Rising gas prices cause growth in hybrid car sales

Hybrid gas-electric cars are poised for explosive growth in 2011 due to soaring gas prices, new federal regulations and a greater variety of eco-friendly makes and models.
Drivers are feeling pain at the pump, as fuel costs increased 30 percent between May 1, 2010, and May 1, 2011, according to the American Automobile Association. Pricey petrol has budget-strapped families pinching pennies wherever possible.
"A lingering recession has many people turning to hybrid-fuel vehicles as a way to save money. Hybrids are one of the fastest growing sectors of the automotive industry," said Valorie Staley, manager of the Valley Automall, which celebrates its 15-year anniversary in 2011. "Valley Automall has a huge variety of hybrid makes and models available, including everything from sedans and trucks to SUVs and coupes."
Hybrid refers to an automotive engine fueled by a combination of gas and electric power. The gas-electric mix improves fuel mileage by up to 60 percent, compared to traditional combustion powered engines, says the Hybrid Car Organization. Hybrids achieve this feat by automatically transitioning between gas- and electric-engine operation during stop-and-go traffic and idle time. Hybrids additionally reduce harmful emissions by up to 90 percent over comparable conventional vehicles, the organization states.
"Hybrid vehicles represent the latest advancement in automotive technology," said William Johnson III, general sales manager of Lexus of Henderson. "Valley Automall prides itself on offering the most sophisticated engineered vehicles available."
Hybrids are a sound investment with lower depreciation rates than standard gasoline cars, the Hybrid Car Organization reports. Nearly every major automobile manufacturer now has a hybrid model. This is due, in part, to the Corporate Average Fuel Economy regulation that requires carmakers to maintain a minimum fuel mileage for all product lines. A 2007 amendment to CAFE no longer exempts light trucks classified as SUVs or passenger vans. The move is expected to save 10.7 billion gallons of gasoline annually, says the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration. In other words, automakers must produce better gas mileage across the board, which means more hybrid makes and models.
The federal mandate, for example, has created some exciting new hybrid trucks such as the 2011 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra, as well as SUVs like the Toyota Highlander, Ford Escape, Volks-wagen Touareg, Lexus RX450h, Chevy Tahoe and Cadillac Escalade. There are also luxury hybrid vehicles that combine comfort and elegance with fuel efficiency and performance such as the compact Lexus CT 200h, which gets 42 mpg.
Local residents Bernie and Elaine Halprin recently purchased a Lexus CT 200h from Lexus of Henderson inside the Valley Automall, 7736 Eastgate Road.
"The Lexus CT 200h is really sporty looking as well as eco-friendly and fuel efficient," said new hybrid owner Bernie Halprin. "We looked everywhere for this model. We even drove down to Southern California. But, it was Valley Automall that had the model in stock, so we could see and test drive it."
Despite misconceptions, hybrids carry the same power and performance, styling and luxury as conventional cars. High-end hybrid vehicles are increasingly becoming commonplace with models like the BMW X6 and Mercedes S400 BlueHybrid, which could be the first production luxury sedan with a lithium ion battery.
"Hybrids are no longer the ugly stepsister of the car world," Johnson said. "They're now elegant and sophisticated. It's simply the latest advancement in automotive technology. Hybrids are fast and quiet, as well as affordable and practical."
Indeed, the automotive industry's growing range of affordable small and mid-sized hybrid sedans consist of the Honda Civic, Honda CRZ and 42-mpg Honda Insight, plus mid-sized sedans such as the Lexus HS250h, Nissan Altima and Toyota Prius, which gets 50 mpg. There are even large-size sedan hybrids like the Lexus GS450h, Lexus LS600hL and 41-mpg Ford Fusion, which was named Motor Trend's Car of the Year in 2010.
"Hybrid vehicles are here to stay," said Staley. "They're fun to drive and feature the same grace and power of regular vehicles, but with better fuel efficiency and environmental benefits.

