At the Detroit Auto Show this week, Toyota was displaying one of its Prius hybrid cars and boasting that it had hit 130.7 miles per hour at the Bonneville Salt Flats last August during National Speed Week. It was evidence of Toyota's vigorous and optimistic view of hybrids, which combine internal combustion engines with electric motors. While high gasoline prices have caused many people to take second and third looks at hybrid cars they still account for less than 1 percent of the 16.5 million vehicle-per-year American auto market. They are niche cars for those who want to be technologically hip and/or environmentally "responsible." Whether or not these cars make economic sense in the long run, the big automakers now appear to see them as a valid - and growing - part of the market. Toyota sees them capturing almost half the market in the next 20 years - a bold vision indeed. General Motors sees about 15 percent market penetration. Many other automotive market people see a timid 3 percent. In December, General Motors and Daimler-Chrysler announced they are teaming up to produce their own proprietary technology in hopes of taking hybrids beyond the very sophisticated levels already achieved by Toyota and Honda. Their ultimate goal: greater economy with the power needed to move the bigger cars and light trucks Americans love. In other words, hybrids that can tow boats over the Rockies and pass a gas station at the same time. A tall order. But there is growing evidence it can be filled. Right now the hybrid du jour is the Toyota Prius, but rival Honda is coming up fast on the inside with a new hybrid sedan - an intriguing iteration of its best-selling Accord.  Read entire article by clicking this link.
I took offense at the characterization of Prius owners as "...enviro-phonies"... and ..."poseurs"... or ..."enviro-geek"... but this closing paragraph made up for it: ______________________________________ "With fuel cell dreams still unfulfilled and the search for the holy grail of the "super battery" in its usual state of frustration, we may be witnessing with hybrid technology a turning point in automotive history. And it is a rare display of entrepreneurial courage by two large Japanese corporations to boot. ______________________________________
Considering the Prius has been on the road since 1997 (Japan) and Toyota have been producing hybrid cars (GT200) and busses for the best part of 20 years, I think its fair to say the technology is proved.
OK if I teak my car and replace the passenger seat with a cooler I can get to 130. I get that. I just don’t know what to do with it. My son, who lives in Montana tells me that I can get by with an infarction at $40 if I keep under 90. But under 130 where do you go. The car as it stands is way good enough. It does all I want and more. I am have as much fun as I have in a long time.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hdrygas\";p=\"63642)</div> OK if I tweek my car and replace the passenger seat with a cooler I can get to 130. I get that. I just don’t know what to do with it. My son, who lives in Montana tells me that I can get by with an infarction at $40 if I keep under 90. But under 130 where do you go. The car as it stands is way good enough. It does all I want and more. I am have as much fun as I have in a long time
interesting article and im very surprized that GM grudgingly admits to a market penetration of 15 % for hybrids...but that is what my slogan is all about. it doesnt refer to me driving my car, it refers to the Prius making a large enough impact that even vigorous opponents of hybrid technology like GM will be forced to come over to the technology much sooner than they had planned on doing (i bet ya without the Prius, GM would have never even considered a hybrid passenger car) therefore Toyota is forcing other manufacturers to recognize the technology as valid, marketable and profitable. hence my slogan, "Driving the Future of Technology Today.
