Hybrid Dreams at the Geneva Auto Show

As if recession was but a distant memory, the Geneva Motor Show began yesterday with a flurry of glitzy launches overwhelmingly dominated by green technology. Everyone who is anyone in the world of cars is showing off their hybrids – be they electric motors boosting a petrol engine, petrol engines extending the range of electric batteries, or any manner of gradations in between.

It might seem as if mainstream electric motoring is just around the next bend, given the crop being showcased in Geneva – ranging from jaw-dropping super cars from Ferrari (FIATY) and Porsche (PSEPF) to the workhorse Toyota (TM) Auris, with offers too from BMW (BAMXY) and Audi (VLKAY). But, so far, hybrids occupy only the tiniest niche in the global car market, and for all the hype there is a long way to go.

At present there are very few electric hybrids for sale in the UK; the Toyota Prius and the Honda (HMC) Insight are the obvious examples. But the next year or two will see a whole range of new entrants, with the Toyota Auris hybrid this year, the Nissan (NSANY) Leaf and the plug-in Prius next, and the Vauxhall Ampera from early 2012.

The Government firmly supports electric cars. Last week, the Transport Secretary, Lord Adonis, confirmed that the Government will stump up 25 per cent of the sale price, or up to £5,000, for buyers of plug-in cars from the start of next year. And in an effort to confront the chicken-and-egg issue of re-charging infrastructure, the government is putting up £30m to fund the installation of 11,000 charging points in London, Milton Keynes and the North-east, with another round of “plugged-in places” to follow.

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All of us in the Auto Transport industry are cheering on the development of Hybrid and Green vehicles.  Firstly, they are fantastic for the environment, and that’s something that everyone should be cheering for.  Secondly, Hybrid vehicles get terrible mile range!

The vehicles that require Auto Transport the most are large, low mpg vehicles like SUVs and Pickup Trucks.  The second largest group are Hybrid vehicles like Toyota Priuses.

While SUVs and Pickups are prime candidates for the service that AM Express Auto Transport provides because of their low mileage, Hybrid vehicles have a different reason.  As reported by various websites, the “electric-only” range of a Prius, for example, is only 13 miles.  While that’s great if you’re driving in the city, it becomes amazingly inconvenient for cross-country, or even state to state driving.

Additionally, Hybrids have two engines, an electric and a gas engine, which requires a whole lot of room.  Priuses are notorious for not having a lot of space.  Imagine driving from California to Florida with barely enough space to fit a couple of pieces of luggage.  Not a pretty sight.

So, here at AM Express Auto Transport, we have decided to offer a new discount program to all Hybrid and Fuel Efficient vehicles.  Please call our Toll-Free number, 1-866-662-5337, or fill out our contact form on the left side of the page.