U.S. Government Adds Hybrids and E.V.’s to Car Fleet

As part of its effort to make the federal fleet greener and put a million hybrid and electric vehicles on the road by 2015, the Obama administration took a relatively small step Tuesday by purchasing 101 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrids, as well as 15 battery-powered E.V.’s.
The White House also announced that it expected federal agencies to use “midsize or smaller sedans” in lieu of the beefy black S.U.V.’s commonly associated with federal executive fleets.
According to the General Services Administration, which manages the federal vehicle fleet, the purely electric Nissan Leaf and Think City also are now approved for federal purchase, with other models to follow. Ten of the new cars will be Leafs, joined by five Thinks. Michael Robertson, chief of staff at the G.S.A., said the cars would be delivered to fleets by early next year.
President Obama has ordered that by 2015 all new light-duty vehicles either leased or purchased by federal agencies must be “alternative fueled,” a broad category that includes battery electrics, hybrids, natural gas and biofuel cars. So-called flex-fuel vehicles that run on E85 ethanol fuel are included in the designation, and federal officials said that the administration would take steps to ensure that they actually run on ethanol instead of gasoline.

The presidential memorandum on federal fleet performance issued Tuesday included deadlines for agencies and went on to say that “as soon as practicable,” the alternative-fuel vehicles should be located close to fueling stations.
E.V. charging stations to service government vehicles will be installed in five cities: Detroit, Los Angeles, Washington, San Diego and San Francisco.
Nancy Sutley, chairwoman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, said that the federal government, which operates the largest vehicle fleet in the United States, with about 600,000 cars and trucks, has to “lead by example.” The administration says that over the past year, it has doubled the number of hybrid cars and trucks in its fleet.
Mr. Obama’s memo called for “midsize or smaller sedans” in executive fleets “except where larger sedans are essential to the agency mission.” Agency heads can exempt vehicles for a number of purposes, including law enforcement, emergency response or military applications.

Why Buy a Hybrid Car

Hybrid cars are popular because they appeal to such a wide range of consumers. The ecologically conscious can appreciate the the ultra low emissions and amazing fuel economy, while the economically conscious can appreciate the low depreciation and great savings at the pump. See Hybrid Car Prices Now!

• Lower fuel emissions help to curb the infamous "Greenhouse Effect."
• Hybrid cars are in high demand, and because of this, they hold their value much better than most gasoline automobiles.
• Burning fossil fuel releases potentially harmful pollutants, but reducing the amount of fuel that needs to be burned may allow the environment to dispose of these pollutants by natural means.
• Hybrid cars offer huge savings at the pump. Switching from the average sedan to the average hybrid could save the driver over 500 dollars a year!
• Hybrid car technology has been accepted as a solution for the automobile pollution problems of the day.

Many states are now offering tax incentives and rebates to assist with the purchase of hybrid cars. These rebates can often add up to thousands of dollars saved! Click to learn more about hybrid car rebates in your area or get a free no-hassle quote on the Hybrid Car of your choice.

Hybrid Car Tax Break and Benefits

Many states have been offering both cash and privilege incentives for consumers who purchase ecologically friendly vehicles. Below is a list of some of the incentives. If we've missed any, please let us know!

• California - hybrid car owners are allowed the use of carpool lanes and are exempt from parking fees in certain parts of the sate.
• Colorado - hybrid car owners are offered a tax credit.
• Connecticut - those interested in purchasing a hybrid car with a fuel economy rating of better than 40mpg are exempt from sales tax on the purchase.
• Florida - hybrid car owners may drive in carpool lanes regardless of the number of passengers.
• Georgia - hybrid car owners may drive in carpool lanes regardless of the number of passengers.
• Maine - hybrid car owners may be eligible for a tax rebate of as high as $500.
• Maryland - hybrid car owners are eligible for a tax rebate of $1000.
• New Mexico - hybrid car owners do not have to pay the motor vehicle excise tax.
• New York - hybrid car owners may be eligible for up to $5000 in tax rebates.
• Oregon - hybrid car owners are eligible for a $1500 tax rebate.
• Pennsylvania - as of 2005, hybrid car owners are eligible for a $500 rebate. More here.
• Utah - hybrid car owners are eligible for up to a $3000 income tax credit.

