonstrate that just under 100% of the owners of the Toyota Prius, by far the best selling hybrid vehicle, would buy another Prius.

So, who are all these "disillusioned" drivers? Or, have a handful of drivers created this "myth" of disillusionment?

Hybrid car testimonials: Read others and add your own

Do you own a hybrid vehicle?

Have you added your experiences to our hybrid cars testimonials? What kind of gas mileage are you achieving with your hybrid? What else would you tell others that are interested in buying a hybrid?

Click on one of the links below to add your hybrid experiences.

Ford Escape Hybrid Testimonials
Honda Accord Hybrid Testimonials
Honda Civic Hybrid Testimonials
Honda Insight Hybrid Testimonials
Lexus RX 400h Hybrid Testimonials
Toyota Prius Testimonials
Toyota Highlander Hybrid Testimonials

GM, Daimler and BMW to showcase hybrids at Detroit Show

GM, DaimlerChrysler and BMW will launch GM's dual mode hybrid technology in their respective gasoline-electric hybrid powertrains at this year's North American International Auto Show.

The three automakers formed an alliance in an attempt to catch up with Toyota, the leading seller of hybrid cars. The dual mode hybrids offered by these companies will offer very different performance compared to Toyota's hybrids.

GM's dual mode hybrid technology should be cheaper; however, it won't be as efficient at Toyota's technology, especially in urban driving. GM's technology, on the other hand, could offer advantages in certain areas of performance, such as towing.

Still, Toyota has some huge advantages regarding hybrids. Already Toyota believes that it can cut its hybrid costs in half when it releases its third generation hybrid drive in just a couple of years. If this is true, it will wipe out GM's cost advantage, while also offering significantly better fuel efficiency

Nonetheless, the competition that is developing in the hybrid segment will be good for all consumers. While Toyota and Ford hybrids utilize very similar technology, Honda has succeeded with its own technology, and now comes GM's hybrid technology. Additionally, both Volkswagen and Hyundai shouldn't be far behind with their hybrids.

This competition will increase hybrid supplies, which will make all hybrid vehicles cheaper. Moreover, the competition between hybrid technologies will, inevitably, lead to affordable, extremely fuel efficient vehicles.

Additionally, this competition is leading to other hybrid experiments. Ford isn't just going to offer gasoline electric hybrids, such as the Ford Escape hybrid. At Detroit's Auto Show, they will showcase the Reflex diesel hybrid vehicle, according to the DetroitNews.

While the Toyota Prius hybrid continues to dominate hybrid sales, the second generation Honda Civic hybrid has also been a hot seller, and with all this new development into technology, a true Prius topper could be just around the corner.

The Toyota Prius New Year's Rush; Deduction Bias?

Are you planning to buy a new Toyota Prius hybrid car in 2006?

If you have been waiting for the New Year because the hybrid tax deduction for the Prius is bigger than in 2005, then you are not alone. There have been numerous reports of Prius buyers telling dealers to wait until 2006.

So, will this make it hard to buy a Prius in 2006?

Sometimes the beginning of the year can be a slow time for car sales, and this might have an effect on hybrid cars as well. Nonetheless, demand for the Prius has been, and continues to be, far greater than supply. Since the tax deduction for the Prius is both bigger in 2006 and capped, some Prius buyers will not qualify for the hybrid car tax deduction.

All this makes me wonder whether some hybrid vehicle buyers will look at other hybrids such as the Civic hybrid or the Accord hybrid, instead of the Prius, after the Prius deductions meet their cap.

Additionally, since hybrid deductions are capped by manufacturer, the Toyota Highlander hybrid will also be affected by Prius demand. Consequently, the Ford Escape hybrid or the Mariner hybrid could become a better deal simply because they will continue to qualify for the tax deduction longer than the Highlander hybrid.

If you are in the market for a Toyota Prius and the new deduction is a primary concern, you better buy your new hybrid as soon as possible to ensure that you will qualify for the deduction. Unfortunately, many hybrid buyers will already have this in mind, which could make finding a Prius more difficult than ever.

If the hybrid tax deduction won't have a big effect on your return, it might not be a bad idea to shop for a hybrid in these last few days of the year.

It's kind of ironic that Toyota's hybrid success could be to Honda and Ford's gain. The caps for hybrid vehicles are both far too few and too biased. If the government wants to get hybrids on the road as quickly as possible, then the free market approach to caps would have been to cap the total number of hybrids eligible per year, not to cap them by manufacturer.

Now Toyota hybrids will probably meet their cap before GM even starts selling real hybrids. That's a shame.

Are you waiting until January to buy a new Prius?

Are you going to buy a Toyota Prius, but you want to wait until January 1st so that you can get a higher tax credit?

According to a USA Today article, many hybrid buyers are doing the same.

Because the new tax credits for hybrid cars begin next year, many hybrid buyers are waiting because the tax credit is larger next year than this year. For example, the credit for a Prius now stands around $2000.00; however, next year that credit for the Prius could rise to $3150.00

This buying pattern has not been noticed in other hybrid vehicles, such as the Honda Civic hybrid, or even Toyota's Highlander hybrid.

Unforunately, the tax credit for hybrids like this vehicle are capped, so the new credit won't be around all of 2006 for the Prius.

Toyota Prius Hybrid Testimonials

I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS. ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 75 MPH, WITH THE AIR OFF, I GET 54.SOMETHING. IN TOWN I GET 46-47 MPG. THE CAR HAS 17000 MILES ON IT AND USES MOBIL 1 SYNTHETIC OIL. CAN'T WAIT TO MAKE IT A PLUG IN HYBRID.

THE WIFE HAS A 2005 CIVIC HYBRID,7000 MILES GETS 39 IN THE CITY 41-43 ON THE ROAD.

PUTTING IN A PHOTOVOLTIC SYSTEM TO POWER THE HOUSE ALSO WANT TO USE IT WHEN I CONVERT THE PRIUS TO A PLUG IN HYBRID.

JERR
_________________________________

My 2004 Prius gets an average of 46.7 mpg!

B. H.
_________________________________

On Prius wife is getting 48mpg in city, no idea on open road, we
don't go any place.

On Lexus RX400h, my car, with 91 octane, 24.6 in city, using 87
octane 21.9 in city. Almost happy with Lexus, very pleased with Prius.

W. K.
Palm Desert, CA
_________________________________

We drive Toyota Prius's. Mine is a 2001, hers is 2003. During the summer and winter when the AC or Heat is running I average 40mpg, she does a little better, 43mpg. In the spring and fall when we don't use AC or heat much our averages are better 45-50mpg. We work 2 jobs each. One job for both of us is 25 miles away, the other is 75 miles away. The closer jobs are about 45 mph range. The further jobs are 65 mph range, with which we get lower mpgs.

Happy Holidays,

B. B. & J. J.
_________________________________

I have a 2004 (Jan) Prius 30,000mi. I admit I am a little lead footed. My worst mileage for a tank was last winter 38MPG. The best was last spring 54MPG. Mostly though its 40 to 45 in winter, 48 to 52 in spring, summer & fall.

Art in the Northeast
_________________________________

Hello,

The gas mileage for our 2004 TOYOTA full loaded prius from the display screen is about 44 miles/gal city mileage. This is an interesting question for us because I used to calculate gas mileage when I am at the pump. With the display of TOYOTA, I simply take down the number it gives us.
Regards,
_________________________________

I have a 2004 Prius, which was bought in November of 2003. I believe it to have been the first Prius on the road in our county. It has made mostly area trips, but did take us to the Outer Banks of NC during the summer of 2004, and to Iowa in the spring of 2005. During the trip home from NC we did reach 60mph for a short time. Otherwise, we average about 46-48 mph in the colder weather and when using AC. During the rest of the year - spring and fall- we average about 49-50 mph. I absolutely love this car. It is fun to drive, has plenty of pep, and is very comfortable. We have had no problems with it, except for the original tires, which were probably cheap. I replaced them after about 25,000 miles. We have had folks follow us home to ask about the car! Now, however, there are several others in our area. We live in NE

P.A.
_________________________________

I drive locally, 4-6 50 mile roundtrips a week and 3-5 times a year longer
trips, putting on about 18,000 miles a year. My 2004 Prius averages 44 to
47 mpg.
_________________________________

My husband and I bought a Prius in June, 2005. Most of the driving has been in the city. The car is averaging 45 mpg. I just bought a 2005 Accord Hybrid. I have only driven in the city so far and am averaging 24 mpg.
_________________________________

Are you the owner of a Toyota Prius hybrid? Tell us about your experiences with the Prius hybrid. What kind of gas mileage do you get in your hybrid Prius and in what kind of driving?

Add your Toyota Prius hybrid testimonial.

More on the Prius.

Honda Civic Hybrid Testimonials

THE WIFE HAS A 2005 CIVIC HYBRID,7000 MILES GETS 39 IN THE CITY 41-43 ON THE ROAD. I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS. ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 75 MPH, WITH THE AIR OFF, I GET 54.SOMETHING. IN TOWN I GET 46-47 MPG. THE CAR HAS 17000 MILES ON IT AND USES MOBIL 1 SYNTHETIC OIL. CAN'T WAIT TO MAKE IT A PLUG IN HYBRID. PUTTING IN A PHOTOVOLTIC SYSTEM TO POWER THE HOUSE ALSO WANT TO USE IT WHEN I CONVERT THE PRIUS TO A PLUG IN HYBRID.

JERR
_________________________________

I have a 2005 Civic Hybrid. My mileage varies but I average 42-43 per tank if I run the air conditioner and 46-47 otherwise. Of course, in North Carolina summers you run it all the time.

J. C.
Parkton, NC
_________________________________

My car is a Honda Civic Hybrid 2005.
I commute 40 to work each way, 5 days a week in LA. I typically drive
65-80 mph. I only sometimes have to drive in stop and go traffic. I drive around town only moderately. When I first got my car, I was really careful about making sure I optimized my mpg. I have stopped being so careful, but am still moderately efficient. I started out using 87octane gas then switched to 89. Gas octane doesn't seem to make any difference in my mpg.

Over the last ~17000 miles, I have averaged 46.1 mpg. I sometimes get
higher but usually right around 46 mpg for each tank. 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid (HCHII). 42 miles one way to work. Southern California – 40’s in the morning and 60’s in the afternoon. 1st two tanks 46.5mpg. Current tank reading 55.5mpg at ¼ full.Hope this helps,

D. S.
_______________________________

Honda Civic 2004 highway 60%, 40% town driving 42mpg. Purchased Mar. 4, 2004 Already got 35,000 miles on it and I love it. Planning on buying another this next year 2006.

