Introductory Summary
Although there is an increasing demand for hybrid or alternatively-powered vehicles in the marketplace right now, there is a surprising lack of research and development of these ideas within the car companies themselves. A great deal of money stands to be made by the carmaker who stands forward and aggressively pursues the development of vehicles that use little or no petroleum products as a source of fuel. By developing alternatively-powered vehicles, car makers can also establish themselves as being environmentally friendly, highly competitive with foreign markets, and friendly to the consumer, all of which will go a long way toward building and maintaining a loyal consumer base.
This is all proven by exploring the current levels of alternative fuel vehicle development, the present consumer demand for such vehicles, and the reasons why consumer demand doesn’t seem to be as high as it is.
Details
American carmakers are missing out on a potentially huge market as American consumers begin the race to purchase alternatively powered vehicles that will both serve their needs and reduce their monthly energy costs.
Recent gas prices have illustrated the need for an alternate means of transportation and hybrid cars are one way of meeting that need. One form of hybrid is plug-in electricity. This type of car uses electricity almost exclusively for the first 40 miles or so, depending upon the storage capacity of the battery, and then switches to a modified internal combustion engine. “Its battery/electric motor combination provides the quick starts, so when the vehicle is standing still, the gas engine can be shut off automatically to prevent idling and conserve fuel. The hybrid can achieve an increase in fuel efficiency of roughly 30 percent.
The battery also boosts the performance of the [internal combustion engine] at takeoff and for passing” (Sanna, 2005). Other types of hybrid or powered vehicles have reached the marketing stage at home and abroad. Maximum consumer development is achieved by ensuring the vehicle is immediately available for use, meaning its power source must be already readily available.
Consumer Demand
Vehicles that provide any degree of fuel efficiency technology are generally not perceived by American companies to have any high degree of popularity among their general consumer base.
Despite this, alternatively powered vehicles once made practically available, have always proven to be very popular. In 2005, when gas prices were still hovering at the relatively low price of $2/gallon, Smith reported, “a check with several dealers suggests there’s at least a four-month wait for a Prius, with one dealer saying eight months. For the Lexus RX 400h, a 2006 model, one dealer said he’s already taking deposits for the 2007s” (Smith 2005). As gas prices begin to top $4/gallon and American families are having to do without dinner to pay for gas to go to work tomorrow, this demand will only continue to increase.
As will be shown, there are many forms of hybrid and alternatively-powered vehicles currently in development, many of which use a completely different form of fuel and it is here that the vehicles seem to lose their popularity. The form of energy each of these vehicles uses determines the level of environmental impact each vehicle will have. This roughly translates to indicate the level of fuel efficiency and gas savings a consumer can expect by using it and, generally, their chief priority in making the purchasing decision. However, the savings benefit is severely curtailed by unavailable resources. Engines that run on biofuel developed from seaweed may be the most economical form of alternative vehicle in the future, but this will mean little if refilling stations can’t be convinced to carry the product, which will not happen until consumer demand, as a result of an available vehicle, forces it.
Conclusion
American car companies have failed to serve the needs of the public that supports them, but it isn’t too late for them to emerge as the celebrated gladiators at the gate. Consumer demand, already high, will only continue to increase for products that don’t depend upon foreign sources of energy. The primary retardant factor in raising consumer demand to a fever pitch is the unavailability of energy supplies. However, technology exists that could use existent resources, such as electric generators and refilling stations that need only include or convert a fuel tank. As alternatively-powered vehicles become more readily available to the average car consumer, these resources will be demanded and supplied, but the car has to be available first. A more in-depth study of these issues will prove convincing that American car companies have both the duty and the necessity of devoting full development of alternatively-powered vehicles for the average struggling American household.
Works Cited
Sanna, Lucy. “Driving the Solution: The Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle.” EPRI Journal. Fall, 2005. Web.
Smith, S. “More Hybrid Models on the Way.” Cars.com. (2005). Web.