German push for electric car supremacy

Government doubles investment to push German makers to forefront of electric car development.
Germany is investing heavily to establish itself as the world leader in electric car technology and steal a march on the likes of Japan, the US, Korea and China.
The German government this week announced it would double its existing investment in the roll-out of electric cars to 2 billion euros ($2.7 billion).
Chancellor Angela Merkel wants to have one million electric cars on German roads by 2020, and six million by 2030, with the likes of Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen at the vanguard.

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However, the extra funding over the next two years isn't likely to fund the car companies' investment in electric cars, or even to help offset their higher purchase price. "We think a direct purchase subsidy won't be the right answer," Merkel says.
Instead, it will help establish incentives to entice buyers to electric cars, such as priority parking, access to bus-only lanes and free recharging. Merkel has also offered to waive road taxes for 10 years on any electric car bought before the end of 2015 that emits less than 50 grams of CO2 per kilometre
A commission established by the German government to spearhead the push to electric cars, the National Electric Mobility Platform, warns that the government instead needs to quadruple its investment if it wants to achieve its ambitious targets.
Daimler AG chairman and head of Mercedes-Benz Dieter Zetsche told BBC World News that car companies also need the German government to subsidise the higher purchase price of electric cars.
"We need a competitive product," he says. "The German industry is well on the way to become the lead supplier for electric cars. In order to become the lead market we must partially bridge the gap between the initially high costs of these new products, and the willingness of customers to pay."
Governments around the world continue to wrestle with how best to assist the transition from cars fuelled by polluting fossil fuels to alternative drivetrains including electric, petrol-electric hybrid and hydrogen fuel cells.
Some, including the US and Japan, already offer direct subsidies to buyers of electric vehicles, while others are investing in charging infrastructure or other ownership incentives such as those favoured by the German government.
The Australian federal government is yet to act, despite the arrival last year of the plug-in electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV, while cars from Nissan (the Leaf) and General Motors (to be sold in 2012 as the Holden Volt) are due soon. It's expected that without any subsidies or government assistance, the two compact hatches will sell for up to $60,000.
Car companies including Nissan, Holden and Mercedes-Benz have lobbied hard to attract government support for their electric models, so far to no avail.
Another pressing issue stymying the public perception of zero-emission electric cars as a true green alternative is that the overwhelming majority of electricity in Australia is "dirty", having been generated by burning brown coal that creates significant CO2 output.
A shortage of public charging infrastructure and the perceived lack of driving range of most electric vehicles also continue to be problematic.

Survey reveals consumers preferplug-in hybrids over EVs

Given the choice between full electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, consumers prefer a battery-powered car that comes with a built-in backup plan, according to Accenture.
The consulting group conducted a survey of 7,000 people in 13 countries to gauge consumer readiness for the new clean automotive technologies coming to market. Accenture found that 58 percent of drivers were in favor of battery-powered vehicles replacing conventional gasoline-powered cars, but they weren't ready to give up gasoline all together. If they had to choose between a a plug-in hybrid or a pure electric vehicle, 71 percent of the responders favored the more conservative plug-in hybrid vehicle, and only 29 percent would prefer an all-electric car.
Range anxiety, limited charging infrastructure, and convenience of the dual-propulsion power train were cited as the main preference for hybrid cars. The average driving range for survey participants was 32 miles per day. The average EV range preference is 271 miles on a single charge, according to Accenture's survey data.
Accenture's results indicate that drivers prefer plug-ins to EVs because the automotive paradigm shift requires fewer changes to their current driving habits and is less inconvenient. GM has cited similar findings in its decision to develop first a plug-in hybrid rather than an all-electric car, like the Nissan Leaf. Volkswagen recently announced that it will develop a range of plug-ins, while BMW has indicated that it will go the pure EV route.
Although Accenture's findings suggest that plug-in hybrids are probably best suited to meet current market needs and attitudes, that could change. Survey responders younger than 35 were found to be more open to forgoing gas all together, with 37 percent saying they would rather drive an EV, compared to just 24 percent of drivers older than 55 willing to take the all-electric plunge.