N. K.
_______________________________

Are you the owner of a Honda Civic hybrid? Tell us about your experiences with the Civic hybrid. What kind of gas mileage do you get in your hybrid Civic and in what kind of driving?

Add your Honda Civic hybrid testimonial.

More on the Civic hybrid.

GM unsure of Saturn Vue hybrid details

According to Reuters, GM still plans to launch the Saturn Vue Hybrid in 2006, which Reuter's called a competitor to the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid. GM; however, isn't releasing many details about the Vue hybrid.

"We need to get the price value equation right. We have to get the reliability right and the consumer needs to have enough time to see they are getting the benefit," Rick Wagoner, GM CEO, told Reuters.

Instead, GM is still focusing on SUVs to make the company profitable again.

I say, good luck. Gas prices will again spike sometime next year and the declining interest in large SUVs will only exacerbate. If another hurricane, some problem in the Middle East affecting America's foreign oil supply, or oil demand in China is higher than expected, GM could be in far worse trouble than they are today.

Still, you can't really expect GM to focus on the Vue hybrid. The hybrid Vue will only be a mild hybrid and its fuel efficiency capabilities will lag far behind those of the Civic hybrid and the Prius.

Unfortunately, GM's full hybrid vehicles won't be available until, at least, 2007.

Hybrid car tax estimates for the 2006 Clean Vehicle Tax Credit

While the tax credits for hybrid cars have not been officially calculated by the IRS, ACEE has estimated what those credits should be by vehicle.

Ford Escape Hybrid = 2wd=$2600.00; 4wd=$1950.00
Honda Accord Hybrid = $650.00
Honda Civic Hybrid = Auto=$2100.00; Man=$1700.00
Honda Insight Hybrid = Auto=$1450.00
Lexus RX400h Hybrid = $2,200.00
Mercury Mariner Hybrid = $1950.00
Toyota Highlander Hybrid = 2wd=$2,600.00; 4wd=$2,200.00
Toyota Prius Hybrid = $3150.00

Honda hybrids from Thailand

Honda is considering a move to build hybrid vehicles in Thailand as a way to cut down on production costs according to a recent story.

"We are looking for a further development of tax benefits (in Thailand) at this stage," Asian Honda's spokeswoman told AFP on Tuesday.

In addition to tax benefits, "Honda cars made in Thailand could enjoy a high ratio of local content enabling the carmaker to ship its hybrid vehicles overseas at a competitive cost, the spokeswoman said."

Honda's second generation Civic hybrid is now hitting showrooms across the country. It's new hybrid drive should help the hybrid Civic better compete with the Toyota Prius. In addition, Honda offers the Accord hybrid.

Toyota has also announced that it will develop and build hybrids in China as well.

California HOV (carpool) lane access for hybrids update

One reason some people purchase hybrid cars is to get access to HOV lanes with only a single occupant, but did you know that only 75,000 total hybrid vehicles will be given permits to participate? California capped the number of permits because of Virginia's experience with congestion.

Currently, only three hybrid models qualify, the Toyota Prius, the Honda Civic hybrid and the Honda Insight.

As of November 30, only 35,914 of the HOV permits had been granted, so there is still time for new hybrid owners to receive HOV passes.

Aside from California and Virginia, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia and Minnesota are also considering similar legislation.

Visit the California DMV website for more information on how to apply because the application process is different for some parts of California.

Leasing hybrid cars

I've received several e-mails regarding leasing hybrid cars, or more precisely, the inability to lease hybrids. Even when a lease is offered, the terms of the lease are simply ridiculous.

Yesterday, Scott e-mailed me and told me that he tried to lease a Mercury Mariner hybrid, after putting a downpayment on the next Mariner hybrid to arrive at his dealer. When it arrived, the dealer would only lease it at an extremely high rate.

When I've shopped for hybrids in the Los Angeles area, my dealers wouldn't offer a lease on either the Toyota Highlander hybrid or the Toyota Prius if they had any available on the lot. I've also encountered hints that greasing the hands of the salesperson could get me into a Prius quicker.

I'll be test driving the new Civic hybrid soon and will check into a lease on that vehicle.

Have you had a similar experience?

2nd Gen. Civic hybrid available this month

The 2nd generation Honda Civic hybrid should be available across the U.S. this month. Built on Honda's second generation hybrid drive, the new Honda will act a bit more like the Toyota Prius hybrid in city driving - able to function on just electric power in some conditions. Still, the Honda won't offer quite as much electric power as the Prius, but it will still offer better fuel efficiency, more power, and sleaker styling than the first generation Civic hybrid. Ultimately, this should really heat up the competition in the hybrid cars segment.

AutoWeek and Hybrids: Makes me wanna laugh

I know that AutoWeek is a horsepower magazine and that many of their fans are the American-made, period, type of crowd. Still, sometimes the magazine is just plain silly.

I've noted in the past that any time a hybrid graces the cover of their website, it also includes some sort of negative caveat. Currently, things are slightly different this time on the home page of their website which includes a story about the Honda Accord hybrid.

"At $1.50 a gallon for gas, few Americans seemed to care about fuel economy, but how quickly apathy turns into concern when prices reach $3 per gallon. Suddenly, the word "hybrid" is on every lip. So the funny thing is, actual owners of hybrids - those who responded to our AutoFile survey on the Honda Accord Hybrid - seem to defy any real monetary motivation in their purchase decisions."

No, actually it isn't that funny. The funny thing is the way that AutoWeek plays dumb.

There are different kinds of hybrids vehicles. For example, Toyota hybrids, such as the Prius and Highlander hybrid, and Ford's hybrids, such as the Escape hybrid, are quite different than either Honda or Lexus hybrids.

Honda's hybrid technology increases fuel efficiency on the highway, where as Ford and Toyota achieve their best performance in the city. Ford and Toyota hybrids have the ability to function on just electric power during congestion and stop-and-go traffic, the same conditions that make conventional vehicles - even Honda hybrids - perform their worse. This is set to change with the upcoming second generation Civic hybrid, which will act more like Toyota and Ford hybrids. Still, there is a vast difference between Toyota and Honda hybrids.

The Accord hybrid, like the Lexus RX400h hybrid, is a performance hybrid. Sure the Lexus hybrid still offers excellent fuel efficiency in congestion compared to the conventional version, but it was not built for fuel efficiency, it was built for performance.

Both the RX400h hybrid and the Accord hybrid are about a second faster from 0 to 60 than their conventional counterparts, yet they achieve this performance while also achieving better fuel efficiency than their conventional counterparts. Of course, the RX400h excels at urban driving, while the Accord hybrid excels at highway driving. Nonetheless, you don't buy either one of these vehicles because you are on a budget trying to save money on gas.

Thus, contrary to AutoWeek, classifying the owners of the Accord hybrid with owners of the Prius hybrid, for example, is just plain silly. They are not hybrid owners from the same tree. So, why does AutoWeek do it? Is it because Forum members of AutoWeek are offended that some hybrid owners question their gas guzzling, so this article makes hybrid owners seem confused and silly?

I don't have the answer, but I know that AutoWeek knows fully well that comparing the Accord hybrid to the Prius hybrid is about as effective as comparing apples to oranges - they are fundamentally different. So, I can only guess that this appeals to their core audience - the hybrids just don't really makes sense audience.

Ultimately, there are different kinds of hybrids and consumers buy for them for many different reasons. Perhaps, one common thread of hybrid buyers is that hybrid consumers believe that buying hybrids sends a message to the auto industry that fuel efficiency is important, especially in light of the problems that foreign oil dependency so obviously has caused and continues to cause to America.

Let's be real, even Bill Ford believes that foreign oil dependency is important for America.

Hybrid vehicles, such as the Engima, and other experimental hybrids demonstrate that hybrid technology can lead to unbelievable gains in fuel efficiency and performance - something to which AutoWeek should be able to relate.

Until then, sometimes when I read AutoWeek, I guess all I can do is laugh.

GM dealers in mad hybrid push with Sierra / Silverado

According to AutoWeek GM dealers are trying hard to push the green factor of the Sierra / Silverado hybrid truck. While GM has been one of the industry's staunchest hybrid critics, its dealers are trying hard to utilize the frenzied interest in hybrid cars. And who can blame them when they are in the midst of a horrific sales slump?

Unfortunately, the Silverado hybrid barely qualifies as a hybrid. In fact, 'mild' hybrid is almost too strong of a word for this vehicle.

I would almost argue that the first generation Honda Civic hybrid and the Honda Accord hybrid are 'mild' hybrids because these Honda hybrids cannot function on primarily electric power, as do Ford and Toyota hybrids in certain driving conditions (fortunately, the 2006 Civic hybrid will offer more hybrid performance). This ability makes the Toyota Highlander hybrid and the Ford Escape hybrid extremely efficient in city driving.

The Silverado hybrid, on the other hand, lags far behind Honda hybrid performance.

As AutoWeek notes, "The trucks' big selling point is not the hybrid powertrain, but their capability as mobile power generators."

Ultimately, the GM Silverado hybrid is a baby hybrid and isn't scheduled to join the hybrid big leagues until 2008. That's too bad, because a full hybrid truck would sure be a great product right now.

Ford hybrid taxis; GM's Chinese hybrids: Hype or the winds of change?

Yesterday, Ford CEO Bill Ford introduced a mini-fleet of hybrid taxis that will serve New York City. Considering that the fleet will only consist of 6 Escape hybrids, it is a bit interesting that Mr. Ford chose to make the presentation.

Or is it?

With Ford's hybrid head resigning just weeks ago, there was much speculation about the future of Ford hybrids, but now Mr. Ford appears to be taking the lead on hybrids. While fuel cells might be the distant future, hybrid cars represent the near future and they are proof that the auto industry CAN and MUST change.

Isn't it ironic that on the same day that New York announced that it will begin forcing automakers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, joining California, Mr. Ford was in New York promoting his company's hybrids?

Still, the drive to hybrid technology isn't just being driven by treehuggers from both coasts.

GM is now banging the hybrid drum in China, joining at least 3 other automakers that will soon begin developing and producing hybrid vehicles in that country.

Many auto analysts have long speculated that China will be the key market for major automakers as we head into the future. And according to a recent AutoWeek article, "The Chinese government is keen to develop more fuel-efficient engines to curb its growing appetite for imported oil and reduce pollution. An automotive policy released last year suggests preferential treatment for developers of fuel-efficient technologies."

Hmmm, does "preferential treatment" have anything to do with GM's new hybrid focus?

