It's a fact: now, more than ever, consumers are showing concern for the environment and their wallets by considering eco-friendly models with alternative powertrains.
Keeping their finger on the pulse of the latest developments in the automotive world, J.D. Power and Associates announced that fifteen out of 37 automotive brands are represented in the top 30 list of environmentally friendly vehicles. The results come after a new-for-2006 Alternative Powertrain Study.
The study combines data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) along with consumer-derived information which is used to place weights on the relative importance of certain environmental factors, of which the fuel economy makes up about 50 percent. The final outcome of the study is a listing of machines that are environmentally friendly based on consumer data as well as government ratings.
Eight hybrid vehicles took places on the top-30 list. Included were the Ford Escape Hybrid, Honda Accord Hybrid and the first mainstream hybrid, the Toyota Prius. As consumers familiarize themselves with hybrid technology and prices begin to fall off, they are likely to become a more popular sight on our roads.
Trouble is, the study found significant deviance between expected and actual hybrid fuel savings. The average hybrid shopper expects an increase of about 28 miles per gallon in economy with a hybrid system, whereas the average hybrid owner reports a savings of just 9 mpg.
Despite some mismanaged expectations, the study found that less than one quarter of those polled said they would only consider a gasoline powered car for their next vehicle. Nearly 60 percent of those indicating they would purchase a new vehicle within the next two years said they would consider a hybrid.
But many traditional gasoline powered vehicles such as the Saturn Ion, Hyundai Accent and Mazda MX5 were part of the list. Volkswagen was highly represented, with three models (Golf, Jetta, New Beetle) listed to the top 30, although no diesel products were included. In terms of carmaker rankings, Volkswagen was followed by Honda and Mazda, respectively.
It would seem that a hybrid or diesel powered vehicle isn't the only way to go green.
As Mike Marshall, director of automotive emerging technologies at J.D. Power and Associates puts it, "the additional price premiums associated with hybrid vehicles, which can run from $3,000 to $10,000 more than a comparable non-hybrid vehicle, remain the biggest concern among consumers considering a hybrid. The AEI highlights several non-hybrid models available that help consumers reduce fuel use and emissions."
Keeping their finger on the pulse of the latest developments in the automotive world, J.D. Power and Associates announced that fifteen out of 37 automotive brands are represented in the top 30 list of environmentally friendly vehicles. The results come after a new-for-2006 Alternative Powertrain Study.
The study combines data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) along with consumer-derived information which is used to place weights on the relative importance of certain environmental factors, of which the fuel economy makes up about 50 percent. The final outcome of the study is a listing of machines that are environmentally friendly based on consumer data as well as government ratings.
Eight hybrid vehicles took places on the top-30 list. Included were the Ford Escape Hybrid, Honda Accord Hybrid and the first mainstream hybrid, the Toyota Prius. As consumers familiarize themselves with hybrid technology and prices begin to fall off, they are likely to become a more popular sight on our roads.
Trouble is, the study found significant deviance between expected and actual hybrid fuel savings. The average hybrid shopper expects an increase of about 28 miles per gallon in economy with a hybrid system, whereas the average hybrid owner reports a savings of just 9 mpg.
Despite some mismanaged expectations, the study found that less than one quarter of those polled said they would only consider a gasoline powered car for their next vehicle. Nearly 60 percent of those indicating they would purchase a new vehicle within the next two years said they would consider a hybrid.
But many traditional gasoline powered vehicles such as the Saturn Ion, Hyundai Accent and Mazda MX5 were part of the list. Volkswagen was highly represented, with three models (Golf, Jetta, New Beetle) listed to the top 30, although no diesel products were included. In terms of carmaker rankings, Volkswagen was followed by Honda and Mazda, respectively.
It would seem that a hybrid or diesel powered vehicle isn't the only way to go green.
As Mike Marshall, director of automotive emerging technologies at J.D. Power and Associates puts it, "the additional price premiums associated with hybrid vehicles, which can run from $3,000 to $10,000 more than a comparable non-hybrid vehicle, remain the biggest concern among consumers considering a hybrid. The AEI highlights several non-hybrid models available that help consumers reduce fuel use and emissions."