Will Hybrid Vehicles Dominate the Future of the Automotive Industry?

By Levi Quinn

People today are living in fact-paced environment where changes happen every day which directly and indirectly affect their lifestyles. Since the dawn of modern technology, changes became faster and new things emerge just as the old ones are on the verge of dominating the market they belonged. Computers, mobile phones, and other technological gadgets continually develops and innovates in a very quick span of time that new models from manufacturers are being launched a lot of times within a year. And these innovations and changes are ever growing as times pass by.

In the automotive industry, hybrid vehicles are the latest trends. Amidst the continuous improvements in conventional vehicles, these vehicle types found its way into the scope of attraction of consumers. Not only did they gain limelight because of their more modern mechanisms, they also captured the interests of people because of their very promising features. In fact, hybrid vehicles did not remain as a concept for too long. Giants in the car manufacturing industry have immediately jumped into the concept and created their very own version of hybrid vehicles, mostly hybrid cars; and began making them available to the market.

In the last 8 years or so, the popularity of hybrid vehicles maintained an impressive growth; with more and more people expressing their interest towards this automotive technological wonder. As well, other car manufacturers are also starting making their own hybrid vehicle versions; and planning to launch it to be marketed in the coming years. This scenario holds a very promising future for hybrids and for people who want to own one of these.

The rising popularity of hybrid vehicles is not surprising; considering its features and the advantages that they offer. These benefits allow people to go beyond the limits and restrictions of conventional vehicles; giving a wider scope of alternative for them; which, as far as convenience, is concerned, a very important factor that holds enormous impact.

Among the most attractive features and benefits being offered by hybrid vehicles include high fuel efficiency, better mileage, environmentally- friendly mechanism and more advanced interior accessory features that topple down conventional cars in the market. However, the considerably high price of hybrids is one factor that prevents the total domination of these car types in the market.

Despite the potential enormous savings that they can get from the cut on their fuel consumption, the price tags of these vehicles remain to be very expensive, especially for average- earning citizens.
Fortunately, innovations and developments are perpetually being done with hybrid vehicles. These offer greater promises for more convenience, and perhaps, more practical reasons for the patronization of these products. Overall, it is not impossible that hybrid vehicles will eventually dominate the automotive industry in the coming decades.
 

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Dear Hybrid Car - We Really Just Aren't That Into You

By Lance Winslow

Would you buy a hybrid automobile right now? Well, before you answer that you might want to consider the extra up-front costs and the return on investment that you'd supposedly be saving by having lower fuel costs. Even at $5.00 per gallon it takes a long time to pay off the additional $15,000 on average that a hybrid costs over the equal size and performance of a regular car. Okay so, let's talk about this shall we?

There was an interesting article recently in the LA Time on April 10, 2012 titled; "Many hybrid-car owners buy once -- but not again, Polk study says," by Jerry Hirsh which stated; "Only 35% of hybrid vehicle owners chose to purchase a hybrid again when they returned to the market in 2011, according to auto information company R.L. Polk & Co. If you factor out the super-loyal Toyota Prius buyers, the repurchase rate drops to under 25%."

That's unfortunate, so, even if you are dead set on helping the environment (in name only) and willing to fork over the extra dough to buy a hybrid to "look cool" and environmentally friendly, you probably won't ever do that again once you learn your lesson. Many who had bought hybrids in the past have had to replace the batteries, which can easily run $7,000 to $8,000 for replacements, meaning your hybrid's resale value isn't much at that point, nor does anyone want that trade in you see?

On April 18, 2012 the Wall Street Journal had an article by Mike Ramsey titled; "Ford CEO: Battery Is Third of Electric Car Cost," which just by the title you can start to see the problem with their new hybrid Ford Focus and the challenges with building a low-cost hybrid for the masses, in essence it isn't going to happen anytime soon, and no you can't get one in a flying car, as not only are those batteries expensive they weigh too much also, perhaps like many of the American drivers these days?
So, what's needed you wonder? Well, Automotive News had an article in the January 30, 2012 issue titled; "Auto Industry Works to Win Back Engineers - Companies Find Tough Competition for Top Candidates," by Danielle Emerson and Dustin Walsh. Yes, there is another problem with bringing the clean burning future automobile to fruition, they have to start back at the drawing board, and re-engineer from scratch, but who is going to do all that work?

The DOE is sponsoring new battery tech, and new materials are coming forth, but all of these things require a whole new type of future car, not similar to the systems in today's automobiles, then there is the testing, prototyping, lead time, re-tooling, regulations, lawsuits, union issues, and government red-tape - all that before they sell the first unit. And let's not forget the Chevy Volt didn't exactly get off to an electrifying start. The Toyota Prius has been built for over 12 years now, but it's hardly made a dent in the number of regular cars sold.

Perhaps, the biggest challenge of all besides the engineering, cost, maintenance challenges, regulations, re-tooling, and battery technology - well, it's still the consumer, "they just aren't that into you!" Please consider all this and think on it.
 

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Future Automotive Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net

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Hybrid Cars Are Here to Stay

By Jennifer Hulbert

The good thing about improving technology is that it also usually educates people in the process. When car engines became more sophisticated and efficient, it also brought out the knowledge that there needed to be a newer type of engine that didn't rely so much on fuel. That, and the fact the gasoline was becoming even more expensive and expensive to process from oil sources. Engineers wanted to come up with engines that could run on more than just fuel so that the United States wasn't so dependent on other countries for oil in order to make the fuel to run the cars.

The answer was a hybrid engine. The hybrid part of it meant that it could run on standard fuel, but it would also work on other types of fuel too. There are several types of hybrid cars on the market now that work with a combination of electricity and fuel even. The hybrid vehicles can be small cars, SUVs, mid-sized cars and even cross-over models these days compared to only having one or two models just a decade ago. Will they be around for the future?

The short answer is yes. Hybrid cars will become a wave of the future because natural resources will become tapped and harder to find in the future. The harder they are to find, the more expensive they will become. And the refining process will also become more expensive, as labor and material prices continue to climb. Finding alternative fuel sources will become more important and even more popular than it is now.

Hybrid vehicles are not only better because they use less fuel and are cost effective, they release less emissions in to the air. The pollution levels put out decades ago was staggering and damaged the ozone layers of the Earth. Hybrid vehicles are created to run on other fuels not as a way to save money, but as a way to keep the Earth cleaner too. Engines that run on bio-fuels use materials that are readily available and replaceable in nature. When they are burned, they burn more efficiently and cleaner than fuel or even a combination of fuel and electricity can.

Keeping the air cleaner and using less fuel are two great reasons that will keep engineers continuing to work on hybrid car engine designs. What can a car be powered with so that it releases absolutely no emission in the future? How can a car be created so it costs very little to run for a family? Hybrid cars will come down in price and be affordable and a smart options for all families who want to keep the environment cleaner and save money in the process.
 

Service Plus Automotive is a family owned business since 1991. We are focused on providing the best possible customer service experience when servicing or repairing a customers vehicle. We strongly believe in customer education and regularly show the customer what needs repairing. We are very involved in various community activities and believe in giving back to the community who has supported us for almost 20 years. For more information, go to http://serviceplusautony.com

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