Global forces, including global warming, terrorism, hurricanes, global petroleum demand, and consumer interests are requiring - even DEMANDING - that automakers change. The hybrid battleground is no longer just about hype, it's about business survival. With China entering the fray, the prospect of much cheaper hybrid parts becomes not just a possibility, but an obvious reality.

Ultimately, a technological revolution is hitting the world's auto industry and it isn't being driven only by speed and horsepower, but also by fuel efficiency and environmental impact. Experimental hybrids demonstrate that hybrid technology has significantly more potential than is currently being exhibited in the Prius, the Highlander hybrid, or the Civic hybrid. Huge, monumental gains are yet to be made in this emerging automotive technology.

While fuel cell vehicles might be the inevitable future, that future might not be a reality for decades. Hybrids demonstrate significant, dramatic change can be accomplished now, without fuel cells, without hydrogen. Nonetheless, today's hybrids could quite easily become tomorrow's fuel cell hybrids, as both Ford and Toyota are currently displaying (more).

The hybrids ARE coming, and they are going to come in a big way during the next decade. In 5 years, J.D. Power's prediction of hybrids achieving just 5% of the market will seem like the silliest analysis ever made by an automotive expert.

Hybrid hype is over and the winds of change are blowing. The real battle is just beginning.

Hybrid vehicle shopping, again

Every couple months I go out and do some hybrid vehicle shopping to check out demand, availability on the lot, and to take an extra test drive or two. Thus, I hit the dealers in my neighborhood over the weekend for the first time since early August, and the results were not good.

My first stop is always Toyota, home of the Toyota Prius. While I did go there to check out the lot's selection of available new and used Prii, I was more interested in scheduling a time to test drive the Highlander hybrid.

Back in August, the selection of Prii was fantastic on this lot. There were 5 new Prii hybrids found in various packages and colors and there were even 2 used Prii, but there were not any Highlander hybrids. So, I added my name to the waiting list.

This time around; however, there weren't any hybrids on the lot and my saleswoman told me that every hybrid they receive immediately sells. This didn't really surprise me as I know that high gas prices have really driven hybrid demand since I last visited this dealer. Nonetheless, I wanted to know what it would take to get into a Highlander hybrid.

"In two to four weeks," my saleswoman told me, "2 new Highlander hybrids are scheduled to arrive, but we d0n't know the color, options, etc."

So I asked if there was a waiting list and I was told there was not - it was first come first serve.

Now I have several phone numbers and I use different names and numbers so that when I visit the same dealer on multiple occasions, their contact management system finds me as a new customer, rather than a repeat prospect that isn't buying.

So, if there isn't a waiting list, what had I signed two months ago? My guess is that there is no 'official' waiting list at many dealerships, and that different salespeople have their own lists and make calls as hybrids become available.

The last two Highlander hybrids, I was told, were delivered the morning of the previous Saturday and were gone by lunch. Thus, it probably doesn't take too many phone calls - if they are even calling. Maybe there is enough foot traffic that they don't even have to make calls, saving those numbers for when demand cools. Now, it's a salesman's free-for-all when a hybrid hits the lot.

Somewhat disappointed, I left my contact info and headed to Honda to check out the new Civic hybrid. Yet again, however, I was disappointed. I was told there wouldn't be any new Civic hybrids until December - the first two had been pre-sold. The only hybrids on the lot were the Accord hybrids - a vehicle I've already test-driven more than once (So no deals to be had on the first generation Civic hybrid - yet).

At this point, I was ready to call it day, but as two Ford dealers still stood between me and my home, I thought I'd give it a shot. While each did have at least one Escape hybrid on the lot, only fully loaded versions of the hybrid Escape were available, and I asked whether base models are ever available. Sometimes, I was told, but I find that hard to believe, since I haven't seen one in all my visits.

My day still could have been salvaged had I had the opportunity to compare and contrast the Mercury Mariner hybrid to the Escape hybrid, but I'm sure you already know that didn't happen.

If you are in the market for a hybrid, I'd suggest calling before visiting any dealers, especially if you are seeking a particular color, or option's package, as such requests will probably take months to fulfill. If you are looking for a deal on a hybrid....you might want to check back in a year or two.

When it comes to shopping for hybrid cars, unless money is no object, expect to be disappointed. Car-salespeople typically aren't the best salespeople to deal with any way, but when demand overwhelms supply, your salesperson is in complete control.

Hybrids and driving in the Midwest

I'm about to head to the airport and return home to Los Angeles. I've been in and around Madison, WI the past few days for a wedding. Since I was in a different area, I paid close attention to what people were driving in this area of the U.S.. While Buicks were far more common than the Camrys and Accords that I see during my daily commutes in Southern California, I still saw a number of hybrid cars.

Granted, I didn't do much driving and Madison is somewhat of a liberal town, but I saw at least one Toyota Prius every time I drove somewhere. In addition the Honda dealership next to my hotel boasted that more than 30 hybrids were in stock according to television commercials. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to stop in so that I could test drive the new Civic hybrid.

I was also surprised that more people didn't drive SUVs. These people definitely have more reasons to need the vehicles, considering their weather. Yet I think SUVs, especially the big ones, are actually more common in Southern California than in Madison, WI - something which I found very surprising. Heading to Madison, I thought I would be more likely to see a Ford Escape hybrid, or a Toyota Highlander hybrid rather than a Prius, but I was wrong.

Interesting trip and I guess I learned that SUVs were made for freeways, not rough driving conditions.

New Honda Civic hybrid goes on sale tomorrow.

Tomorrow the new Honda Civic Hybrid will go on sale. Featuring more horsepower, better fuel efficiency, and more elegant styling, the Civic hybrid is sure to cause a few potential Toyota Prius consumers to give the Civic a serious look.

Still, when it comes to hybrid cars, Toyota is still king. Honda is hoping to boost hybrid production to 50,000 cars, while Toyota will sell more than 100,000 Prii. Additionally, the Highlander hybrid is also an extremely hot seller.

Nonetheless, hybrids still aren't taking over the world yet, and price is the big factor. According to Honda Motor CEO Takeo Fukui, "We do still understand the price difference is rather significant for ordinary consumers."(USAToday via Yahoo)

The 2006 Civic hybrid will be priced at $21,850.

Prius supply down to hours

Interested in a Toyota Prius? Good luck, the supply of the Prius used to be measured in days, now it's down to a couple of hours according to a Reuter's article.

"Toyota sold 72,849 Prius hybrids in the first eight months of 2005. That was a 132.0 percent increase over the same period of 2004." And Highlander hybrids are hot as well. In just a few months, Toyota has sold over 8,000 hybrids - as many it could make.(AutoWeek)

For those interested in hybrid cars it is; unfortunately, a seller's market. Hopefully the new, redesigned Honda Civic hybrid can help with the shortage of hybrids. Still, Katrina, Rita, and $3.00+ gasoline has created a lot of interest in hybrid vehicles and in fuel efficiency. So much so, that CAFE has become a hot topic for the constituents of many members of Congress (more).

In the short term, hybrids simply won't have enough inventory.

Honda doubling output of Civic hybrids with second generation

The new Honda Civic hybrid was unveiled this Thursday in Tokyo, but not many details were released. Honda's second generation Civic hybrid will cost about $2,500 more than the just released, revamped Honda Civic. It will offer more horsepower, better fuel efficiency, and improved styling.

Perhaps, the hybrid cars segment will finally have some real competition, as the hybrid Civic begins to challenge the Toyota Prius hybrid. Dealers in Southern California told me that they expect the first new hybrid Civics in mid-October.

Hybrid Cars and Fuel Efficiency: The most important point

Hybrid cars are leading an automotive revolution. Yet, critics are everywhere. Hybrids cost too much, they don't achieve EPA estimates, diesel and biodiesel are better, fuel cells are the future and on and on.

On Friday Consumers Reports sent out a press release regarding the inaccuracy and inefficiency of the EPA's fuel economy ratings. Of course, even Consumer Reports had to take a stab at hybrid cars, noting that the Honda Civic hybrid missed its EPA estimated city fuel economy - utilizing CR's testing methodology - by a whopping 46 percent.

Of course CR did have to admit that hybrids still fill the top 3 most fuel efficient vehicles slot - not bad considering only a handful of hybrids are available.

In city driving, according to CR, 9 out of 10 vehicles - not just hybrids - miss their EPA estimates by as much as 50 percent. 9 out of 10 of the worse offenders were NOT hybrids. The Jeep Liberty Diesel estimated at 22 mpg city, actually achieves only 11 mpg. Chrysler's top selling 300C estimated at 17 mpg, actually achieves 10 mpg. A couple of Dodges only achieve 8 mpg in the city.

That's right just 8 mpg, yet we're worried that the Civic hybrid only achieves 24 mpg? Of course on the highway, the Civic hybrid does much better, as do all vehicles.

Still, this is an important point, especially when it comes to hybrids. Hybrids are not all the same. The Honda Accord hybrid and the Civic hybrid are built upon the same hybrid technology, but not the same hybrid technology as the Toyota Prius hybrid. Toyota hybrids, such as the Prius or Highlander hybrid, can actually function on electric power only at low speeds. This means that in city driving, where congestion creates stop-and-go traffic, Toyota hybrids can use much less gasoline, as can the Ford Escape hybrid.

Honda hybrids do not benefit from this gain. The second generation Civic hybrid, due out in October; however, will offer this capability, but its electronic component will still not equal that of Toyota hybrids.

Thus, all hybrids are not created equal and viewing hybrids as one class is as inaccurate and misleading as utilizing EPA fuel economy data. While the Civic hybrid only achieves 26 mpg in the city according to CR, the Prius achieves 45 mpg. The Ford Focus, for a conventional comparison, only achieves 17 mpg.

At today's gas prices, driving 15,000 miles per year, the Civic hybrid would save you $1500.00 in gas versus the Focus, the Prius would save $4500.00 per year in gas savings versus the Focus. Of course, not everyone drives in these conditions all the time, but for those that live in large cities, the cost-benefit of hybrids like the Prius is pretty dramatic.

Additionally, if you HAVE to drive an SUV and you drive mostly in the city, driving a Highlander hybrid or Escape hybrid will probably save close to $700 - $1000 per year. For many hybrid drivers, gasoline savings in the real world ARE enough to cover the cost of hybrid components, plus you are helping to clean the environment - can you really put a cost on that?

Ultimately, hybrids are not all the same. Currently, the Prius is best in class - at least until the second generation Civic hybrid. Still, it isn't the fuel economy of hybrids that should be in focus, rather is should be the incredible fuel inefficiency of conventional vehicles.

