Automakers believe that much needs to be done in hybrid car research and the future of hybrid cars belongs to automobiles with 250 MPG fuel efficiency.

How is it possible to have a hybrid car with 250 MPG fuel mileage when the existing hybrid car models are still only able to achieve 40 to 50 miles per gallon?

Automakers believe it can be done.

Since the transfer of power alternates between the gasoline engine and the electric motor, the flywheel or the capacitor adds to the acceleration of the car and absorbs the power when brakes are applied which otherwise gets wasted thus generating and storing power. The arrangement also helps in reducing the number of batteries and their weight. The overall weight of the car also reduces making it more fuel-efficient.

The dependency on gasoline engines in the future can be further reduced by replacing the gasoline engine with more efficient hydrogen fuel engine.

Hybrid cars are future cars because they are better for our environment. They produce less pollution as most of the time they run on electricity. If we continue using oil at the present speed, we will soon exhaust the existing oil reserves. By consuming less oil, hybrid cars cars help us conserve the fossil fuels.

Hybrid Cars and Related Industries

Technology and performance of hybrid cars is not dependent on the manufacturer alone. The whole automotive industry has to support the growth and provide the necessary support for its success.

As more people buy hybrid cars, the automotive industry will need to make provisions for them. There will be lots of opportunities for entrepreneurs as these changes take place.

For example, fuel cells are not very common today, as they are very expensive and re-filling them is a problem. GM is reviewing scenario's and planning to build Hydrogen fuel stations with Shell. GM expects much to improve on the fuel cell scene by 2010 which will be a positive trend for the hybrid cars.

The oil change industry doesn't need to feel threatened by hybrid cars either. All hybrids have a DC motor and need oil to grease the motor and keep it cool. Likewise, the auto repair industry will also need to gear up for the hybrid cars.

Concessions by the Federal Government

Hybrid cars are more expensive than conventional cars largely because of the new technology and less production. As the technology matures and production is ramped up, it would be expected the price differential between conventional and hybid would be reduced.

There is the positive side that the Federal Government and some State Governments are encouraging buyers to buy hybrid cars by offering tax concessions if they buy a hybrid car. The amount of tax concession depends upon your income in the year you file your income tax return. The cost of the car will also depend upon the cost of the gasoline prices at the time of purchase.

With further research in hybrid technologies and alternative fuels there is definitely room for future growth in hybrid cars. There will be more choices of hybrid cars available for people that have requirement such as minivans, SUVs, or pickup trucks. This will lead to a boost in the sales of hybrid cars and subsequent reduction in the price of cars as well. With more people using them, we will have a cleaner and greener environment.