Hybrid Vehicles of Today and Beyond
Provided By: CarInsurance.com
Last Updated: Saturday, March 14, 2009
The sale of hybrid vehicles is beginning to take off. This increase in sales is greatly due to the current price at the pump for gasoline. The saving of gas money is not the only reason though that more people are buying hybrids; people are now thinking more of the environmental issues surrounding the emission from vehicles. Due to the demand hybrid vehicles are now being produced by more and more car manufacturers thus allowing consumers to have better choices.
The hybrid revolution began with just a couple of car choices being available to American consumers. The leader of the pack, the one that seemed to spark the whole hybrid push in the marketplace, was the Toyota Prius. This was the first hybrid vehicle to be sold in the United States.
Prius is a Latin word meaning “to go before”. It indeed did come before all other hybrids in the U.S. It has held strong and is consistently increasing sales so much that Toyota has had a hard time keeping production up with the demand. Toyota has even doubled the production of this vehicle to catch up with the back-orders.
The Honda Civic hybrid was the second hybrid to come to the American shores. The first generation Civic hybrid could function on electric power-only when at low speeds, which the Prius can do. The second generation Civic hybrid followed by offering greater performance, fuel efficiency and even better styling. The current Civic Hybrid utilizes the Honda Integrated Motor Assist IMA® technology, which uses an i-VTEC® engine for primary power, and then an ultra-thin electric motor provides added power.
Honda had an Accord Hybrid but now is focusing on the Hybrid Insight. Honda describes it as a more practical four-door hybrid vehicle aimed at great fuel economy and absolute affordability. Honda also leases a handful of Honda FCX Clarity hydrogen-powered hybrids in California and sells the Civic GX, the only mass-produced car running on compressed natural gas.
Other Hybrids that are in the marketplace include the Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, Chevy Malibu, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Accent and Sonata and even Lexus has a couple of hybrid models in production. The car makers are realizing that there is a demand for these vehicles and thus are producing more choices for the consumer.
The next step up after the aforementioned sedans is a small sports utility vehicle (SUV). The 2005 Ford Escape hybrid was the first hybrid SUV available in the U.S. The hybrid Escape is similar to the conventional version in its size and comfort level but allows you to have a step up in size from the sedan sized hybrid.
The Escape hybrid allows a family to own an SUV without being as concerned about the fuel efficiency they will get. The Escape hybrid has a variable transmission system that allows for the spreading of power to go between the gasoline engine and the electric motor. The distribution of the power varies due to the driving conditions it the vehicle is experiencing. This system allows the gas engine to shut off when the electric engine is able to provide enough power to run the SUV hybrid. This technology is what allows the Escape to give the driver better gas mileage and has been ranked as the overall most fuel efficient SUV.
Other car manufacturers have followed suit since the Ford Escape Hybrid came out and was successful in the marketplace. Now there are hybrid versions of the Mercury Mariner, Mazda Tribute, Saturn Vue and Toyota Highlander. The Toyota SUV hybrid immediately became a hot commodity that was hard to find and so Toyota had to step up production to meet consumer demand for the vehicle. Mercury’s big claim for the Mariner hybrid is that is works as well off-road as it does on normal roadway surfaces.
Larger hybrid SUVs are also became available in 2005. The Lexus RX400h came out claim it was world’s most luxurious hybrid SUV. Lexus is known for making vehicles that exude luxury and comfort and they wanted to continue that reputation with their SUV hybrid. Lexus is a part of the Toyota family of car makers so it combines Toyota’s extensive hybrid technology with the stylish and elegant feel of a Lexus. This SUV hybrid promises to give you a luxurious hybrid sport utility vehicle that will out-perform most gasoline powered cars.
Other larger SUVs that joined the hybrid marketplace include Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Dodge Durango, Cadillac Escalade, Chrysler Aspen and even Porsche is coming out with a Cayenne hybrid version.
Trucks as well are having hybrid versions manufactured though not many are out there. General Motors (GM) started as the leader in hybrid trucks by introducing both the Silverado Mild hybrid and Sierra Mild hybrid in limited quantities back in 2005.
GM decided to focus on larger trucks and SUV hybrid technology that is termed as mild. Mild means it is a lower-cost hybrid system compare to a full hybrid system, such as those made by Toyota. The mild hybrid system is easier to integrate into current models because fewer modifications are needed.
GM however did not make many of these “Mild” hybrid trucks and then phased out the ultra-light hybrid pickups that produced a 10-15 percent increase in fuel economy to make room for full hybrid versions of the Silverado and Sierra, which are expected to get a 25 percent increase in fuel efficiency. The Dodge Ram is also expected to appear as a hybrid in the marketplace. An entirely new generation of hybrid pickups is in the works so we will have to wait and see what the future holds for hybrid trucks.
The American motor vehicle marketplace is showing more offerings than ever before in the hybrid category. There are sedans, sport utility vehicles and trucks to pick from if a person is shopping for an environment friendly hybrid motor vehicle. There are more models on the horizon as well with what the car makers pledge to have newer and better technology.
Today and beyond promises to be filled with more technological advances and more hybrid models to choose from. The price of gas and the finite amount of fossil fuel available is finally getting car manufacturers to use technology to try and relieve some of this strain. Hybrid choices will continue to grow so that hopefully there will be a perfect model for anyone interested in purchasing a hybrid vehicle to save fuel and the environment as well.
Good experience....
Lisa S.
Homosassa, FL
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