Hybrid Car Price Wars Coming Soon

When it comes to humans, change is the most constant force in the Universe. 100 years ago humans traversed the planet on horses, camels, and donkeys. Today, we use automobiles and airplanes.

As automobiles have evolved, they have changed greatly, but the internal combustion engine has always ruled. That is; however, beginning to change.

Electric cars, hybrid cars and fuel cell cars are already on the road today. While electric vehicles still fall a bit short of consumer expectations, and fuel cell vehicles are ridiculously expensive, hybrid vehicles are just right.

Just five years ago, most Americans knew very little, if anything, about hybrids. Today, the far majority of Americans are not only aware of hybrid automobiles, they believe that hybrids are the future, and they are willing to buy a hybrid, if not for the costs, according to a recent Polk Study.

While I agree that there are issues with hybrid vehicle costs, I think the Toyota Prius hybrid is a vehicle well worth the money. In fact, I think ALL hybrids are worth the price. Sure the costs of knowing that you are helping develop a new technology, that you are helping clean the environment, that you are helping reduce foreign oil dependency, are not easily measured. Still, for those that are deeply concerned about such issues, the additional costs of hybrid technology are well worth the price.

Still, the average American is mostly focused on price, which means that costs must go down for hybrids to successfully compete with conventional vehicles. This is on the verge of happening.

Already, Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe has ordered engineers to reduce the costs of hybrid technology by 50 percent according to USA Today. Such a move would make buying a Toyota Highlander hybrid, instead of a conventional Highlander, much easier for the average buyer. With the Camry hybrid and as many as 10 new Toyota hybrids soon reaching market, hybrid costs will be extremely important.

But it isn't just comparing Toyota hybrids to conventional Toyota vehicles that will be important. The new Honda Civic hybrid, for example, is set to provide a real challenge to the most popular hybrid, the Prius. According to early reports, the second generation Civic hybrid will be more powerful, more fuel efficient, and better styled than the previous Civic hybrid.

Honda hybrids are not Toyota's only challenge either. Essentially every major automaker is now developing hybrid technology. This will eventually lead to better and cheaper hybrid parts, such as batteries, as more and more automobile suppliers begin developing this technology.

Additionally, hybrid technology will evolve. Already Honda anticipates that it will be able to challenge Toyota hybrid pricing because its hybrid system is simpler than Toyota's. Thus Toyota will strive to simplify its hybrid powertrain, or to make it more powerful and more fuel efficient than Honda's to justify the price difference. Or, perhaps, the next Prius will be a plugin-biodiesel-electric hybrid vehicle.

Inevitably, hybrid vehicle competition will lead to price wars, and it will help end foreign oil dependency while protecting the environment. What more could consumers ask for?

New Civic Hybrid should be a winner

The new Honda Civic hybrid should be a winner.

According to a USAToday article, Redesigned hybrid has flair, the new Civic hybrid will offer better performance via increased horsepower, better fuel efficiency, and better styling that is "Somewhere between engaging and gorgeous."

A press release from Honda notes that the Civic hybrid should hit dealers in October. Honda has not yet released the pricing for the new hybrid, but it should be close to the $21,500 price tag of the current hybrid Civic.

The should increase the competition between hybrid cars and provide a nice challenge to the Toyota Prius hybrid.

RE: Challenges ahead for Toyota hybrids

Challenges in the hybrid space are not for Toyota, the real challenges belong to Toyota's hybrid competitors

The coolest thing about the article Challenges ahead for Toyota hybrids was the statement, "With Hurricane Katrina pushing American gas pump prices above $3 a gallon, Toyota Motor may find itself yet again in the right place at the right time, with a new, half-mile-long assembly line capable of producing gasoline-electric hybrid Prius cars at the rate of one a minute."

The rest of the article isn't bad, but the title is just wrong. What challenges, exactly, is Toyota facing?

First, an "increasingly competitive marketplace may prove to be the biggest for Toyota." The article argues that it isn't necessarily the competition, but the nature of tax credits that will cause the headache for Toyota by helping the competition. Ultimately, each manufacturer is only allowed 60,000 tax credits. Obviously, Toyota will run out of credits almost immediately, and this is seen a challenge to Toyota and a benefit to the competition.

Still, while the tax credits are a bit unfair, is this really a problem?

If each automaker, aside from Toyota, is only interested in selling 60,000 hybrid cars, then hybrids are already dead. Quite simply, this is a non-issue. With or without tax incentives, the Toyota Prius hybrid, for example, is a great vehicle at a reasonable price. The same should be true for the soon-to-be-released second generation Honda Civic hybrid. These vehicles will sell, regardless of tax credits, and the challenge will be for Ford, GM and Chrysler to compete against these products.

Hybrid SUVs, on the other hand, such as the Ford Escape hybrid or the Toyota Highlander hybrid, are questionable buys in terms of cost. Tax credits definitely help close the deal on these first generation, expensive hybrid vehicles. Nonetheless, it is the cost of hybrid components that elevates the price of these hybrids. As more and more hybrid vehicles are developed - by all manufacturers - the costs of these components will be reduced. More important, hybrid components will become more fuel efficient and powerful, offsetting more and more the price of hybrids.

Second, the Times questions consumers' willingness to buy hybrid vehicles that aren't as fuel efficient as expected and that fall "short of federal economy ratings".

HMMMM. Yesterday, AAA lobbied Congress to make EPA fuel economy ratings more accurate (more). Was this because the EPA does such a bad job of predicting hybrid car fuel efficiency?

NOOOOOOO!!!!!

This was because, ALL VEHICLES DO NOT MEET EPA FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS, which is a big problem in terms of foreign oil dependency. Consumers need to know the truth.

One of the biggest problems with the EPA is that it assumes that most drivers do the majority of their driving at 55 mpg on wide open highways. Anyone that lives near LA, San Francisco, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Boston, etc, knows that 55 mph driving is a rare luxury, not the norm.

Conventional vehicles not only achieve far less than their EPA fuel economy ratings, they also pollute far more in the conditions of day to day urban driving. On the contrary, hybrids - even the much criticized Lexus RX400h - achieve their best fuel economy while emitting the fewest pollutants in these same conditions. In actuality, studies have shown that most vehicles - NOT HYBRIDS - achieve about 20 to 30 percent less fuel efficiency than the EPA estimates.

In real world driving for a majority of Americans, hybrids are much more fuel efficient than conventional automobiles, PERIOD.

I'd say Toyota is facing the fewest challenges when it comes to hybrids. If Toyota hybrids aren't successful, then hybrids - by all manufacturers - will not be successful. Toyota has already faced the toughest challenges, challenges which GM, Chrysler, and BMW have yet to face.

Honda Civic Hybrid Expectations

Honda. Honda is the most fuel efficient and green automaker in the world. PERIOD.

Yes, Toyota has the best selling Prius hybrid car, but Toyota also offers a number of very fuel inefficient automobiles. Nonetheless, Toyota is the second greenest automaker and is taking the automotive world by storm with its Hybrid Synergy Drive, which Toyota has added to the Highlander hybrid, the Lexus RX400h, and is about to add to the Camry hybrid.

So what has happened to Honda hybrid cars?

While Honda was a hybrid car leader, Honda Corporation did not accurately assess the importance of the hybrid car market.

For example, the Honda Insight Hybrid is and always will be a niche vehicle. The Honda Accord hybrid is a performance hybrid, not a hybrid designed for fuel efficiency. The Honda Civic, on the other hand, has always been a fuel efficient automobile. Still, in terms of hybrid efficiency, the Civic hybrid just isn't up to the same level as the Prius hybrid.

Well, all that could change with the new Civic hybrid.

According to MotorTrend the new Civic hybrid "features a 1.3 litre inline-four engine that employees Honda's intelligent Variable Valve Time and Life Electronic Control (VTEC) system to provide three stages of valve timing (low-rpm, highrpm and cylinder-idle mode) combined with a significantly more compact and efficient Honda Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system."

So what you might ask? Well, according to Honda, the 2006 Civic hybrid should offer "significant improvements in both performance and fuel economy over a similarly equipped 2005 Civic hybrid." Thus, the Civic hybrid could become a serious competitor of the Prius hybrid.

As for me, I can't wait to test drive the Civic hybrid. Hopefully, it will spring Honda back into the role of a hybrid vehicle leader, while creating real competition for the role of hybrid leader.

Katrina demands hybrid vehicles

Oil has become America's Achilles Heal

Fortunately, the worst of Katrina slipped by New Orleans, but it will take days to estimate the catastrophic damage the hurricane has caused and will yet cause.

Aside from damage to property, Katrina could have widespread effects upon the energy industry. It is possible that oil rigs have been destroyed, that oil refineries have been significantly damaged, and that major ports could be closed for weeks. Thus, oil and gas prices will go up and they will stay up for some time.

While this will probably be only a temporary spike, the keyword is 'probably', and we are still early in the hurricane season.

American demand for oil has pushed refinement capacity to its limits, not to mention requiring the need for ever more foreign oil.

Oil has become America's Achilles heal. If hurricanes can wreak so much havoc on America's Energy sector, what could terrorists do? While the U.S. can recover from a hurricane, what if Hugo Chavez stopped shipping oil to the U.S. for just a week in some sort of protest? What if terrorists took a out a few oil refineries?

Decades ago, America became the world's major super power via technology. Today, in terms of fuel efficiency, Japan leads the way for automotive technology, as American automakers focus on marketing budgets and profit margins.

Perhaps this was acceptable in the past, but shouldn't 9/11 have changed this? Instead, America is increasing its foreign oil dependency from places like Saudi Arabia, the same country where almost all of the 9/11 terrorists came from.

Who financed those terrorists? Where did the money come from?

Hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius hybrid, are a revolution. If every American drove a Prius, the need for foreign oil would be over.

While critics might argue that if every American drove a Honda Civic, a cheaper alternative to the Prius, foreign oil dependency could also end, every American isn't going to drive a Civic, nor a Prius. Moreover, neither GM nor Ford would survive if every American drove compact vehicles. The loss of those jobs would be devasting, but only advanced technology, such as hybrid technology, will save those jobs.

Thus, hybrid vehicles are TODAY's solution. Hybrid technology can move far beyond the Prius, into SUVs, such as the Ford Escape hybrid and the Toyota Highlander hybrid, plus it can move into larger sedans, such as the Toyota Camry hybrid.

