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| The Toyota Prius acheives an amazing 4.5 L/100 km (52 mpg) in the city and 5.2 L/100 km (45 mpg) on the highway. (Photo: Toyota) |
Toby Hynes, president and general manager of Gulf States Toyota said, "The Prius combines the best in quality with the most advanced alternative fuel technology we have on the market. Toyota will continue to design cars that conserve resources and offer additional choices for consumers who want to drive more environmentally friendly vehicles."
But it's not just Texas that is jumping on the gas-electric car bandwagon, the rest of the North American continent is joining too. There is one problem though. The demand for hybrid cars now exceeds supply. The hybrid car pioneers Toyota, as well as Honda, say that they don't have the ability to build enough fuel-saving vehicles that the public demands.
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| While Honda was quick to market with its Insight gas-electric hybrid, its less practical 2-seat configuration and unconventional styling haven't made it as popular as the Prius, despite its best in class fuel economy. The new 2003 Civic Hybrid (shown) is trying to reverse Toyota's trend. (Photo: Honda) |
Rising fuel prices drive people to search for alternative modes of transport. Petrol-electric vehicle sales have gone up 50% so far this year and the numbers are only escalating. As the supplies of the 2003 model of the Prius run out, the new 2004 version will follow closely behind. But will it be enough to satisfy the public? Probably not. Spokesman John Hanson told Bloomberg news that the "demand for [the] Prius is going to continue to outstrip supply. The plan right now is to continue to cycle down inventories on preparation for the next generation."