Prius takes two in International Engine of the Year

The Toyota Prius took top honors at the International Engine of the Year for the eighth time in eight years. The Prius took two this year, taking first for Best Fuel Economy and first in 1.4 - 1.8 litre engine. The Hybrid Synergy may be available across several other vehicles in the Lexus and Toyota lines, but the Prius is almost equivalent to hybrid.

The Prius is able to operate at 32 percent efficiency, compareed with the average of 14 percent by turning off when stopped, using regenerateive braking, as well as its hybrid gas electric engine.

INTERNATIONAL ENGINE OF THE YEAR 2006 - 1.4-litre to 1.8-litre and Best Fuel Economy awards.

Hybrid trends

After seeing the google trends, I had to try it out using some common hybrid car terms. I found the following search interesting:

If you take a look, I searched for trends for the following terms: toyota prius, highlander hybrid, honda insight, ford escape hybrid, and hybrid cars. You can see how interest in hybrids peaked last year with the corresponding spike in gas prices.

You can also see that the Toyota Prius outranks the other cars I searched for by a significant amount. And that searches for Prius and hybrid cars are basically equivalent in size. To me, this indicates that the Prius is distinctively hybrid and continues to be the most popular hybrid car, despite the entry of so many new hybrid vehicles.

I also noted that searches for the Honda Insight seems to distinguish itself when the gas prices spiked last year. This shouldn't be surprising since the Insight is the most efficient hybrid car available, even though it's low production (only 110 made in April) and is only a two seater.

You may have noticed I put 'hybrid' in with ford escape, toyota highlander and honda accord. I was attempting to distinguish between the hybrid and the conventional gas engine. If I take hybrid out, you can see that searches for the Honda Accord are much higher than any of the others. But, what I find interesting is how searches for these three cars dropped drastically with the spike in gas prices. But if you look carefully, searches for the Honda Accord have climbed dramatically recently.

One last note. The bottom of the graph shows trends in news stories for these terms. The big spikes seem to correspond to releases of their hybrid versions. But, there is no corresponding spike in search terms.

Bosch is ready to supply hybrid parts

The biggest limiting factor for hybrid sales last month was supply. Toyota really felt the crunch as their hybrid sales dropped significantly compared to last April, but the drop was artificial in that they have waiting lists of up to four months on their Toyota Prius.

Bosch is the world's largest supplier and has concluded the prototype and is in contact with customers about contracting for hte business development phase.

AutoWeek

we are offering the electric motor, the power electronics, engine controls - meaning adapted engine controls - and, depending on the requirements, brake technology in the form of brake-by-wire.

Ford and GM want access to the HOV lane for their hybrids

Ford and GM want access to HOV lanes for their hybrids, no matter what their actual fuel efficiency is. As it stands right now, New York and California opened their HOV lanes to hybrids who also meet a standard of 45 mpg (EPA rating) highway. Only three cars meet California's standard, which was applied to New York, the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid and Honda Insight.

Ford and GM are charging that the federal law allows any hybrids that get 50% better highway mileage or 25% better city-highway mileage combined than identical gasoline powered models. Ford and GM's hybrids would meet those standards.

While I can understand why Ford and GM want access for their vehicles to the HOV lane, I would have to say that California's rules are more sensible. It really doesn't make any sense to claim they are being discriminated against, not when Toyota and Honda have hybrids that don't qualify. Also, it makes sense to allow this perk for those hybrids that truly make a difference in combatting oil dependence, not just because they are hybrids.

Also, some drivers in the HOV lane are getting upset at the special priviliges hybrid drivers are receiving. Calling it Prius backlash, people are upset at what they perceive as overcrowding in the HOV lane. If the HOV lane fills up due to hybrid use, drivers who currently carpool will give up and go back to driving themselves to work.

It makes sense to offer the special privilige to hybrid owners who have bought the most fuel efficient vehicles. These hybrids are still comparable to other cars in the HOV lane with 3 or more passengers. Ford and GM's hybrids just aren't.

JS Online:Ford, GM want their hybrids let in carpool lanes

Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp., seeking to boost sales, want the federal government to force New York and California to let solo drivers of their hybrid vehicles join those of Honda and Toyota cars in highway carpool lanes.

