Americans are opting more for vehicles with environmentally friendly gasoline-electric hybrid engines, new statistics show, and that trend is expected to continue because of high gas prices and a growing number of hybrid models.
US registrations for hybrid vehicles rose to 43,435 last year, a 25.8 percent increase from 2002, according to figures from R.L. Polk & Co, a firm that interprets automotive information.
California had the most registrations, followed by Virginia, Florida and Washington.
"People are buying hybrids because of mileage benefits and environmental concerns," said Lonnie Miller, director of Polk's analytical solutions unit. "With the rising cost of gas, hybrid registrations will likely increase in 2004."
Since 2000, hybrid sales in the US have grown at an average annual rate of 88.6 percent, Polk said, but they account for only a fraction of total vehicles sold. Full-year US sales for last year were 16.7 million.
Hybrids draw power from two energy sources, typically a gas or diesel engine combined with an electric motor.
For now, the only versions available in the US are small cars made by Honda Motor Co and Toyota Motor Corp, but nearly every automaker is investing in hybrid technology.
Honda's hybrid Civic accounted for 50 percent of the registrations last year, slightly ahead of the Toyota Prius, Polk said.
Hybrid sales so far this year have been mixed.
Toyota sold 9,918 Prius models through last month, 62.4 percent more than it sold in the same period last year, according to Autodata Corp.
Honda said it set a monthly sales record last month for the hybrid Civic, though first-quarter sales were off from a year ago -- 5,982 versus 6,494.
Because of the relatively new technology, the hybrid Civic costs about US$2,000 to US$3,000 more than a comparable non-hybrid Civic, the automaker said.
Hybrid choices will increase. Ford Motor Co is set to introduce a hybrid version of its compact Escape sport utility vehicle this summer, and luxury brand Lexus also plans a hybrid SUV.
Honda plans to introduce a hybrid version of its midsize Accord passenger car this year.
Having more choices will make the hybrid vehicles more popular, Miller said.
Ford chairman and chief executive Bill Ford has said the US government should offer tax breaks of about US$3,000 or perhaps boost taxes on gasoline to spur consumer interest in hybrids.
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