Green Vehicles - Fad or Reality?: Green Vehicles Articles: Eco20/20

Green Vehicles - Fad or Reality?

California has been a leader in many trends that seem to creep their way into the American way of life. Some are long lasting and sweep the nation to become genuine Americana like McDonald's and those magnificent golden arches. Others fade away and are relegated to the land of fads gone by like bell-bottom jeans, parachute pants and those nice Hanson Brothers (Mmm Bop). Hybrid vehicles seem to be teetering on the edge. A nudge in one direction (like a chain reaction of uprisings in the Middle East) and it could continue it sweep across the country, which has stalled largely due to economic concerns. A nudge in the other and they could be a distant memory in five years.

After years of hybrid vehicle sales seemingly gaining momentum, in 2010 sales were down almost across the board. Ford Escape hybrid sales were down over 23% through the first two and a half quarters this year, the Toyota Camry hybrid sales were down 42.5%. Honda Civic hybrid sales were down nearly 72%. The Toyota Prius, which was redesigned for 2010, was up by a slim margin at 4%.

Has the fad run its course? Even sales in San Francisco, where it is oh so fashionable to be environmentally conscious, are down more than 36% since the peak in 2007. Of course, the weak economy and stable gas prices (until recently) could be a factor. Is the fact that regular internal combustion engines are improving their Miles-Per-Gallon (MPGs) having an impact as well? Or could it be that even higher mileage electric cars seem to be right around the corner, with the first due to go on sale by the end of the year.

Whatever the reason for the drop in sales should the hybrid go the way of the pet rock it will not be the end of "green vehicles." The truth is all hybrids are "green vehicles" but not all "green vehicles" are hybrids. While skeptics may dismiss the hybrid as a fad, vehicles on average are getting greener by the day with no sign of slowing anytime soon. While poor hybrid sales may be bad news for some such as Hyundai, which has two more hybrids coming to market soon (Sonata and Infiniti M-class), it doesn't spell doom for "green vehicles." In fact it could be a positive sign.

It may just mean that the evolution of the "green vehicle" is moving faster than imagined. If the hybrid is going the way of the cassette tape, does that make the electric car the compact disk? And if that is the case when the electric car has run its course what will play the role of the Blu-ray disc?