West Philadelphia High School Team Looks to Repeat at Tour de Sol

As a follow up to an earlier story I had on the group of high school kids who built a car and won the Tor de Sol last year, I am including their press release for entering this year's race. Last year, they took a K-1 kit, an old Accord, and some soybean oil (along with some donated parts and money) and built a car that goes from 0 to 60 in 4 seconds and gets 50 mpg. While it may smell like french fries when you start it up, there's nothing lost in this car.

PHILADELPHIA, May 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Supporters of the Electric Vehicle Team of West Philadelphia High School's Academy of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering (WPHSAAME) will gather on Tuesday afternoon to wish the students success in this week's Tour de Sol. The Tour de Sol is the nation's oldest and most prestigious competition for alternative fuel vehicles, now in its 18th year. The race is being held in Saratoga Springs, NY and begins on Wednesday with technical testing of vehicles.

ADVERTISEMENT
Last year, the team from West Philadelphia High School won the Tour de Sol defeating not only colleges and universities, but production vehicles from Toyota and Honda. Their vehicle, the Hybrid Attack, was the greenest vehicle in the competition.

The competition will again be fierce. This year besides the usual array of colleges, universities and manufacturers there will be a team from Delhi College, the premier engineering school of India. Also in the competition will be West's closest competitor, Western Washington University, which will be sending two (2) vehicles.

"At a time when the price of gas is over $3.00 a gallon, building a vehicle that gets great mileage and runs on soybean oil is a great educational experience," said Simon Hauger, the Team's mentor.

The students and staff at West have been working very hard to prepare for the race. Supporters including AFSCME District Council 33, and others from the labor and business communities will be gathering at the West Philadelphia High School's Academy of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering at 221 South Hanson Street at 3:00 PM on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 to cheer the Team on as they get ready to once again take on the challenge of building the greenest vehicle.

The team members are students Calvin Cheesboro, Joe Pak, Tyson Drummond, Tysheema Lovett, Kerri Gabe, Nkosi Harmon, Bruce Harmon, Kevin McKnight, Victor Webster and Tete Occannsey, along with teachers Simon Hauger, Clayton Kinsler and Ron Preiss.

For more information about the Tour de Sol visit the website of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (http://nesea.org)

The WPHSAAME is a program of the School District of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Academies, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides services in dozens of public high schools and middle schools. For more information about Philadelphia Academies visit their website at http://AcademiesInc.org.

The work of the WPHSAAME is supported by its Board of Governors and business partners: AFSCME D. C. 33, AAA Mid-Atlantic, Central City Toyota, City of Philadelphia Office of Fleet Management, Community College of Philadelphia, Gary Barbera Dodgeland, Haines Street Collex, Meissner Chevrolet, Mitchell 1, the Philadelphia Parking Authority, the Philadelphia School District, Pep Boys, Sunoco, Inc., Subaru of America and the University of Pennsylvania.


Source: AFSCME District Council 33

Hybrid cars are in short supply

Hybrid car sales increased from April 2005 to April 2006, but not as much as you might expect. Ford had record sales, while Honda and Toyota sales were mixed. The problem, according to Toyota US President Jim Press lies in the supply.

USATODAY.com - Lack of supply reduces hybrid sales

"We sold down our inventory. We're down to a two-day supply," says Toyota U.S. President Jim Press. "The fact is, demand has never been higher."

For Toyota, the release of the Toyota Camry Hybrid has reduced hybrid supplies available for the Toyota Prius. That limited the number of sales they were capable of making last month.

Buying the Toyota Prius typically requires a wait of a couple of weeks up to four months and the Prius and Civic sit on lots for less than 10 days. The average car takes 57 days to move off of the lot.

The Honda Civic hybrid supplies were limited by supplies, but sales of the Honda Accord Hybrid have been slipping. The Honda Accord hybrid is a performance hybrid which uses the electric engine to assist the gas engine for more power, rather than better mileage.

Ford, on the other hand, had room to grow, allowing it to double its sales.

Update:

AutoWeek

At best, Press said Toyota Motor Sales can double its U.S. hybrid sales from last year, when it sold 146,560 units.

As for the future, Press said Toyota is short of the engineering resources to accelerate its plans to bring new hybrid models to market.

"Expanding hybrid volume requires increasing the number of vehicles that have the hybrid option available," he said. "That's driven by engineering resources, and it's difficult to accelerate that."

Moms are looking for safety and fuel economy

NADAguides.com surveyed more than 520 mothers of various-aged children (including expectant monthers) as part of their Mother's Day survey.

