Hybrid car sales rising fast.

Sales of hybrid cars are soaring, presumably in response to $4 a gallon gasoline and growing concern over global warming.  U.S. registrations of new hybrid vehicles rose 38 percent in 2007 to a record 350,289, according to new data.

Hybrids still only make up just 2.2 percent of the U.S. market for the year. But that's not bad considering that overall auto sales declined 3 percent.

The price margin for hybrids appears to be coming down, and the range of models are steadily improving. Car makers still insist on putting hybrid engines in the most inefficient SUVs where energy savings are relatively minor. Most of these SUV hybrids still only get 22-26 miles per gallon, compared to over 40 for the Toyota Prius. That's mostly because a hybrid engine cannot generate enough power for the big SUV engines. The electric engine gives out after about 25 mph and has to switch to gas. (The Prius and the Honda Civic remain the only small hybrid car on the market, as far as I am aware. They can generate enough power up to about 40mph. Reviewers say the Prius is a far better drive.)

Click here to read a story from CNN.

- David Adams

Comments

[StockPromoter07]

It's good to hear BP & GM talk about alternative fuels, but 50 years to implement is too long.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/05/news/companies/bigoil_hydrogen/index.htm

Perhaps this link will spark more attention:

http://www.chevrolet.com/electriccar/

It is GM's electric concept car the Chevy Volt. If more people begin to demand alternative fuel cars, we should be able to speed the rate at which the technology is developed.

We have started an Investor Forum where Investors can meet and discuss topics like this:

http://investor-forum.thesubway.com/

[Chris]

Green or Greed?
The media tells us that big oil raised the price of gas again to compensate for the ethanol additive. Than I noticed that the price of a quart of oil went up almost a dollar and it doe's not contain ethanol. This Hybrid trend is also ridiculous to me. "Be green," is what I'm told, but to think of ethanol from corn being the answer is ridiculous too. Algae can produce ethanol at ten times the rate of corn but than I guess if no one can profit from it, it won't be utilized. Ethanol has been around since the 20's and we're just now seeing 10% at the pump. Wake up people, ethanol is not added to our fuel for our benefit like the media would have us believe. After all, it drives up the price and lowers your miles per gallon. So you end up getting less for your dollar and paying well over $4 a gallon in return for "feeling green." Ethanol is only being used by big oil because the government gives them a break for making gas 10% cleaner, that’s all! And as far as paying more for hybrids to get better fuel mileage well, my 1987 Chrysler Labaron, turbo, 4cyl would get up to 60mpg highway. And that car only cost $2,500.

[Neil G]

With gas prices steep as a Rocky Mountain slope, fuel-efficiency is a prime consideration for an ever increasing number of car buyers. For all you smart souls with an eye on the pump, I've compiled a list of the top 3 Honda’s most fuel-efficient cars currently sold in the U.S. These three models are also rated by the DEP in the top 10 out of all manufacturers.

Rankings are based on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) miles-per-gallon ratings for city and highway travel.

Honda Insight — 60/66
Honda Civic Hybrid — 49/51
Honda Civic — 30/40

For more information visit my PERSONAL website at: www.hondatampabay.com

[JR]

The French company who has the compressed air powered car has licensed out the technology to a company that plans to sell US models by 2011 or so. If they reach market I might buy one of those to replace my aging Saturn. 3-4 hours to refuel at home off standard power plug, 200 miles per "fillup".