Since Arab oil embargo in 1973, gas prices mounted, and concern for developing an effective alternative was increased.
For this reason, the U.S. Dept. of Energy considered many options including a German produced gas-electric hybrid that traveled over 8,000 miles. The U.S. Energy Research and Administration also studied various hybrid potential to advance technology. The Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development and Demonstration Act of 1976 spurred mutual aid between the government and private industry to progress hybrid development.
Therefore General Motors was expending over $20 million on hybrid vehicle research and promised efficient cars by the mid-80s. Early on 1990s the U.S. Dept. of Energy introduced the Advanced Battery Consortium program to advance nickel hydride batteries that would accept greater charges than previous lead-acid types. In 1993 the U.S. Dept. of Energy initiated the hybrid vehicle research program as a partnership with the three largest U.S. car manufacturers: General Motors, Ford and Chrysler.
Keeping costs, safety and operation in line with conventional cars, but with double the mileage is their joint goal. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which managed the joint hybrid electric research program, continues to work within the car industry to support in ongoing progress in hybrid vehicle research development offering its technical proficiency.
During 1997, Toyota issuing their hybrid vehicle research — the four-door Prius in Japan and the U.S. in 2000. After that Honda introducing their hybrid vehicle research — the two-door Insight in 1999 with a 60-70 mpg and in 2002, Honda’s Civic Hybrid made a big splash offering almost double the mpg of the non-hybrid Civic and all the performance quality.
In 2004 Motor Trend Magazine nominated the Toyota Prius II as the winner of the Car of the Year Award; this car manufacturer knows it’s doing something right. It has recently picked up production to keep up with the demand, although the Prius and Civic Hybrid both have waiting lists of anywhere from one week to one year for the new 2005 Prius.
Honda will be reducing the tiny two-seater Insight by 2005 as it was developed primarily as their test car to get the best possible mileage hybrid. All other automakers from General Motors to Ford to DaimlerChrysler are waiting in the wings with their hybrid vehicle research versions, and a predictable seven new hybrid vehicles will be available for purchase in the U.S. by the end of 2004 or the beginning of 2005.
Another article by Johan Young you may interest in reading: Electric Suv, Huge Advantage of Electric Vehicles, 2008 Hybrid Cars, and Hybrid News.