Over half of the respondents currently drive an SUV. 67% indicated that safety was among their most important consideration, followed by 52% who are concerned about fuel economy. While only 6% currently drive a minivan, 17% wish they did and 12% wish they drove a hybrid.

When It Comes to Buying a Car, Mom's the Word: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

When asked if they'd like to drive something different than the vehicle they currently drive, 52% responded they currently drive the type of vehicle they ideally want to drive, followed by 17% who responded they'd ideally like to drive a Mini Van, and 12% who indicated they'd like to drive a Hybrid.

I would say the numbers on SUV drivers and minivan drivers explain why there is a hybrid SUV, but right now, there is no hybrid mini-van.

Senate moves to reduce dependence on foreign oil

The Enhanced Energy Security Act of 2006, a bipartisan bill in the Senate is looking to reduce America's dependence on fossil fuels, especially oil. As part of that legislation, they are looking to increase spending on new technologies such as plug in hybrids.
U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

The Enhanced Energy Security Act of 2006, introduced today, will greatly spur energy conservation, with a focus on reducing oil demand through greater fuel efficiency and finding ways to moderate natural gas demand by promoting renewable electricity production. Among the most important provisions of the bill will be an emphasis on an expanded plan for economy-wide oil savings that will cut oil use, from projected levels, by 2.5 million barrels of oil per day by 2016, 7 million barrels of oil per day by 2026, and 10 million barrels of oil per day by 2031.

The legislation includes a variety of initiatives designed to reduce our nation’s nearly total reliance on petroleum products in the transportation sector, including programs that will:
· Speed the development of new vehicle technologies such as plug-in hybrids and the use of advanced light weight materials in vehicles;
· Expand the authority of the Secretary of Energy to provide loan guarantees and competitive grants to automakers and parts manufacturers to convert existing plants or to build new facilities for manufacturing fuel-efficient vehicles and vehicle components;
· Increase the availability of alternative fuels, such as E85, across the country by providing funding for alternative fueling stations;
· Provide funds to states for programs to encourage motorists to retire vehicles that are inefficient, and for programs to reduce school bus idling; and
· Provide incentives for the production of cellulosic ethanol.

Hybrid SUV Market

Some interesting changes are occuring in the hybrid market. Back in June 2005 with the introduction of the Toyota Highlander SUV Hybrid, the hybrid SUV market hit 34% of the total hybrid market. From that point, until January, 2006, the SUV market has hovered around 30%. In February, the market increased to 39%. In March, it stayed at 39% and in April, the SUV market has increased to 43%.

Perhaps this shouldn't be surprising since four of the ten hybrids available today are SUVs, but the number of hybrid car types has been increasing, not the number hybrid SUVs. Also, the biggest player, the Toyota Prius, has run into production limits, limiting its market share.

This increase in the hybrid SUV market is related to the increase in gas prices, greater marketing efforts by Toyota and Ford, as well as recent incentives being offered by Ford on its Mercury Mariner Hybrid and Ford Escape Hybrid including 0% financing.

Its unlikely the SUV market will become the majority, simply because of the number of car alternatives are increasing at a faster rate. For instance, the Toyota Camry Hybrid and GS 450h were just introduced into the North American marketplace during the last week in April.

Emergency workers are worried about hybrid safety

Emergency workers were worried about any damage the hybrid car could do to them as they tried to rescue the victim in a recent car crash involving a Prius.
TownOnline.com - Local News: Extra care taken after ’hybrid’ crash

In freeing her from the car, Porter reported the car itself posed the most difficulty.
"These new hybrid cars can make our rescue process after a car wreck slightly more dangerous," Porter said. "Not only do we need to worry about disconnecting the battery, but now we need to worry about the possibility of being electrocuted by [the cars’] additional high-powered electrical system."

The victim said her brakes failed so she ended up crossing through a resident's backyard, eventually coming to rest on its side. The women was unhurt, but firefighters had to break the glass to get her out. The driver was cited for failure to stop or yield.

Honda Fit Hybrid

Hybridcars has confirmed Honda's intentions to release the Honda Fit Hybrid in mid 2007.


Hybrid Cars - Honda Fit Hybrid

The Emergence of the Economy Hybrid
In an exclusive interview with HybridCars.com, an industry insider has confirmed that Honda will release a hybrid version of the Honda Fit subcompact. The vehicle is schedule for release in mid-2007. The source, who wished to remain anonymous, said:
"If you take the measurement from the wheel hub to the wheel hub of the Fit and the Insight, they are the same to the millimeter. The Fit is going to get the Insight engine. It's already a proven powertrain. It will probably get fuel economy in the low to mid-50s."

