Hybrid Vehicles - a car buff seeking automotive redemption

With the number of hybrid cars and vehicles on American roads increasing, the chances of accidents increase proportionately.

This creates additional challenges for fire and rescue safety crews due to the presence of high voltage electricity. With every manufacturer adopting different safety standards - dealing with a vehicle in emergency situations can be intimidating.

Recent testing has dispelled a number of myths:

• There is no risk of electrocution if a hybrid vehicle is driven into water
• Emergency crews using axes or mechanical equipment to cut open vehicles after an accident do not face the risk of electrocution
• Spraying water on a hybrid car that has caught on fire will not put you at risk of electrocution.

This is not to say that there are not some risks - however the current mistrust and fear is more symptomatic of services grappling with unfamiliar technology than any real underlying danger.

It is also good news for hybrid car drivers - some of who have questioned there safety during an accident.

Forbes has compiled a list of the top 12 most environmentally friendly vehicles for 2007 - and the greatest news for people interested in purchasing hybrid cars or vehicles is that the cost for your purchase is dropping.

Of the vehicles who made the list - all clocked in under $35,000. The average price was $20,000 (which is down more than $1000 from the previous year) Frugal buyers can purchase a low-emission vehicle for under $13,000.

Not surprisingly the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid tied for first place with perfect 10 scores for greenhouse emissions from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. That’s fantastic considering your average SUV is likely to take out a score of zero (they don’t give zeroes)

The cost-price is great news for people interested in hybrid vehicles as it reflects a growing downward trend. With price seen as one of the biggest barriers against people making the move - it can only get better.

We are pleased to say that another state has jumped on the hybrid rebate bandwagon - making the transition easier for consumers who are worried about the higher upfront cost of purchasing a hybrid vehicle.

The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office has partnered with the Valley Bell Credit Union to offer a $1000 rebate for purchasers of hybrid vehicles who finance their purchase through the Union.

The offer is open to customers in Elgin or Kane, McHenry and Boone counties - and is limited to the first 2000 purchases.

Full details of the scheme can be found here (including its eligibility for people living outside the designated areas).

A new incentive scheme offered by GM to dealers highlights the downward trend in light-truck purchases over the last 12 months.

GM is assisting dealers to discount purchase prices by up to $1000 after sales slumped more than 22% in July. Slower sales have also meant that production has been slowed down at more than 6 light truck plants across North America.

While nobody wants the families involved in the production of light trucks to lose their jobs - it is an interesting trend. Heavy vehicle usage (including SUV) has been trending down slightly over the last couple of years. We are yet to see this result in an appreciable uptake of more fuel-efficient vehicles - but the potential is still definitely there.

GM has big opportunities going forward to look at the fuel efficiency of its vehicles. Making small changes could have a big impact, and lead the way for other US retailers.

There’s an article over at the National Center for Public Policy Research attacking Democrat hopeful Barack Obama for hypocrisy when it comes to his support for fuel-efficient cars and hybrid vehicles.

Barack was part of a group of Senators who voted in the middle of last year to raise the federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard to a minimum 35 miles per gallon.

Sounds great doesn’t it? But the problem according to Kevin Martin is that Obama drives a Chrysler 300C which scrapes through with a meager 17 litres per gallon in the city.

Many of our political representatives have been strong advocates for more fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly vehicles. It’s a move that’s to be applauded (even if it has not yet translated into any real action.)

However, the question does have to be asked of politicians who fail to live up to their own high-minded standards. How, as ordinary Americans, can we engage our friends, neighbours and families in this debate - when some of our strongest advocates are guilty of hypocrisy?

As much as I hate to think that I would agree with a conservative anything - does anyone else have a problem with this situation?