More important, plug-in hybrids and other experimental hybrids demonstrate that the potential of hybrid technology is only just being tapped. These experimental hybrids are technologically feasible today, at a cost that is significantly less than fuel cell vehicles, which are not technologically feasible today. Oh yeah, and they could achieve 250 mpg.

Without technological leadership, the American economy will be severely damaged. Hybrid vehicles are not just about protecting America's national security from terrorists, but about protecting America's national security from economic recession or even collapse.

The American economy is led by consumers. While energy costs for the average American have dropped since the '80's, much consumer spending has been sustained by the housing boom. If oil prices push the economy into a recession, with slowed spending, and the real estate bubble begins to deflate, the U.S. could get caught in a vicious downward cycle.

If that happens, most Americans won't have any choice but to drive a cheap compact, if they can even afford to drive, and neither GM nor Ford would survive.

Is that risk really worth flossing and bling, blinging in a gas-guzzler? Are Americans really that selfish and ignorant? Let's hope not.

Do high gas prices affect hybrid car sales?

Earlier today I argued that market incentives are not enough to drive consumers to purchase fuel efficient vehicles and technologies. As I've sat back and thought about that, I'm reminded of Toyota Prius demand.

Long before this spike in gas prices, the Toyota Prius had been very difficult to find. Even when one was found, there were very few choices. Demand was simply far beyond supply.

Perhaps gas prices are driving this demand even higher, but the increased demand will, ultimately, have little affect on overall sales. However many Prius hybrids Toyota can produce, they will sell - even if gas prices drop.

Recently, I have gone to Toyota dealers in the Los Angeles area numerous times and have had a very hard time finding a Highlander hybrid. I've been told that each dealer gets only a few hybrid Highlanders per month, but they are sold almost as soon as they hit the dealership.

I've had a little better luck finding the Ford Escape hybrid, but Ford maintains they will easily sell all the hybrids they can make - only about 25,000 this year.

There has been a good supply of Honda Accord hybrids and Honda Civic hybrids, but these vehicles aren't as 'hybrid' as either Ford or Toyota hybrids. While I think both vehicles are excellent vehicles, they do carry some issues. On the one hand, the Accord Hybrid is a performance hybrid, not a hybrid derived solely for fuel efficiency.

On the other hand, the Civic hybrid is a fuel efficient vehicle, but so is the standard Civic. Yes, the Civic hybrid is more fuel efficient, but it just doesn't carry the glamour of the Prius hybrid. (Something I hope Honda's next generation of hybrids will address - which are coming soon!)

The point is, market forces can't have much impact on hybrid car technology this year. Yet, Hugo Chavez could have a huge impact on the American economy this year. Perhaps he won't or maybe he'll suffer an unexpected heart attack. Who knows? Still, market forces cannot meet consumer expectations fast enough, or many more hybrid cars would now be available.

While rich Americans can walk away from very high oil prices, even gas lines, the average American; however, could be affected for years by these issues.

Are those 'free' market conditions really worth the costs? And are 'free markets' really free?

California's hybrid vehicle carpool lane policy

Last Friday I called California's carpool lane status for hybrid cars "hype" (more). Today the LATimes added to that hype when it announced that California will only be giving hybrid status to 3 vehicles, the Honda Civic hybrid, the Honda Insight, and the Toyota Prius hybrid. Of course this caused angst for Ford.

"The U.S. Congress determined the formula for hybrid vehicles in [carpool] lanes with single occupants, and in that law, the Ford Escape hybrid is equal to the Toyota Prius," said Mike Moran, a spokesman for Ford Motor Co. in Washington, D.C.

Boohoo, Mike.

First, giving carpool lane status to hybrid vehicles as a fuel efficiency incentive was simply a lazy plan by Congress, and more fuel for hybrid haters. Why not just raise fuel efficiency standards? Using the carpool lane to help fight foreign oil dependency can only be called one thing, a joke. It's like using a band-aid to cure a severed artery.

Second, California is only planning on giving the carpool lane exemption to 75,000 total vehicles. Within a year all of the hybrid exemptions will be gone, so the whole move really has limited impact.

For argument's sake, California is trying to clean the air and that is why other hybrids, such as the Ford Escape hybrid, Toyota Highlander hybrid, or the Lexus RX400h were not included. While these hybrids offer improved fuel efficiency and much less pollution than their conventional counterparts, they are not as fuel efficient as the leaders. With only a limited number of exceptions available, the greatest impact had to be the priority.

Vehicles, such as the Prius hybrid and Civic hybrid offer the kind of fuel efficiency that can end foreign oil dependency. Yes, hybrid SUVs are better than conventional SUVs, but they aren't 'there' yet. Ultimately, while hybrid technology can significantly improve fuel efficiency, it can also significantly improve performance, such as with the Accord hybrid and the Lexus RX400h. That is not the trend to be supported.

In the future hybrid SUVs could become as efficient as today's Prius. A few software tweeks here and a new hybrid battery development there and today's hybrid SUVs might achieve 45 mpg in their next generation.

Nonetheless, the point is that the hybrid carpool lane exemption is nothing but hype, as are the clean vehicle tax credits. Once again Congress is protecting the status quo, while offering a few 'token' programs - programs that taxpayers, not automakers - are funding.

The real focus should be on the fact that oil topped $67.00 per barrel for a number of reasons, including oil refinery problems (more). Moreover, according to a new poll, two-thirds of those surveyed said that rising gas costs were going to create a "financial burden" within the next few months.

Let's just hope terrorists don't watch the news. It's pretty obvious that choking America's oil supply would cause significant problems to the American economy, and doing that wouldn't be very hard.

Good thing Congress is taking the issue so seriously. They're the biggest joke of all - is it really any wonder so many Americans have given up on voting?

Hybrid cars head into carpool lane

Under the new transportation bill, solo drivers in hybrid cars will be able to utilize the carpool lane.

At this time; however, according to a story in the LATimes, it is not certain which hybrid vehicles will qualify for the carpool lane. In places like California, the carpool lane was intended for hybrid vehicles because of their reduced emissions, not just because of fuel efficiency.

"The air emission standards are very important," said California Assemblywoman Fran Pavley on Friday. "We wouldn't want a hybrid that gets 45 miles a gallon but has higher emissions to be out there. It's more important to encourage those cars to operate at the cleanest emission levels."

Thus, in California, legislators are waiting for clarification from the EPA, as language in the current transportation bill isn't clear regarding qualifying hybrids.

Contrary to many hybrid critics, the issue of the car pool lane isn't just about fuel efficiency, in fact, in states like California it is about air quality, not fuel economy.

Thus, some hybrids might not qualify. Still, it seems that the EPA will probably qualify any vehicle that meets clean vehicle tax exemption. Under that legislation, even hybrid SUVs, such as the Toyota Highlander hybrid and the Ford Escape hybrid would qualify, not just small hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius or Honda Civic hybrid.

Only unique hybrids, such as the Prius, will dominate the hybrid world

According to a Scripps Howard News Service survey, 56% of Americans indicated that high gasoline prices are pushing them to "consider buying smaller, more fuel efficient automobiles in the future." (MotorTrend)

How will this affect hybrid cars, especially the way Detroit is focusing on hybrids?

Most hybrids are now SUVs, and they are expensive. The only small hybrids are the Toyota Prius hybrid and the Honda Civic hybrid. Costs and a return on investment; however, will ultimately be the most important requirements for the future of hybrids.

Thus far, the Big 3 views hybrids as only a niche, and mostly a niche for just big vehicles. If gas prices continue to rise, will Americans lose interest in hybrids like the Toyota Highlander hybrid or the Ford Escape hybrid, instead preferring small cars, or small hybrids?

The Prius is the undisputed king of the hybrid world. It's unique, highly efficient, and extremely innovative in style, comfort, design, etc. While converting conventional vehicles into hybrid options is worthwhile, completely new hybrid vehicles, especially hybrid cars or crossovers, will dominate the future.

Recent consumer studies by Toyota hybrid drivers indicate that consumers of hybrids want their vehicles distinguished as hybrids. That isn't an issue for the Prius, and only new hybrid models, as unique as the Prius, will ever challenge the Prius.

Of course, there is one wild card, Hyundai. Hyundai is going to make hybrid cars and this dark horse could shock the automotive world if it plays its cards right, even if it just converts its conventional vehicles into hybrids.

Then again, I'm sure cheap gas is just around the corner.

Honda is high on natural gas

Before I rip on Honda, let me start out by acknowledging that Honda is the greenest auto company in the world, and they deserve kudos. Additionally, they produce excellent vehicles, and the Honda Civic GX is the cleanest vehicle on the road and it doesn't depend on foreign oil. Nonetheless, natural gas vehicles are not going to take over the American automarket, and anybody who thinks they will is just plain silly.

Thus, John Mendel, senior vice president of automobile operations of American Honda Motor Co., seems to have inhaled a few too many natural gas fumes. "We'll do hybrids as it makes sense, but I do not think they are the best solution. Right now hybrids don't make sense economically," Mandel was recently quoted as saying as he expressed his vision that natural gas vehicles are more important than hybrid vehicles.

I don't even know where to start on this one. First, natural gas simply isn't going to replace gasoline as the new energy infrastructure. The savings simply are not that great, and while Honda can sell home fueling systems, most consumers simply are not going to buy into the concept.

Second, while natural gas vehicles do offer independence from foreign oil, and burn cleaner than gasoline vehicles, new technologies - particularly hybrid vehicles - could easily outweigh every positive aspect of natural gas vehicles. One significant upgrade in hybrid batteries ends natural gas's cost effectiveness. Two upgrades and, well, you get the point.

Third, the hydrogen economy is the future. While it will probably take a few decades to achieve it, the hydrogen economy will be built upon fuel cells and those fuel cells will work in coordination with batteries. The hybrid powertrain can evolve into fuel cell-electric vehicles and help move the world entirely from fossil fuels. Natural gas is a fossil fuel.

Fourth, Mandel states, "you can use the car pool lane (in California)." Yes you can in the short term, but don't expect this privilege to last, if sales start numbering in the 1000's.

Additionally, if natural gas capabilities were to be added to trucks and SUVs, or even cars, which demand greater horsepower, the lure of natural gas begins to tarnish rather quickly. In terms of the future natural gas is already dead. In reality, the most interesting natural gas vehicle would be a natural gas-electric hybrid vehicle.

So, what is Honda's deal? I don't know. While Honda has been much more bullish on hybrids than the Big 3, they are still far behind Toyota. The Civic hybrid is a great vehicle, nothing flashy, but a quality vehicle. Still, in terms of hybrid technology, it really isn't Best of Breed. The Accord hybrid is the best Accord ever,but it also is a mediocre hybrid at best.

