| There are presently many hybrid car models in the | | | | very popular Toyota Prius. Honda launched a hybrid |
| market. The hybrid car technology has become very | | | | version of the Civic model. The hybrid model of Civic |
| popular that almost all car makers would like to ride | | | | was known to be 30% more efficient than the |
| the trend. Other manufacturers that cannot produce | | | | non-hybrid Civic. Like the original model, the Civic |
| their own technology are buying technology from big | | | | hybrid is a four-door sedan that accommodates 5 |
| companies that are ahead in the development of | | | | passengers. The hybrid model looks very much like |
| hybrid cars. Some companies are having a tie up with | | | | the non-hybrid counterpart but it was the hood that |
| other companies so that they will come up with good | | | | was modified. It was changed to become a lighter |
| models that they could use together. | | | | vehicle in order to be able to run efficiently on the |
| Honda's First Hybrid Car Models | | | | electric power. Summing it all up, the Civic became |
| Honda first released Insight in the year 1999. They | | | | popular but not as popular as the Toyota Prius which |
| were the first car maker to offer hybrid electric car | | | | up to now is a favorite. |
| in the USA. This model has gained a little popularity in | | | | Ford's Hybrid Lines |
| the first five years that it was on the market. It was | | | | Being one of the biggest names in the car-making |
| designed to be very fuel efficient so it was built with | | | | world, Ford Motors will not be left behind in the |
| a lightweight aluminum chassis. It was a two-seater | | | | hybrid trend. Ford offered the Ford Escape hybrid to |
| vehicle. Honda Insight Hybrid was an environment | | | | the market. It is another fully hybrid vehicle that was |
| friendly model. Aside from being fuel efficient, it was | | | | to make a name in the hybrid market. Another model |
| made to produce very low emission. There was an | | | | that Ford Motors introduced was the Mercury Mariner |
| earlier version of this model that was released in | | | | Hybrid although it did not became as popular as the |
| Japan and Los Angeles in 1997. | | | | Ford Escape Hybrid. |
| Toyota's Offering | | | | Nissan's Attempt to Join the Hybrid World |
| Later, Toyota introduced the Toyota Prius in the US. | | | | Nissan bought the hybrid technology of Toyota and |
| Presently, this model is the most popular hybrid car in | | | | they were able to produce the Nissan Altima Hybrid. |
| the market. The Toyota Prius has a very efficient | | | | This model gained a lot of good reviews. It is not |
| EPA rating and it has the lowest emission rating of up | | | | very surprising when you take into account the |
| to 90 percent reduction compared to a regular | | | | popularity of Toyota Prius. But still, the Altima Hybrid |
| vehicle. The good news is that the price of Toyota | | | | is yet to make a name. |
| Prius can compete very well with the other cars of | | | | GM in the Hybrid Picture |
| its type. It is actually the first hybrid car that was | | | | Another model of hybrid vehicles is the Dodge Ram |
| mass-produced. | | | | Hybrid. This model did not become very popular. |
| Toyota Motors have high hopes with the future of | | | | Daimler-Chrysler, the mother company of Dodge tied |
| hybrid vehicles. Not only was it evident in the | | | | up with General Motors to produce good models of |
| research and development that they put into the | | | | hybrid vehicles. They joined their group and produced |
| famous Toyota Prius. They proved the sincerity of | | | | models, some of which are the Dodge Durango |
| this belief by introducing other models of the SUV | | | | Hybrid, Chevy Silverado and GM Sierra Pickups. |
| line. They introduced to the market the Highlander | | | | There are indeed many varieties of hybrid car models |
| hybrid and Lexus SUV hybrid in the year 2005. | | | | in the market. If hybrids are only a passing solution to |
| Honda vs. Toyota | | | | the energy problem of the future, it is indeed a good |
| Honda being threatened by the popularity of the | | | | solution. With the very low emission and high fuel |
| Toyota hybrids introduced to the market their new | | | | efficiency that it provides, it can work well until |
| model of a hybrid car that will compete with the | | | | another better solution comes along. |