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Hybrid Cars
Hybrid cars
didn't used to be cool cars, but things
have changed since Honda introduced the Insight
hybrid in 2000. Following closely on Honda's heals was the
Toyota Prius hybrid car, which is the most popular hybrid vehicle
today.
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In
fact, due to the popularity of the Prius and Toyota's other
hybrid car and truck offerings, it has supplanted Ford Motor
Company as the number 2 car company in sales in the U. S.
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General Motors
is still the number 1 car company, though with declining sales
and a string of continuous losses per quarter, it may not be for
long.
And, just
what is General Motor's philosophy on hybrid cars? According to
GM, hybrid are just a passing fancy that the public will get tired
of and the real future is in ethanol vehicles and hydrogen cars.
GM may be right about this last part, but are being very shortsighted
when it comes to hybrid vehicles.
Most likely
the vehicles of the future will be ethanol and hydrogen vehicles,
but they will be ethanol hybrid and hydrogen hybrid cars and trucks.
Why? What consumer wants to spend more on fuel than is absolutely
necessary? Whether you're filling your car with gasoline, diesel,
biofuels, ethanol or hydrogen, the car that uses less fuel and
save more money at the pump will ultimately win the consumers'
hearts.
Toyota is
banking on this fact. In fact, Toyota has finally acquiesced to
pressure from the public and from a group of rogue engineers and
now is developing a plug-in hybrid car that will get in excess
of 100 miles to the gallon. Even though GM has publicly stated
that hybrid cars are a passing fancy, rumor has it that they also
are developing a plug-in hybrid because of the current and foreseeable
high prices of petrol at the pumps.
Hybrid cars
will be around for a long time, not only because they save on
fuel and are good for the environment, but also because of the
new breed of electric motors that offer more torque. So, expect
many new hybrid cars coming out in the not to distant future that
will over more power, more speed and higher gas mileage.
Who can ask
for more than this?
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