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To: Mr. Sunshine who wrote (7054)	1/6/2003 2:36:15 AM
From: Krowbar	Respond to of 8393

General Motors to Offer Hybrid Vehicles By JOHN PORRETTO 01/06/2003 01:15:17 EST In one of the clearest signs yet that hybrid cars may be going mainstream, General Motors Corp. plans to offer a variety of the gas-and-electric powered vehicles over the next four years. The plan by the world's biggest automaker, to be announced Monday, includes hybrid models for cars, pickups and sports utility vehicles. GM's new strategy sends a clear signal that auto executives are starting to consider energy-efficient hybrids as potentially viable offerings to the mainstream motoring public. Hybrids draw power from two different energy sources, typically a gas or diesel engine combined with an electric motor. While environmentally friendly and fuel efficient, their high cost has prevented them from finding more than a niche market. For now, the only versions available in the United States are small cars made by Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. GM will offer hybrid options on several vehicles, starting later this year with the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado pickups for use in commercial fleets. The hybrid versions of the trucks will increase fuel economy by 10 to 12 percent, the company says. Those same trucks will be available to retail consumers in 2004. If demand is high for all hybrid models, GM says it could produce a million or more a year by 2007. GM sold nearly 4.8 million vehicles in 2002. "We're taking a very pragmatic approach, targeting a wide array of popular models with varying degrees of complexity to give consumers a variety of choice," said GM president and chief executive Rick Wagoner. In 2005, GM will begin producing a hybrid Saturn VUE sport utility. It will also include a hybrid option on its forthcoming Chevy Equinox SUV in 2006 and its Chevy Malibu sedan in 2007. Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group are also planning hybrid models. Recently, officials have tried to offset the high cost of hybrids by allowing buyers in some areas to qualify for a federal tax deduction and local tax breaks. Mike Wall, an analyst with the automotive forecasting firm IRN Inc., said the cost benefit - extra mileage per gallon - typically isn't enough to sway most people. "If the tax breaks are sweetened, and if you push the envelope for better gas milage, I think you'll see more penetration," Wall said. The Union of Concerned Scientists, a fuel economy advocacy group, said in a report last week that while a hybrid could cost $4,000 more than a conventional vehicle, drivers could save nearly $5,500 in gasoline expenses over the vehicle's driving life. siliconinvestor.com

To: Mr. Sunshine who wrote (7054)	1/8/2003 2:09:00 PM
From: jacq	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 8393

Steve, I bought one of those little Honda Hybrids last May. So far my best two way trip for 50 Miles has been 102 mpg. This was at a very cruising speed of about 42 miles per hour constant speed. Real world figures are different. On the highway on a trip of 600 miles I averaged 62 mpg at a cruising speed of 75 miles per hour. Most of the gasoline consumed is in starting and warming up the vehicle and those pesky stop signs. I am lucky to escape with 50 mpg on a short stop and go trip to the store. I can only imagine what my old 351 Ford pick truck gets trying to accomplish the same task. When I stop at a red light the motor will stop entirely though which saves gas but it also lets a person appreciate how much exhaust fumes all those other vehicles are making. I took my little car to the grand opening of the ECD-Baekart solar panel factory and just for fun raced against a Toyota Prius. The Honda Insight won being much lighter with an aluminum chassis. I t was exciting to see so many alternative cars in one spot. It hasn't been a big seller in Canada or the U.S. to date. 200 and 8,000 respectively up until Dec. 2001. In Japan I believe that there are over 36,000 on the streets. The car does grab a lot of attention. Many times I have had people stop to ask me questions or just come right over and start getting all excited. The car needs some promotion to get market acceptance. With the price of the car at several thousand dollars more than a comparable small car and the price of insurance being at least twice as much. One has to be committed to the concept rather than just buying the vehicle to save a dollar or two (or twenty) on gas.