They also confirmed the hybrid CR-V min-SUV will be available in late 2006.

The Honda Fit Hybrid is big news because it will be so affordable. The closest hybrid in price is about $20K. While the Honda Fit hybrid may sell for under $12,000. It is only a subcompact car, meaning it would be of limited utility, but hybrid consumers may embrace the price tag.

Hybrids get into the HOV lane in NJ

NJ Turnpike Authority is now allowing hybrid cars into the HOV lane on the NJ Turnpike. Unfortunately, the HOV lane is only available between exits 11 and 14.

Governor Jon S Corzine asked the Authority to authorize hybrids in the HOV lane last week. Yesterday, the Authority voted to allow hybrid vehicles to use the HOV lanes. The governor is hoping to encourage people to use more fuel efficient cars in an effort to combat high gas prices.

Source: AP Report -- Newsday.com

They should have consulted with Virginia's turnpike authority or California's before acting so quickly. It seems that HOV lanes in those states are beginning to get clogged by hybrid cars, which is leading to a backlash on hybrid drivers, who tend to drive the speed limit in order to conserve on gas consumption.

Hybrid trucks for the military

An AP report on hybrid (diesel-electric) trucks in the military brings up some interesting uses. These hybrid trucks, a Heavy Expanded Mobility Technical Truck (HEMTT) being produced by OshKosh Truck, are prototypes. The conventional HEMTT gets 3 to 4 miles per gallon, while the hybrid increases mileage by 20 percent. And, just as a bonus, it generates enough electricity to power a hospital.

Current HEMMT (diesel) costs range from $200K to $400K, but its not clear how much the hybrid version will cost. Implications for military vehicles going hybrid are clear, however. Gas savings can be significant, alongside the utility of a power producing truck capable of heading into danger or emergency zones.

The HEMTT is capable of carrying 13 tons of cargo, and must be capable of going where few others can go (hills, heights, little or no pavement, etc...) The hybrid prototype has a smaller engine, lower center of gravity, produces less noise and is capable of fitting in a third passenger.

OshKosh also produces tow, garbage, concrete mixers and fire trucks, which means developing a hybrid for the military could lead to more advances in hybrid trucks for the future.

Read more about it at Chron.com.

Car and Driver reviews the Toyota Camry Hybrid

And to put it briefly, they seem to be impressed. In summary, you get good performance (0-60 in 7.7 seconds). The EPA rates city/highway at 43/37 mpg, although they had an observed 33 mpg mixed metro driving.

They also had only good things to say about its looks and feel:

Short Take Review: 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid - Car and Driver - June 2006

Hybrid or not, there’s a lot to like about this new Camry, starting with its intriguing shape. It crouches with its nose low, ready to pounce as you approach from the front. The side glass arcs inward as it rises, suggesting a canopy. Inside, the feeling is spacious, with the windshield and dashboard pushed forward and out of your face. The driving position is excellent. Even with the optional navigation system, remarkably few buttons are needed to operate this complex machine. The new instrument cluster, with large white-on-black markings, is wonderfully legible. Instead of a tach, the hybrid features an instantaneous-mpg gauge that swings a long, well-damped needle over a broad arc marked from 0 mpg to 60, and then into a blue range beyond the numbers — the zone of infinite mileage that the Camry enters when it drives without engine power.

The Toyota Camry hybrid is a full hybrid, capable of electric power only at low speeds. Regenerative braking makes the braking feel different from conventional cars, but the reviewers felt the Camry wasn't too bad, if not as good as in a conventional Camry.

The large (150 lbs nickel-metal hydride) battery is in the back, which takes out four cubic feet in the trunk and reduces the gas tank by 1.4 gallons.

Road and Track looks at hybrids

They road tested the Honda Civic hybrid, the Toyota Camry Hybrid and the Ford Escape Hybrid. While the Camry and Escape fared well in the 'frugal in comparison' category, all three hybrids got rave reviews from the drivers. They were especially impressed with the improvements in hybrid technology, as well as the seamless transition from electric to gas power.

Overall, they seem to understand hybrids better than most.

Road and Track.

The top 10 hybrid states

In a follow up to a previous story on hybrid registration in 2005, R.L. Polk & Co. also put together a list of the top 10 hybrid states.   These are the states that registered the most hybrids in 2005.

