Hybrid Vehicles

The very best

by Shadi Houseman

From Japan to the American shores, the tsunami that is hybrid is gaining momentum! Nationally, during 2007's first three months, hybrid vehicle sales rose 31 percent from last year. Top Hybrid sellers are:

1. TOYOTA PRIUS. A sedan-style hybrid. 48,156 units sold.
2. TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. First 7-passenger SUV. 18,127 units sold.
3. HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. Last year's # 2 seller. 15,755 units sold.
4. LEXUS RX 400H. First luxury hybrid SUV. 11,193 units sold.
5. FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. First hybrid SUV. 10,190 units sold.

The hybrid car uses a rechargeable energy system with a gasoline-fueled power source for propulsion. The hybrid would seem to be a common sense solution to today's high fuel costs, environmental concerns and dependence on foreign oil, but common sense from the manufacturer's standpoint is all about the bottom line.

For manufacturers, it's less expensive to keep producing heavy, gas-guzzling vehicles that have already been tried and tested, while the cost of hybrid technology is still very expensive. But automakers are finally realizing that making efficient cars is also big business.

Top hybrid seller Toyota has taken an early lead, and recently set a goal to sell 1 million hybrids globally per year by early next decade - but American automakers are not sitting back quietly.

GM announced 12 models to be introduced into the marketplace within the next two years with many more in the works. Ford has also jumped on the wave and ramped up its hybrid production, and even more manufacturers are following in their wake.

Future technologies include replacing gasoline with ethanol and hydrogen fuel, and using lithium batteries in place of nickel-metal.

Currently, as gas prices ebb and flow with higher highs and higher lows, so do the cries for a solution - from the consumer and on behalf of the environment. Carmakers are scurrying to develop the right blend of power and efficiency to answer these cries, but it will be up to the consumer, ultimately, to decide whether the hybrid wave takes the world by storm or just dwindles to a trickle.

It used to be we could depend on the reputation and reliability of North American cars to meet our standards - but could it be the times are changing? Here in the U.S., overseas models are continuing to rise in popularity. Find out why!

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