Hybrid cars take hold in US

BBC NEWS | Americas | Hybrid cars take hold in US:
The United States - land of the brave and home of the SUV, sport utility vehicle.

But now the gas-guzzling gargantuans are being challenged by fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly hybrids like the Toyota Prius and hybrid versions of popular models from Honda.

The hybrids could one day help to reduce the United States' output of greenhouse gasses, but despite the buzz surrounding them, they still make up a relatively small percentage of auto sales.

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the US spends $200,000 every minute on foreign oil.

Last year, about 80,000 hybrid cars and trucks were sold out of some 17m total sales in the US, according to David Friedman, research director for the Union of Concerned Scientists' Clean Vehicle Program.

"Hybrids are becoming a mainstream product," he said, adding that if anyone would have said five years ago that hybrid sales in the US would be approaching 100,000 per year, it would have been thought "inconceivable".

Mr Friedman said that Americans would have to buy 40m to 60m hybrids over the next 10 years to stall greenhouse gas emissions at 2010 levels.

"If the government continues its vacuum of leadership, nothing will happen" to address greenhouse gas emissions, he said.

(hat tip to Dave from Scotland for spotting this one)

Comments

[Jim (I Love Hybrid Cars!) Stockton]

Here's my take on this:
I bought a Honda Civic Hybrid a year ago. Since then, I have spent about a third of what I used to spend on gas. That, along with the tax credit I got back at the end of last year, has made my hybrid car purchase very worthwhile and economical. It's sad to see that this technology isn't backed a little better by our government. We REALLY need more support and mandates in order to clear up our air. It's OUR future!