Why is Fuel Economy Important?

The number of hybrid vehicles available to consumers continues to grow as Ford Motor Company offers the first commercially available hybrid SUV, the Escape Hybrid, for model year 2005. Toyota Motor Corporation will also be offering hybrid versions of the Toyota Highlander and Lexus RX400 SUVs for model year 2005. Honda will be offering a hybrid version of the Accord for this model year, further increasing consumer choices for hybrid vehicles.

In addition to these new hybrids, the Honda Insight and Civic Hybrid and the Toyota Prius are still available to consumers and offer exceptional gas mileage, the best in their respective classes. These vehicles are also environmentally friendly, emitting less global warming and smog-forming emissions than most conventional vehicles. Hybrid pickup trucks are also available as General Motors Corporation continues to offer the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra hybrid pickup trucks to a limited number of fleet and commercial operators in selected areas.

More Hybrids Coming Soon
How Hybrids Get Great Gas Mileage

Even More Choices Coming Soon

According to automakers, consumers who care about fuel economy will have a dozen hybrid cars and trucks to choose from within the next few years. Below is a list of hybrids and their announced introduction dates.

Sources: J.D. Power-LMC; Energy & Environmental Analysis (EEA), Inc.; manufacturer web sites. Updated 2/14/2005.

How do hybrids get such great gas mileage?

It is no accident that the most fuel efficient vehicles in some classes for the 2005 model year are hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs). Hybrids can be configured in many different ways to achieve a variety of different objectives. They combine the best features of the internal combustion engine with an electric motor and can significantly improve fuel economy without sacrificing performance or driving range. HEVs may also be configured to provide electrical power to auxiliary loads such as power tools.

HEVs are primarily propelled by an internal combustion engine, just like conventional vehicles. However, they also convert energy normally wasted during coasting and braking into electricity, which is stored in a battery until needed by the electric motor. The electric motor is used to assist the engine when accelerating or hill climbing and in low-speed driving conditions where internal combustion engines are least efficient. Some HEVs also automatically shut off the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop and restart it when the accelerator is pressed. This prevents wasted energy from idling. Unlike all-electric vehicles, HEVs now being offered do not need to be plugged into an external source of electricity to be recharged; conventional gasoline and regenerative braking provide all the energy the vehicle needs.

Potential buyers should also be aware that the federal government is currently offering tax incentives for HEVs and other alternative fuel vehicles. Some states also offer incentives.

Why is Fuel Economy Important?