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Hybrid
Vehicles
Hybrid
vehicles are taking the auto world by storm. Ever since Toyota
and Honda introduced their hybrid vehicles into the marketplace,
the demand has exceeded the supply.
Most
of those who have been attracted to the new lines of hybrid
vehicles do so out of regard for the environment followed by
a desire to lessen this country's dependence upon foreign oil
and save a few bucks on high gasoline prices.
Pictured
is the Ford Escape Hybrid SUV. |
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Hybrid
Vehicles - Not Just Hybrid Cars
Hybrid cars may have been the first on the market, but the
market has expanded to include other hybrid vehicles as well.
Hybrid SUVs, trucks, minivans, buses and motorcycles are all
either in development or on the market as we speak.
Hybrid
Vehicles See Green
Hybrid vehicle manufacturers have been seeing green because
of the popularity and demand for such vehicles. But, this
demand is mostly because consumers are seeing a different
green in that they hope for a greener environment. Hybrid
vehicles form a class of 'green vehicles' that offer very
low to zero emissions and take a step towards making this
dream come true.
In fact, the American Automobile Association (AAA) in its
Westways magazine and ACEEE's Green Book both outline five
different levels of low emission vehicles. Zero-emission,
partial zero-emission, super-ultra-low-emission, ultra-low-emission
and low-emission vehicles all help the environment by putting
less pollutants into the air than traditional vehicles.
Not all of the greenest vehicles are automobiles, either.
ACEEE's 'Greenest Vehicles of 2005' puts the Ford Escape
Hybrid on the top 12 list as a 36 mpg/city, 31 mpg/hwy,
partial zero emission vehicle.
Hybrid
Vehicles Use Less Foreign Oil
Gasoline prices have skyrocketed over 40-percent from last
year and there is no end in sight to the upward trend. By consuming
less gasoline as the hybrid vehicles do, we lessen our demand
for foreign petroleum products. Less demand means less dependence.
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Hybrid vehicles can also be seen as
a logical interim step into the forthcoming hydrogen economy.
Hydrogen vehicles are now being developed where the only
emission is water and will be expected to hit the showrooms
within the next 10 years.
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Consumers want a cleaner environment and less foreign oil dependence
now, though, so hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles or other alternative
fuel vehicles make sense until this time. Even after this time,
most vehicles will remain hybrids since this will mean fuel
savings no matter which fuel is being used. This is especially
true for plug-in
hybrids, which will most likely be around for decades
to come.
In addition, another interim step may just be the gasoline-hydrogen
hybrid vehicle, which can be seen as a transitory step into
fuel cell vehicles or an internal combustion all hydrogen
car. No matter what though, the current price for
a hydrogen car is a cool $1 million with few fueling options
outside of California.
For now, those who want to clean up greenhouse gases and thumb
their noses at Middle East oil can purchase the hybrid alternative
fuel vehicles currently on the market from the major automotive
manufacturers. Or a whole slew of plug-in hybrids are just around
the corner. No matter what models the future holds auto
insurance companies will still offer coverage for
hybrid vehicles. Because of the large amount of hybrid vehicles,
auto insurance has become a necessity
everywhere a person wants to drive. Go green now and we'll all
have blue skies later.
And because hybrid vehicles are not fully electric, dealers
that sell BMW auto parts and other brands
will still be in existence and thriving even with the new technology
of plug-in hybrids and fuel cell vehicles just over the horizon.
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