California and Virginia both give some extra benefits to those who buy hybrids, so its not surprising to see them in the list of top 10 states that own hybrids. Also, you should factor in state populations (obviously, California has more people, so you are more likely to see people buying hybrids there).

AP report via Yahoo!

State 2005 Percent of total volume
1. California 52,619 26.4 percent
2. Florida 10,470 5.3 percent
3. Texas 9,632 4.8 percent
4. New York 9,372 4.7 percent
5. Virginia 8,650 4.3 percent
6. Illinois 7,286 3.7 percent
7. Washington 6,970 3.5 percent
8. Pennsylvania 6,948 3.5 percent
9. Massachusetts 6,060 3.0 percent
10. Maryland 5,673 2.8 percent
Combined Top Ten 123,680 62.1 percent
Source: R.L. Polk & Co.

Hybrid vehicles face testing by Which? magazine

Which? magazine tested the Honda Civic Hybrid, Toyota Lexus RX 400h and the Toyota Prius for their environmental friendliness. Not surprisingly, they were unable to reach the mileage each car is rated for.

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Green claims for hybrid cars fail to add up, says Which? survey

"We didn't do a highly technical laboratory test and simply drove them around on a mixture of roads in a normal way. It should be noted that all cars will struggle to get near the official mpg figures, but we feel that some of these should have done better. The Honda was nice to drive but as a fuel-saving hybrid, though, we're not sure that the figures add up."

What they fail to note is that all cars, hybrid or not, will not match with their fuel efficiency ratings. Hybrids are held to a higher standard because they are rated higher. But in normal driving conditions, its the driver that matters most. In fact some hybrid drivers realize better mileage than what the EPA (in the US) rates them for. By using a technique called 'hypermiling', they can even reach over 100 mpg.

Also, mileage is closely related to several factors, such as weather and road conditions. But the most telling mileage factor is the driver. By stomping on the gas pedal, one driver can kill mileage ratings for any car. That's why the EPA has standard testing procedures which are used for comparison purposes. Also, those EPA ratings are currently being rewritten to provide more 'real world' data.

US Hybrid sales doubled last year

According to research by R.L. Polk & Co., 199,148 new hybrid vehicles were registered in 2005, a 139 percent increase from the year before. A record number of hybrids were sold in the US in 2005.

Most of the hybrids sold were from Toyota/Lexus, who accounted for 70% of the hybrid market. Ford had less than 10%, while Honda took the rest. Toyota's main success came from the Toyota Prius, which accounted for more than half of the hybrids sold, all by itself.

MSNBC.com

Registrations for new hybrids rose to 199,148 in 2005, a 139 percent increase from the year before, as more models came on the market, according to R.L. Polk & Co., a Southfield, Mich.-based firm that collects and interprets automotive data. The Lexus RX400h and hybrid versions of the Toyota Highlander and Mercury Mariner were among the new models from which consumers had to choose.

GM Chief Executive uncertain about hybrid future

GM Chief Executive Rick Wagoner has been and will continue to be cautious in his approach to hybrids. In the meantime, GM is going to keep developing bigger vehicles that will also have better fuel economy.

Wagoner also expects gas prices to come back down based on the current supply and demand equation for oil. He is predicting gas prices will not "get to a price range when it would affect behavior". He expects gas prices would need to be well over $3 a gallon in order to significantly hurt consumers.

In the meantime, Wagoner is uncertain about the future for hybrids.
MarketWatch

"A question I'm often asked is: How big the hybrid market could get to be? The honest answer to that is, I don't think anybody really knows. If you believe we're going to be at $120 (per barrel oil price) for a long period of time, the answer is a heck of a lot more than if you believe $60. Consumers will drive this. Our focus is to make sure we have the capability."

GM is launching its new Saturn Vue Green line later this year. Its base price should start at $23,000, which puts it well below other hybrid SUVs. But, the Saturn Vue Green is not a full hybrid in the sense that the electric engine is not capable of running the vehicle at low speeds. The gas engine will shut off when the vehicle is stopped and regenerative breaking is used to recharge the batteries. But the conventional gas engine gets 22/27 mpg with an automatic transmission. The hybrid will improve that EPA esimate to 27/32 mpg.

Toyota looking to make its hybrids more distinctive

Toyota is looking for a more distinctive styling for its hybrids. Currently, you can pick a Toyota Prius out of the crowd easily based on its distinctive styling. The same goes for the Honda Insight. But the Toyota Highlander, Camry, and the Lexus GS 450h and RX 400h are very similar to their conventional counterparts. There may be a distinctive badge, but that's about it.

