The skyrocketing price of gasoline and the increasing awareness of the threat of global warming have increased the demand for fuel efficient and eco-friendly vehicles. Automakers like Toyota and Ford, in response, developed hybrid vehicles; these are automobiles equipped with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The said motor helps the relatively small internal combustion engine power the vehicle.
It is common knowledge that hybrids are popular among consumers in the United States. In Europe, automakers are developing clean diesel engines as their response to the call for clean cars. But Frost & Sullivan's new study pointes out that the United Kingdom is one of the largest hybrid vehicle markets in the world. This is a clear indication that developed countries are increasingly taking steps towards protecting the environment. Unfortunately, developing countries are still unable to bring hybrid vehicles into their roads.
While the popularity of hybrid automobiles made analysts predict that a large number of these green cars will be sold all over the world, their expectations were still short. Frost & Sullivan's study revealed that the growth in hybrid automobile sales all over the world has surpassed expectations. From the year 2000, sales of hybrid have been increasing although there is a slight decrease in growth rate. Last year, the study reported that 23 percent more gas-electric hybrid vehicles were sold in developed countries like Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Suba Swaminathan, Frost & Sullivan's Team Leader Power Systems Group, pointed out the advantage of hybrid vehicles saying: "The advantage that a HEV offers with regard to construction and design aspects is that the engine designed in a HEV is small, which makes these vehicles more efficient."
"Although hybrids are available in the automobile market for the past 10 years and are not as popular as conventional vehicles, the advantages of using hybrids are more with regard to economical and environmental aspects," added Swaminathan. "One of the advantages of using HEVs is: improved fuel economy. Hybrids require much lesser fuel than conventional vehicles, offering greater savings on fuel costs. Another advantage is improved efficiency. In fact, they offer more mileage compared with conventional vehicles, which makes HEVs require minimal gas. They are environment friendly; hybrids have much lesser greenhouse gas emissions, and are therefore capable of reducing the smog-forming pollutants in the atmosphere; tax credits and incentives. Finally, many governments across different countries promote HEVs by offering tax credits and incentives that make HEVs affordable."
Just as sure as the demand for auto parts like the is increasing, more and more hybrids will be sold by consumers from developed countries.