In terms of pure hybrid technology, Toyota and Ford stand above Honda. The Prius is simply the best hybrid vehicle. The Lexus RX400h, the Highlander hybrid, and the Escape hybrid demonstrate that very fuel efficient hybrid SUVs are possible - as more efficient batteries are developed. This, while frustrating for environmentalists, is simply an important aspect of the American automobile market.

Natural gas is a new fuel for a dying technology. While it offers great potential for fleets, it does not offer the same for the average consumer.

Hybrid technology, on the other hand, is a step towards the future, a future that can offer unlimited horsepower without foreign oil, without pollution. More important, hybrids can work within the current energy infrastructure and the technology can naturally, transparently accommodate fickle consumers afraid of change, as the industry adapts and evolves into the hydrogen highway.

Yes, hybrid technology is a bit expensive, but not as expensive as the first calculators, cellphones, and computers.

NY Times hybrid vehicle bias or ignorance?

I just finished reading the article, Hybrid Cars Burning Gas in the Drive for Power, published in yesterday's NY Times. What is it with journalists? Do they do any research, or do they just set out to make a point, whether it is founded in fact or not? It isn't very surprising when political journalists use bias, in fact, I expect it, but yellow journalism seems to be the norm in today's mainstream publications.

Anyway, the point of the article is to demonstrate how new hybrid vehicles are less about fuel efficiency and more about horsepower. To an extent this point is correct, which is why I was interested in the story. Nonetheless, the article ended up as a complete waste of time, as it focused almost entirely on comparing the Honda Accord hybrid to the conventional Accord. Please!?

Honda hybrids are just not in the same league as Toyota or Ford hybrids. The most important and innovative feature of Toyota and Ford hybrids is the ability to power their hybrids with electric power only. This means that an SUV, such as the Ford Escape hybrid, can sit in LA traffic using almost no gas and causing almost no pollution. Conventional vehicles, and even Honda hybrids, are least efficient and most polluting in these conditions.

While the Civic hybrid is a very fuel efficient vehicle, in city driving, it simply doesn't compare to the Prius hybrid.

The NYTimes is correct that new hybrids, such as the Toyota Highlander hybrid, the Lexus RX400h hybrid, and the upcoming Camry hybrid seem to be focused on horsepower as much as efficiency. Nevertheless, these vehicles do offer significant gains in both fuel efficiency and pollution compared to their conventional cousins, especially for urban drivers, or anyone whom drives in any type of congestion.

Yet, the Times doesn't even touch upon this distinction or point. This is important because while the Highlander hybrid or the Lexus RX400h hybrid could have been made more efficient if V4's, rather than V6 engines, were used, these vehicles still could become much more efficient - even with V6s - in their second, third and fourth generations. Ultimately, the electric motors of these vehicles, if coupled with more efficient batteries - which WILL be developed - could significantly increase their fuel efficiency with each new generation of hybrid battery, without losing any power.

When discussing HEVs, or hybrid electric vehicles, it is the electric components which are key, and Honda has invested the least in the electric portion of their current hybrid electric vehicles.

At this point in time, the only objective way to focus on the point of horsepower versus efficiency is to use either the Highlander hybrid or the Lexus RX400h. By using the Accord hybrid, the NY Times is either demonstrating a bias against hybrids, or just plain hybrid ignorance. Either case is inexcusable for such an esteemed publication.

If you are still confused about which hybrid is right for you, check out Soultek's Hybrid Buyer's Guide.

Consumer concerns of hybrid vehicles

In the past few weeks there have been a few interesting studies regarding hybrid vehicles. Last week, I mentioned the R. L. Polk & Co. study which found that 97 percent of consumers have heard of hybrid vehicles and 78 percent would consider buying one; however, cost would still limit the majority from taking such action.

Another study - if you can call it that - by Kelly Blue Book cited by Money notes that "a majority of consumers are skeptical of hybrid technology even though they feel that hybrid vehicles, which use electric motors in addition to gasoline engines, are likely the future for the American automobile."

So what is the cause of hybrid skepticism according to Kelley? "The two most important causes of consumer skepticism, according to the survey, were the potential costs of servicing a hybrid vehicle and maintenance over its lifetime."

Nonetheless, while Jack Nerad, the editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book, thinks that consumers still need convincing of the viability of hybrid cars, the supply of hybrids still trails demand.

More important, the 425 individuals comprising the Kelley survey, while somewhat skeptical of hybrid technology today, are still very optimistic for the future of hybrids. In fact most believe they will replace conventional vehicles.

Besides, change always brings fear, but there is little evidence - if any - to demonstrate that hybrid technology is anything but reliable. Recent studies of the Toyota Prius, for example, show that almost every Prius owner would buy another Prius.

Still, the early adopters of any technology always take some risk when helping to usher new technology into the mainstream. The success of the Toyota Prius; however, bodes well for all Toyota hybrids, as Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive is pretty much the same in the Prius, Highlander hybrid, Lexus RX400h hybrid, and the not-to-far off Camry hybrid.

The Honda Civic hybrid also has a solid track record.

The Accord hybrid and the Ford Escape hybrid are very new to the market, but have been reliable thus far.

While the long term life of the hybrid battery is a justified concern for consumers, most hybrid batteries are guaranteed for 8 to 10 years. Yes, replacing the hybrid battery in 10 years could be expensive, but if hybrids continue to increase in popularity, hybrid battery production will also significantly increase. This will not only add to supply, but create better batteries, which could increase the value of older hybrids - making them more efficient - instead of decreasing their value.

Early adoption and risk go hand in hand, but risk can also offer unexpected rewards. For example, should terrorism ever lead to decreased reliability of foreign oil, the fuel savings of hybrids could instantly diminish all skepticism.

Hybrid trucks and other hybrid tidbits

As the fifth tropical storm Emily builds in the Gulf, and BP's new deep oil rig Crazyhorse (Thunderhorse Field) sits listing in the Gulf of Mexico, one cannot begin to underestimate the potential of much higher gasoline prices. And if gasoline prices rise, the technology behind hybrid cars becomes significantly more appealing.

According to a new R. L. Polk & Co. study, 97 percent of consumers have heard of hybrid vehicles and 78 percent would consider buying one; however, cost would still limit the majority from taking such action. (More from Car and Driver)

Obviously higher gas prices can help offset the cost barrier.

Yesterday, Ford released its second hybrid, the Mercury Mariner hybrid, and Toyota continues to suggest that a hybrid truck is soon coming. While Toyota has mentioned this possibility in the past, it indicated yesterday that Toyota seeks to offer the first hybrid truck. Still, Toyota has released few details about a Tundra hybrid.

Nonetheless, even if gas prices make hybrids more desirable, will it matter? Demand is still greater than supply, and the new Mariner hybrid really won't help, since only a few 1000 units are even planned.

Toyota, and the very successful Prius hybrid, combined with the Lexus RX400h, the Highlander hybrid, and the Camry hybrid will still only hit about 500,000 total hybrids next year.

Honda's upgraded hybrids, the Civic and the Accord, will help, but American-made hybrids are the missing ingredient. Foreign oil dependency, terrorism, global oil demand, and global warming - America needs leadership and responsibility from American corporations.

It's furiously ironic that GM often speaks of hybrid costs, while touting fuel cells, which are exorbitantly more costly than hybrid vehicles. Yet, GM is considering a fuel cell agreement with Toyota - a company which is building its fuel cell future on the backbone of the hybrid powertrain?

'American-made' automobiles simply mean nothing if they also mean increased 'terrorist-supporting foreign oil dependency.' It's time for Ford and GM to stop talking about a stronger America and to start building a stronger America today, not tomorrow.

The importance of hybrid technology

Yesterday, President Bush told reporters covering the G8 that the U.S. seeks to utilize technology to help fight not only global warming, but foreign oil dependency as well.

Environmentalists were not impressed. Nonetheless, many environmentalists act like both radical Republicans and Democrats - it's either their extreme view or the highway.

While I would like America, and the world, to suddenly embrace conservation - it just isn't going to happen. The history of the world has been advanced by technological innovation. End of story.

Bush and Detroit have habitually pointed to the 'hydrogen economy' as the ultimate answer. Today's terrorist activities and the current escalating oil crisis demonstrate that the world cannot wait 2 or 3 more decades before achieving a solution.

Hybrid cars, especially the Toyota Prius, prove that the U.S. doesn't have to wait for the hydrogen economy. If everyone drove a Prius, it would drastically change America's foreign oil dependency, as well as pollution emissions.

Nonetheless, just as with conservation, the Prius is not the answer, but hybrid technology does provide a solid solution. It has become quite clear that Americans not only want choice, but they want power and size. The Prius, unfortunately, does not address those preferences.

Still, as Prius hybrid technology has been added to vehicles such as the Lexus RX400h, the Toyota Highlander hybrid, and the Ford Escape hybrid, the potential of hybrid technology begins to emerge.

It's still not enough many critics will argue, and they are right. Fortunately, that is the beauty of hybrid technology. The advances made in hybrid technology from the first generation Prius to the second generation Prius, for example, were simply fantastic. Like the technology behind notebook computers, hybrid vehicles could easily double, triple, even quadruple - not only their fuel efficiency, but their performance - in just the next several years.

This doesn't require a completely new energy infrastructure, nor does it require somehow making $1,000,000 fuel cell vehicles more cost effective.

And it isn't just Toyota. Honda will be releasing an updated hybrid powertrain in both its Civic hybrid and Accord hybrid that could truly challenge the Prius. As other manufacturers begin offering their proprietary hybrid technology, gains could be exponentially made.

The time for talking about the technology of the future is no longer acceptable. American consumers must demand that automakers either act today, or perish tomorrow, and hybrid technology is the first step.

Honda taking its hybrids to another level

Honda has announced that it will be making its entire fleet of vehicles more fuel efficient, but none more so than its hybrid vehicles. Honda's improved i-VTEC engine technology will enable all Honda vehicles to increase their fuel efficiency by a few percent. However, this technology, combined with Honda's new hybrid powertrain, will enable gains in fuel efficiency of 20% for both the Civic hybrid and the Accord hybrid.

In fact, Honda's new hybrid powertrain, much like Toyota's hybrid powertrain, will enable the Civic and Accord hybrids to run on electric power only at low speeds. This ability has made the Prius hybrid, for example, extremely efficient in urban, or stop-and-go traffic. Other than Toyota hybrids, only the Ford Escape hybrid offers such capability.