Given how popular the Prius is and how much some drivers want to make a 'statement' about their environmental concern by buying a hybrid, branding the Toyota hybrid may be a very good move. Some odd styling choices may be in store.

Kim Won, a senior creative designer for Toyota is suggesting little green or blue lights on the sides or hood of a hybrid. Also, they are looking at showing off the hybrid battery pack, or perhaps a more dramatic panel for inside. Also, they are experimenting with unusual air intakes or outlets in order to shout to the world that this is a hybrid vehicle.

The Detroit News

"The hybrid is an iconic statement for Toyota," said Kim. "We will come up with a design that shows a vehicle's hybrid-ness, because a hybrid should have a distinctive look."

Extending the tax credit for hybrids

President Bush spoke after meeting with members of congress today. It seems that one of the topics up for discussion was the extension of the tax credit for hybrid vehicles.

The tax credit can be up to $3,400 dollars, but it depends on which car you purchase. That credit is an incentive to consumers who are leary about purchasing a hybrid car given they tend to cost three to four thousand more than conventional cars.

Currently, once an automaker (like Toyota) sells more than 60,000 hybrid vehicles, the tax credit will phase out for the consumers who purchase that automaker's car. It's expected that Toyota will surpass that number this year, probably in the fall. This cap was intended as a domestic car incentive, since consumers who buy Ford hybrids will be eligible a lot longer than Toyota.

But, with rising gas prices, Republicans are being pressured to 'do something' about it. I'm not sure this is the best solution, but it will help out those considering purchasing Toyota hybrids, but aren't quite ready yet. Or perhaps some may want one of the newly introduced hybrids from Toyota, like the Camry Hybrid or the Lexus GS 450h.

Remarks by the President After Meeting with Members of Congress

We talked about ways to help mitigate demand, and one way to do so is to encourage alternative automobiles, like hybrid automobiles. And there seemed to be an agreement that we ought to extend the tax credit for these kind of automobiles to encourage our consumers to purchase the hybrid automobile.

Hybrid Sales were up in April

Hybrid sales were up from last April (20,974 units to 21,707 units sold, an increase of 3.5%). But as always, there were winners and losers. Ford increased sales by over 100% while Toyota increased their sales by 5.7%. Honda sales, on the other hand, suffered its second month of decreases.

Month-Year	Honda	Toyota Lexus	Ford Mercury	Total
Apr-05	5579	13690	1705	20974
Apr-06	3811	14476	3420	21707

Toyota hybrid sales increase 5.7% over last April. Toyota was only limited by its ability to produce the hybrid vehicles, especially the Prius and the new Toyota Camry Hybrid and Lexus GS 450h. They could only sell up to what they could produce, limiting the amount of increases they had.

Ford had more room to grow and grow they did by over 100%. The Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid both had record breaking sales.

Honda, on the other hand, lost out on their performance hybrids. Sales on the Honda Accord Hybrid, especially, were way down from last year. Sales of the Honda Civic Hybrid were also down by 10.9%, but they still sold over 3,000 units, an increase over March sales by 38%. Sales of the limited production Honda Insight hit triple digits, the first time its done that since May, 2004. Honda has been considering reducing production of their hybrids.

Toyota still holds a majority of hybrid sales by a wide margin, capturing 66.7% of the market in April. Ford increased it's share of the pie to 15.8%. And despite a drop in its sales, Honda is still selling a lot of Civics managing to capture 17.6% of the hybrid market this past month.

Year to date, Honda has sold 18.3% of the hybrids, Ford has sold 10.3% and Toyota has sold the rest (71.4%). 43.1% of the hybrids sold this year were Toyota Prius (30,357 units). Its closest competitor is the Toyota Highlander with 16.5% of the market (11,649 units). In third place, the Honda Civic at 14.6% (10,264 units).

Recent spikes in gas prices, seasonal car buying patterns, federal tax credits, speeches by politicians including President Bush, increased advertising, and local incentives have all pushed hybrid sales up to their present peak. Also, the introduction of new models have increased sales numbers. Last year, hybrid sales peaked in April with the introduction of the Lexus RX 400h, dropped in May, and then started increasing once again until they peaked in August.

Honda Hybrid April sales down

Honda Hybrid sales are down 31.7% for the month of April compared to last year.