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Preview: 2012 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid

The 2012 rear-drive Panamera S Hybrid is being touted as the most fuel-efficient Porsche ever. When launched in 2009, the big Panamera vaulted this famed sports carmaker into the Gran Turismo segment. Here was a large, comfortable car with room for four and their luggage. In its normal guise, the Panamera is offered with naturally aspirated V6 (300 horsepower) and V8 (400 hp) engines alongside turbocharged monsters that push 500 hp in the Turbo and 550 hp in the Turbo S. Obviously, the latter puts a decidedly sporty spin on the GT theme.

The newest Panamera is a full-on parallel hybrid that can operate on electric power, its gasoline engine or a blend of both when the driver demands a burst of acceleration. Powertrain aside, the S Hybrid is all Panamera, meaning there is no compromise. Indeed, the only concession is the loss of the under-floor storage compartment -it now houses the main 1.7 kilowatt hour/288-volt battery. In all other things, the Hybrid was created equal. In fact, it goes one better than the regular Panamera S because the Hybrid earns the same threemode adaptive air suspension that serves the Turbo so well. In other words, the Hybrid does not cede anything in terms of the manner in which it carves a corner. The air suspension and adaptive damping hunker the big sedan down as it obeys driver input with the same tenacity as its non-hybrid siblings.

The Hybrid uses a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 that produces 333 hp and 325 pound-feet of torque at 3,300 rpm. The electric motor, which is housed between the engine and eightspeed automatic transmission, chips in with another 47 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque anywhere between one and 1,150 rpm. As a combination, the hybrid system produces a net output of 380 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque at just 1,000 rpm! This is enough to motivate 1,980 kilograms of leather-lined opulence to 100 kilometres an hour in six seconds. It also manages to accomplish the 80-to-120-km/h passing move in a very quick 5.3 seconds.

It becomes obvious after a few minutes behind the wheel that the Hybrid is a true sports car whenever the driver drops the hammer. The interaction between the engine and electric motor is as seamless as it gets. Before the engine is engaged as a power source, its speed is synchronized with the rest of the drivetrain so its appears as if from nowhere. In fact, the drive proved to be so seamless that the tachometer was about the only way to tell whether the engine was doing the driving or resting as it conserved fuel.

The other surprising part of the Hybrid's makeup is just how long it actually drives on the electric power alone -on the test route, roughly 35% of the 150-km drive was covered with the engine doing absolutely nothing and, as such, consuming no fossil fuel.

The secret lies in the manner in which the electric motor operates. At speeds of up to 85 km/h, the electric motor is all that's required -that and a soft foot to prevent the engine from coming to life. Once up to speed, the instant the driver eases off the gas on a downslope, the Hybrid begins to "sail" -and it can do so at speeds up to 165 km/h. Technically, sailing shuts down the gas engine on the downslope as the electric motor begins to recharge the battery by harvesting the kinetic energy through regenerative braking. When the road flattens out at the bottom of a hill, the electric motor switches function to provide the power needed to maintain the desired speed. Again, the action is so seamless one must watch the E-Power meter to see if its needle is pointing to the charge or drive portion of the dial.

For those who value fuel efficiency over performance, the Hybrid's normal drive mode is the best -it sees the eightspeed transmission upshift early. This strategy delivered a real-world average fuel consumption of 8.0 litres per 100 km on the test drive. On the flip side, the sport mode stretches out the shift points and gives the Hybrid a far more athletic feel, but with some built-in conservation strategies. The point here is that regardless of how hard the driver drives the Hybrid or which of the modes he or she selects, the hybrid system is going to cut consumption -be it sailing down a twisty descent or when the engine sits idle at a red light.

The Panamera S Hybrid is, for want of a better description, a sports car with a conscience. It is so good I was left wondering how Porsche will justify the non-hybrid Panamera S in the lineup other than for the fact it's offered with all-wheel drive and delivers a delightful V8 growl when worked. The Hybrid's only real concession, on the surface, is price -at $108,700, it is $5,500 more than the rear-drive Panamera S. However, dig a little deeper and that all changes. Throw in the adaptive air suspension (priced at $2,280) and the Hybrid's upfront premium is recouped in short order -a little over three years!