While Honda has been in the shadow of Toyota hybrids, this development has the potential to enable Honda to challenge Toyota as hybrid king. Coupled with Nissan, Hyundai, GM, and Chrysler hybrids on the horizon, the hybrid competition is really set to heat up.

And as the energy crisis heats up, starting with today's Gulf tropical storms, hybrid interest is set to intensify.

Highlander hybrid qualifies for hybrid tax credit

The Toyota Highlander hybrid was added to the list of hybrid vehicles that qualify for the hybrid car tax credit. Additionally, the Lexus RX400h, Honda Civic hybrid, Honda Accord hybrid, Honda Insight hybrid, Ford Escape hybrid, and Toyota Prius hybrid also qualify.

Hopefully, the House and Senate can continue the tax credit for hybrid cars.

U.S. Senate fuel economy law

The U.S. Senate may consider a Democratic plan to require automobiles to get at least 40 miles per gallon fuel consumption by 2016. Of course that doesn't include trucks and SUVs, which would only have to average 27.5 mpg.

Wow! Excuse me for not getting excited.

I wonder if that will be real world mileage, or EPA estimated mileage - that is off by as much as 20% in real world driving?

It seems pretty pathetic that hybrid cars, such as the Honda Civic hybrid or Toyota Prius hybrid, already achieve these requirements. In the SUV space, the Toyota Highlander hybrid and the Ford Escape hybrid are also close to compliant.

Nonetheless, fuel economy almost certainly will not pass. Most Republicans and Democrats from auto manufacturing states say it will cost too many jobs.

Apparently, American auto manufacturers are just too technologically incompetent.

Oil glimpses $60.00, is Congress watching

The trading day started off O.K., but when oil hit $60.00 today, the Dow dropped triple digits. In the next few years, America is going to walk a fine line. If a hurricane knocks out Gulf of Mexico production, gasoline prices could spike significantly, especially if it appears this winter will be cold. Then there is always the specter of terrorism.

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that either the government, nor American business, will offer any solutions for Americans.

So what can you do? Hybrid cars are one of the greatest free market choices consumers can make. The purchase tells automakers that consumers want clean, efficient automotive technology.

While I think the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic hybrid are the best overall choices, there are more choices than ever. The Ford Escape hybrid and Toyota Highlander hybrid can fulfill your SUV needs, while the Lexus RX400h while fit the luxury-motivated consumer, and if you need a highway vehicle, the Honda Accord hybrid is a nice choice.

Things will get worse before they get better in the world of oil - if they ever get better. Since the government doesn't appear capable of intelligent legislation, it's going to be up you, the consumer.

You can make a difference.

Jetta 'mild' hybrid within two years?

The Automotive News has reported that "VW is considering a so-called mild hybrid vehicle. A mild hybrid uses an electric motor to assist a gasoline-powered engine, but the motor alone does not drive the vehicle. The Honda Civic Hybrid is an example."

In the past, Volkswagon has been very bearish regarding hybrids, stating many times that VW was going to invest in clean diesel rather than hybrids. Even though VW is focusing on a 'mild' hybrid system at this time, the move does represent a change in consumer perspective that hybrid cars have brought to the market, forcing automakers to change their views.

Essentially every major automaker has now announced intentions to build some sort of hybrid vehicle, after years of naysaying. Nonetheless, this is good news for consumers.

The state of hybrid vehicle demand

The article Hybrid vehicle demand soars states, "Waiting lists are so long that many customers are paying extra just to move ahead in line. Others are paying full sticker price for a used hybrid -- a practice rarely seen outside the trade of Ferraris and other super sports cars." (DetNews)

In June, Toyota is set to release the Highlander hybrid, but don't expect to buy one anytime soon, unless you are already on the waiting list. By conservative estimates, the next 6 months of vehicles have already been pre-ordered. Toyota's other hybrid SUV, the Lexus RX400h is currently backlogged at 9,000 vehicles.

Can Toyota raise its hybrid production? I don't know, but will it matter? Demand for the Prius hybrid car, even after multiple production increases, still far outweighs supply, and on eBay used ones can sell for more than new ones. According to Fool.com, "In April, Toyota sold more of its hybrid vehicle than Ford's (NYSE: F - News) Mercury division sold of all Mercury-branded vehicles -- combined."

Even the Escape hybrid, which often carries dealer add-on fees as high as $7000.00, is flying off dealer lots. And the Accord hybrid and Civic hybrid set monthly sales records in April.

Americans like technology. Hybrids can go faster than conventionals, while saving gas and significantly reducing pollution. Hybrid vehicles are simply better technology than conventional automobiles.

Is there really any wonder why demand is rising?

No Cheap Way Around Buying a Hybrid Car

I've gone shopping for hybrid cars numerous times, but right now I'm shopping for my wife. And it isn't fun.

My wife is very interested in SUVs and I've had her test drive the Ford Escape hybrid, which she liked very much. Still, in my neck of the woods, the Escape hybrid comes with a $5000 dealer add on, plus additional dealer-added amenities. While my wife isn't afraid to spend money, the dealer add-on fee annoyed her.

I told her that we might do better online, but her interest was already gone. Besides we had agreed that we wanted to keep the vehicle cost under $30,000; otherwise, I wouldn't have had any other choice but to buy the Lexus RX400h - which my wife had already told me was her choice.

"What's next?"

"Either the Civic hybrid or the Prius."

"No. What about the Accord?"

Great. My wife hates it when I talk about technology, so I'm not sure how to approach this.

"The Accord hybrid is a great vehicle, but it's a highway hybrid. We drive in the city, in stop-and-go traffic. The Prius is the best vehicle for those conditions, followed by the Civic." (Read More)

States pushing hybrid vehicles, Chrysler hybrid update

"More than a dozen states and several cities are encouraging drivers to buy fuel-efficient hybrid cars by offering tax breaks, free parking and the use of HOV lanes reserved for car poolers," according to a new USAToday article. The motive? To help clean the air in these cities.

Of course, not every hybrid buyer cares about the air. In fact some buyers in Virginia started buying hybrids to shave time off their commutes because they could drive in the car pool lane. Unfortunately, this has lead to congested car pool lanes in places like Virginia, where residents purchased every available Toyota Prius and Honda Civic hybrid.

The big move in fuel efficiency and gas prices hasn't gone unnoticed. Chrysler has announced that its hybrid powertrain will be ready for production in late 2007. "Thereafter, starting in 2008, a lot more applications. We have been pretty quiet about which vehicles," noted Chrysler COO Tom LaSorda recently (Autoweek).

Hybrid cars: The costs of being an early adopter

When I worked in the software industry, the next release was always more important than the current version. Every day users would inquire as to when the next, better version was going to be released. Ironically, the next, better version always had "bugs" and the first power users, the company's early adopters, always found them. That IS the software industry.

As automobiles become more technologically advanced, they begin to rely more and more on computers. While all vehicles use multiple computers, hybrid cars have raised the bar significantly higher. In fact, recently, the Toyota Prius hybrid car needed a software upgrade to fix a few lines of buggy code.

Suddenly, the automotive world sounds just like the software world. Perhaps soon such upgrades will simply require the Prius, and other hybrids, to connect to the Internet to download future software updates.

Anyway, most early adopters are very happy being early adopters. Ultimately, bugs can be fixed, or at least a "work around" can be created, and the new features continually and regularly justify the risk.

Hybrids such as the Prius and the Honda Civic hybrid are already multi-generational and have proven themselves reliable. Yes, hybrid batteries are still an issue, and until hybrid battery supply significantly improves, the battery issue is a legitimate concern.

Nonetheless, the majority of hybrid car owners have ranked their vehicles very high in customer satisfaction.

More important, early adopters of hybrid technology are using their power as consumers to influence - dare I say mandate - change. Such a purchase is a vote for reduced foreign-oil dependency and a cleaner world. It's either that, or the same old thing - rich oil companies, dirty environment, and War in the Middle East.

While early adopters are taking some risk purchasing a hybrid car, they are also leading the charge for change in the automotive industry and it isn't easy to put a price on that.

Weekend hybrid car shopping notes

I did some hybrid car shopping this weekend in Southern California, and I was a little surprised. The hybrid market is getting even hotter. While that doesn't surprise me when it comes to the Toyota Prius, it does a little with the Ford Escape hybrid. At times, some dealers have told me that they've had difficulty selling the hybrid Escape, but not right now, they're smoking. Since dealer add-on fees add more than $5000.00 to the MSRP, that's a bit surprising. At Honda I was able to find a good selection of both Civic hybrids and, particularly, Accord hybrids.

Traffic getting worse - Another reason hybrids rule!

"Gridlock is getting worse. Congestion delayed travelers 79 million more hours and wasted 69 million more gallons of fuel in 2003 than in 2002, the Texas Transportation Institute's 2005 Urban Mobility Report found." (AP Via Yahoo)

Traffic and Terrorism

Conventional gasoline engine vehicles achieve their worse fuel efficiency and cause the most pollution in traffic, and traffic is only going to get worse across the U.S. - requiring more foreign oil and further contributing to terrorism.

Most hybrid cars, on the other hand, achieve their best fuel efficiency and pollute the least in these conditions. In such conditions, hybrids might not just meet EPA estimates, but surpass them. In traffic hybrids save a significant amount of fuel, rather than wasting 69 million gallons.

On the other hand, conventional vehicles, even econoboxes, do not come close to their EPA estimates in traffic, and for SUVs, it only gets worse. The scandal of the EPA isn't hybrid fuel efficiency, it's the inefficiency of gas-guzzlers that is hidden by EPA numbers.

Of course not all hybrids are as efficient in congestion. Honda's Accord hybrid, as well as the Civic hybrid, do not rely as much on their electric motors, forcing the Honda vehicles to use more gasoline.

In stop-and-go traffic, Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive rules - especially with SUVs, the Ford Escape hybrid, Toyota Highlander hybrid, and Lexus RX400h each perform their best in the worst driving conditions of conventional vehicles. Hybrid technology is simply far more advanced than just a gasoline or diesel engine technology.

I know change is scary, but it's the only certain thing in life.

Hybrid car ignorance on MSNMoney

The costly secrets of hybrid cars, a new article on MSNMoney, opens with the Sierra and Silverado hybrids and questions the fuel efficiency of hybrid vehicles.

Excuse me? Anybody whom starts an article about hybrids with the Sierra or the Silverado already demonstrates either their ignorance or bias of hybrid cars. Neither the Sierra or Silverado are full hybrids. In fact, in my book, they don't even count as hybrids.

Strike one.