Sales of the Honda Accord Hybrid increased from March to 614 units, but were down 69.6% from April last year's 2023 units sold. The Honda Civic hybrid sales were also down 10.9%. The low production Honda Insight Hybrid was up 22.2%. All totaled Honda Hybrids went from 5579 units sold last year to only 3811 units sold this year.

Sales of the Honda Accord hybrid have been down every month this year compared to last year. The Honda Civic hybrid started off strong compared to last year, but has also dropped the past two months.

Honda Hybrid sales have increased from March but just aren't living up to last years numbers.

Month-Year	Honda Accord	Honda Civic	Honda Insight
Jan-05	805	1169	7
Feb-05	855	1353	22
Mar-05	1862	2896	56
Apr-05	2023	3466	90
Jan-06	351	3165	59
Feb-06	783	1780	72
Mar-06	581	2232	79
Apr-06	614	3087	110

Toyota Hybrid sales are up in April

Toyota Hybrid sales increased by 5.7% over last April, helped by the early introduction of the Toyota Camry hybrid and the Lexus GS 450h and a record breaking month by the Highlander Hybrid SUV.

Sales of the Toyota Prius (8,234 units) were down 27.4% from last April's record breaking numbers (11,345 units). Sales on the Lexus Rx 400h (2247 units sold) were also down 4.2% from last April (2345 units sold).

The Toyota Highlander hybrid sales were the all-time best seller, with 3,768 units sold. Together, the hybrid and the conventional unit sold 10,712 units, which means the hybrid version made up 35.2% of sales for April.

The Toyota Camry Hybrid (86 units sold) and the Lexus GS 450h (141 units sold) were both introduced in the last week in April.

Overall, Toyota sold 14,476 hybrid units, an increase of 5.7% over last April (13,690 units).

Ford Hybrid sales increase over 100%

Ford sales of the Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid have increased in April. With incentives, gas price increases, and a major marketing push, sales of Ford hybrids had their best month ever, with 3420 units sold

The best sales month previously for Ford hybrids was September, 2005 when Ford sold 1808 Ford Escapes. Prior to that, they sold 1705 Ford Escape hybrids in April 2005. This month, Ford sold 3039 Ford Escape Hybrids and 381 Mercury Mariner Hybrids, an increase of 100% in the number of hybrids sold by Ford.

Sales of hybrids followed a similar pattern last year, with increases from month to month starting in January. But, the incentives seemed to have made a significant difference, propeling an increase in sales by over 100% from last month as well.

Month-Year	Ford Escape	Mercury Mariner	Total
Jan-05	908		908
Feb-05	1092		1092
Mar-05	1569		1569
Apr-05	1705		1705
Jan-06	801	97	898
Feb-06	1233	108	1341
Mar-06	1441	149	1590
Apr-06	3039	381	3420

Ford creates the Greener Miles program

Almost buried in the following press release is the second element to Ford's Greener Miles program involving hybrids. Ford is piloting a program to help offset the greenhouse gases emitted in the manufacturing of the Ford Escape Hybrid and the Mercury Mariner Hybrid beginning with the 2007 model year.

Ford estimates the carbon emissions from the production of each vehicle and will invest in projects that reduce emissions elsewhere by the same amount.

Ford Motor Company - Featured Story - Ford and TerraPass Create Program To Help Drivers Reduce Greenhouse Gas

Ford and TerraPass Create Program To Help Drivers Reduce Greenhouse Gas

By: Kristopher Spencer | Ford Communications Network
*TerraPass has reduced over 60 million pounds of CO2 emissions by funding clean energy projects like renewable energy production.

*A modern windmill is 300 feet tall and makes enough energy to power 250 homes.

*Heating and powering the average 10-person office generates approximately 22,000 lbs of CO2 per year.

*Four round-trip cross-country business flights produce more lbs of CO2 per passenger than the average driver creates in an entire year - over 13,000 lbs of CO2.

*A study from Stanford University suggests that we would have seven times the electricity the world currently consumes if 20 percent of potential global wind resources were developed.

SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 28, 2006 - Ford Motor Company and TerraPass have announced Greener Miles™, an automotive industry first that offers Ford vehicle owners the opportunity to offset the climate impact of their driving through the support of projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The announcement was made at the Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) conference in Los Angeles, Calif.