Then the author discusses gas mileage and how long it is going to take to make up hybrid costs. Not until several paragraphs later is the hybrid car tax credit mentioned - probably because neither the Sierra or the Silverado hybrids qualify. Additionally, new tax credits might make hybrids even cheaper, but that also isn't mentioned.

Strike two.

Finally, the EPA numbers. "Then there's the issue of whether these cars actually get the mileage they claim."

THEY DON'T CLAIM IT. EPA numbers are determined by the government. The inaccuracy of the EPA numbers affects ALL vehicles. So, you can't compare the real world mileage of a Toyota Prius with the EPA numbers of a standard Civic or Tahoe. It's either real versus real, or EPA versus EPA. The reality is, that big SUV of yours doesn't achieve 16 mpg, more like 11, so I'll take the 50 mpg Prius.

More important, one would think every Prius owner hates their auto, yet 94% of owners would buy another one. How many SUVs have that kind of buyer loyalty?

Strike three.

Why are there so many questions regarding hybrid cars? Hybrids recover their 'extra' costs in 6 - 8 years. The average life of an automobile is longer than that, so the technology not only pays for itself, it reduces the cost of the vehicle over the long term. That's called an investment.

For a decade or two many auto manufacturers created SUVs with $10 - 15,000 profit margins. Yet, these vehicle account for a significant percentage of all accidents and all automobile-crash related deaths. Now that's value!

More important, how much does gas really cost? How much is the life of a soldier dying in the Middle East worth? How much does the dirty air that is causing health problems to millions of people cost? Why are past CIA directors and the Pentagon so worried about foreign-oil dependency? Why did the top 4 oil companies profit more than 20 billion in the first 3 months of the year?

If one looks at the state of the real world, one realizes that the problem is not the cost of hybrid cars, rather it's the cost of gas guzzling vehicles and American ignorance that is the real cost.

Demand nothing less than hybrid vehicle efficiency. The costs of hybrids, in the long run, are much less than the gas-guzzling, terrorist supporting, planet-killing costs of huge SUVs.

Hybrid car buyer's guide: Which hybrid vehicle is best for you?

So you've decided that you want to do something to reduce foreign oil-dependency, or to help the environment. Maybe you're just a technology buff and you believe that hybrid cars are a bridge to fuel cells. The point is, you have your reasons for buying a hybrid, but not all hybrids address those issues equally.

So, why do you want a hybrid?

If you want to use as little gas as possible, then the Toyota Prius or Honda Civic hybrid are best. These hybrid vehicles look very different and feel very different. Additionally, leases are available for Civic hybrids, but not for the Prius. Both hybrids are in the same price range, but the Prius is a bit of a better performer.

Perhaps a car just isn't an option. You need an SUV. Fortunately for you, the hybrid SUV segment offers the most choices. You won't save nearly as much gas as with the Prius or Civic hybrid, but the Ford Escape hybrid is the most fuel efficient hybrid SUV. This June, the Toyota Highlander hybrid will come to market, offering slightly less fuel efficiency than the Escape, but more seating and more power.

For a large family, the Highlander hybrid is probably the best choice because it will seat up to seven.

The Lexus RX400h hybrid SUV is the least efficient of the SUV bunch, but by far the most powerful, as well as the most luxurious. This luxury hybrid is faster than its conventional cousin, significantly more fuel efficient, and emits far less pollution. Of course this performance has costs and the hybrid Lexus is priced over $10,000 more than a standard RX330.

The Honda Accord hybrid is a different breed of hybrid, but it is best of breed when it comes to Accords. Just as the RX400h, the Accord hybrid is faster, more powerful, and significantly more fuel efficient than its conventional cousin. In urban, stop-and-go traffic, the hybrid Accord is the least efficient of all the hybrids. This hybrid is a highway vehicle.

Each one of these hybrids is a good investment in the future. On average, with tax credits and 6 years of driving you'll recover your hybrid costs, and you'll have helped make the world a better place.

Can you really put a price on that?

R.L. Polk & Co's hybrid car report

Sales totals for hybrid cars in 2004 have already been reported, so the Polk report doesn't really offer much new information, other than Polk's hybrid forecast. By 2015, the report states, hybrids could make up 30 - 35 percent of the entire U.S. market. This is a pretty bold prediction compared to J.D. Power, for example, which sees very little future for hybrid vehicles.

Beyond that, Toyota Prius sales totaled 53,761 units and accounted for over 60% of all hybrid sales. The Civic hybrid accounted for most of the rest, as neither the Accord hybrid nor the Ford Escape hybrid were on sale very long in 2004.(AP)

Interested in a hybrid? Better buy before gas rises much higher.

Many automotive analysts have been bullish regarding hybrid cars because they feel that gas would have to hit $3.50 to justify the extra cost of hybrids. Other studies have shown that $3.00 is the critical benchmark for the majority of Americans. Nonetheless, 50% of consumers already say fuel efficiency is driving their next vehicle purchase.

SUV sales are already down some 20 percent this year, and we have not hit the $3.00 mark yet - in most places. If we hit those threshold numbers, SUV sales are predicted to plummet far lower.

Many of those leaving the larger SUV market are heading to crossovers, which is certain to drive Toyota Highlander hybrid demand even higher. Ultimately, however, if the U.S. does hit $3.00 or $3.50 per gallon prices, the majority of Americans might be interested in hybrids, but there probably won't be any available.

This year Honda is only planning to sell about 25,000 each of the Accord hybrid and the Civic hybrid, and Ford is planning roughly the same for the Escape hybrid.

Thus, if you are interested in purchasing a hybrid, buy now. As the Toyota Prius is showing, resale value is often higher than the original sticker price. In a couple of months, used hybrids might be the only hybrids available for some time.

Leasing a Civic or Accord hybrid

Interested in a hybrid car, but you are not sure you fully trust hybrid technology? Perhaps you could try leasing a hybrid? While you probably won't be able to lease a Toyota Prius any time soon, you can lease a new Honda Accord hybrid or Civic hybrid.

To see some leasing rates from Honda on their hybrids, click here.

Hybrid comparison

I'm heading out for some hybrid car market research today. My focus is Toyota, but if time permits...who knows what I might end up doing. The last time I test drove a Prius, I had to test drive a Ford Escape hybrid, just to check out the differences. Maybe this time I'll follow up a Prius test drive with a Honda Accord hybrid test drive, or maybe the Civic hybrid.

Prius Test Drive
Escape Test Drive
Head to Head: The Ford Escape hybrid versus the Toyota Prius hybrid

Everywhere I go a Prius hybrid is there

A year ago I was surprised at how easy it was to see a Prius on the streets in Southern California. During my lunch break I could take a walk around Old town Pasadena and I'd see a Prius within half an hour. Today, I'll see a few within a couple of minutes. I also see a number of Civic hybrids, a few Escape hybrids, and, only lately, a number of Accord hybrids. While I'm still shocked, my shock is turning into excitement. I don't care for the term Prius Patriots, and I certainly realize that Pasadena, California is not representative of the United States, but seeing such a drastic change in such a short time is truly impressive and inspiring.

Taxes? Remember the hybrid car tax credit

As we approach April 15 remember to talk to your tax preparer about your hybrid car tax credit if you purchased a hybrid car in 2004. If you haven't purchased a hybrid, you can still take advantage of the tax credit if you purchase a new hybrid in 2005. Currently, the Prius, Accord hybrid, Civic hybrid, and Insight qualify, but this tax credit will be significantly reduced in 2006.

That is, unless current legislation, which would increase the credit, is passed this year (More on this new hybrid car legislation).

Honda Moving forward with hybrids?

There is no doubt that Toyota has received immense PR because of hybrid cars. The Prius has changed the way America thinks about automobiles, but it is only the beginning, at least for Toyota.

With Ford Escape hybrid production limited by a shortage of batteries, only Honda remains to fuel hybrid competition. Yet, Honda only expects to sell 25,000 each of the Accord and Civic hybrids next year.

I've argued Toyota's hybrids are more integral to Toyota's fuel cell vision, than are Honda hybrids. Therefore, Toyota is willing to sell as many hybrids as they can. Honda isn't, not today at least.

Recently, Dan Bonawitz, American Honda vice president of corporate planning and logistics stated, "We want to get a better sense for the depth of the (hybrid) market and the preference of the marketplace, then move forward in any number of directions."

Bonawitz also doubted the legitimacy of hybrid SUVs in the U.S. market, which I find a bit out-of-touch. I believe demand for the Toyota Highlander hybrid is going to dwarf that of the Prius.

I'd say the best case scenario for fuel cell cars, priced for the average consumer, is 10 years away, and that is the best, best, best, etc. case scenario. In reality 15 to 20 years is probably the most realistic estimate.

Nonetheless, the Honda Accord hybrid is an awesome vehicle, and I still expect big things from Honda.

Honda hybrid sales versus Toyota hybrid sales

At one time, there wasn’t much difference between the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight. Most consumers really didn’t care about either one as hybrid cars were not yet on America’s radar screen.

The 2004 Toyota Prius; however, changed everything. The Prius was the first hybrid to perform as well as a conventional vehicle, while significantly reducing pollution and fuel efficiency. And, the Prius does it with style. For a $20,000 family sedan, the Prius is without rival.

Of course, Honda didn’t quit its hybrid foray with the Insight, adding both the Civic hybrid and the Accord hybrid. Now Honda stands as the only automaker with 3 hybrid cars on the market.

Last year, Toyota sold around 54,000 Prius hybrids, and it could have sold more had the supply been available. This year Toyota plans to sell more than 100,000 Prius hybrids. Yet, Honda sold only about 26,000 Civic hybrids, and is hoping for the same number this year with the Accord hybrid.

Toyota has also already sold more than 11,000 Lexus RX400h hybrids, even though the vehicle is still weeks from market, and that's not the end of the buzz. Demand for this summer’s to be released Toyota Highlander hybrid has been nothing short of phenomenal.

So, why the big difference between Honda and Toyota hybrid sales? In one word it’s, technology. The technology behind Toyota hybrids is a good bit more sophisticated than Honda hybrids. Toyota hybrids are a more direct step towards fuel cell vehicles than are Honda hybrids, and this gives Toyota much more incentive to promote hybrids – which have been expensive to produce.

Honda hybrid cars, at this point in time, are more of an interim technology to Honda fuel cell cars, not the future of Honda.

For Toyota, every hybrid sale is another step, another investment, in Toyota’s vision of the automotive future. Today’s gasoline electric Prius, might be tomorrow’s diesel-electric Prius, hydrogen-electric Prius, or fuel cell-electric Prius.

For Toyota, the future is already here.