The Greener Miles™ program offers consumers a direct role in reducing the greenhouse gases that are emitted when they drive. Through the Greener Miles™ program, drivers can calculate the amount of CO2 emissions they generate in one year of driving by visiting www.terrapass.com/ford. Customers then have the opportunity to purchase an offset that supports renewable energy projects, such as wind and biomass. This pilot program gives customers a simple way to be voluntary, active participants in addressing the challenges of climate change.

"Greener Miles is just one piece of our comprehensive strategy on climate change," said Niel Golightly, director, Sustainable Business Strategies. "It is not a substitute for our continuing work on vehicle fuel efficiency. It does provide an incremental, short term action to help bridge the gap until we are able to implement longer term solutions. And it allows individuals to take positive, direct action now to share in the solution."

Greener Miles is one of two elements in Ford's carbon offset initiative. The other, which does not involve TerraPass, is a pilot program to offset the greenhouse gases emitted in the manufacture of Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrids beginning with the 2007 model year. Ford calculates the carbon emissions associated with each vehicle's production and invests in projects including renewable energy production that reduce emissions elsewhere by the same amount.

Ford customers purchasing Greener Miles TerraPasses are helping to fund renewable clean energy projects such as wind power energy or making power from dairy farm manure. The cost ranges from $29.95 to $79.95, depending on the type of vehicle and miles traveled, and the actual emissions reductions are third-party verified by Green-e, one of the country's leading authorities on renewable clean energy issues. Customers receive a vehicle decal as a visual symbol of their participation in the Greener Miles program.

"Your purchase of a TerraPass supports energy projects that balance out your car's climate impact and moves us all ahead on the road to a future of clean, renewable energy," said Tom Arnold, TerraPass chief environmental officer. "This is a way for individuals to take personal action and take advantage of our efforts at getting the maximum environmental benefit from every dollar. We are excited to have Ford as a partner in helping us address this very important issue."

The Greener Miles program serves as a natural extension of Ford's ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. Since 2000, Ford has cut its manufacturing CO2 emissions by 15 percent worldwide through implementation of energy efficiency measures in its facilities. The company was a founding member of both the United Kingdom Voluntary Emissions Trading Program and the Chicago Climate Exchange.

Ford addresses vehicle emissions through initiatives to increase the fuel-efficiency of its fleet. Ford has announced several actions including: plans to increase production capacity of hybrid vehicles to 250,000 annually by 2010; the addition of four new vehicles that can run largely on ethanol for production of 250,000 Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) in 2006, and continued innovative research into development of clean diesels and hydrogen powered vehicles.

"Ford is tackling the challenge of climate change from all sides," Golightly said. "Greener Miles and Ford's relationship with TerraPass is the latest in our portfolio of innovations for reducing the impact of cars and trucks on the climate."

Beyond "Greener Miles"
Ford is engaged in a variety of innovative initiatives designed to address the issue of climate change by reducing emissions from its vehicles and its manufacturing processes. But substantial ongoing reductions in driving emissions will require progress on three fronts: the vehicle, the fuels powering them, and driver behavior.

Ford's Greener Miles program is a customer call to action - building awareness of driving emissions and of ways that individual drivers can take action to reduce them. The carbon offset partnership with Terrapass is a major element.

Another tool Ford will be offering its customers in early May is the Eco-driving interactive online training program that has been available to employees since early 2006. ECO-driving shows customers how to conserve fuel, save money at the pump, and help the environment by operating and maintaining their vehicles in the most fuel-efficient ways possible.

Hybrid SUVs stay on the lot longer

Despite higher gas prices, hybrid SUVs are staying on the lot longer than they did in December. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid was on the lot for an average of 34 days, according to the Power Information Network, J.D. Power and Associates’ number-crunching unit.

According to Edmunds.com, the Highlander Hybrid was on the lot for 38 days, even though the conventional highlander took 31 days to sell. The average vehicle took 63 days to sell in March.

The problem with the hybrid SUVs is price. When they are delivering some return on investment with better mileage, most buyers are not convinced to pay the up front costs. For instance, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid sells for $37 to $38K, but the conventional highlander can go for $28-$29K.

Despite that, sales have grown since December for the hybrid version, although the days on the lot have also grown from only 14 days on the lot. Still, the hybrid version is accounting for 27 percent of Highlander sales.

Some dealers are offering incentives on the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, at up to $3900 off the sticker price. While the Lexus RX400h sticker price was cut by $2350 in November by making the navigation system and rear camera optional.


Times Leader | 04/30/2006 | Gas price run-up not turning tide for hybrid SUVs