Israel's News & Views Blog
With oil prices hovering at near the $100 per barrel mark, more and more Israelis are becoming interested in energy saving products, as well as those more friendly towards to environment. Whether it be dual power system “hybrid” cars or those powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), consumer concerns regarding energy shortage and global warming is causing many people to change their “energy consumption lifestyles” in favor of more environmentally friendly alternatives.
From a consumer marketing standpoint, what are known as “hybrid cars” seem to be getting more than their share of attention these days.
For those who are not aware, a hybrid car is equipped with both a conventional gasoline powered engine as well as an electric motor. When the car is in traveling at a regular road rate of speed, a generator is recharging the batteries that power the electric. The electric motor’s batteries are also being recharged by the braking action of the car when it stops at a traffic light. When the car is either standing still at an intersection, or moving at a very low rate of speed, like during the “stop and go” movement in a traffic jam, the electric motor takes over and not only saves fuel, but helps polluting exhaust emissions. In fact, Avi Moshel, who is involved in dealing with automobile exhaust emissions for the Transport Ministry, says that hybrid cars are 30 to 50% less polluting than those with only a gasoline powered engine.
Presently, the two most popular selling “hybrids” in Israel are the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid. Both are between 15 and 20% more expensive than ordinary modes, but dealers who sell them claim that a driver will gain back the extra cost through reduced fuel consumption .
Last summer, I asked a salesman at the Honda agency and service garage in Netanya why he thinks many people still haven’t considered purchasing a hybrid car: “It’s very simple” he replied, people in this country usually wait until some of their neighbors do the same thing. So unless Shlomo buys one (a hybrid), Itzick won’t buy one either.”
That was several months ago. When I checked back with the same salesman recently, he said that their agency is promoting their hybrids more than the ordinary gasoline powered models, especially due to the purchase tax incentives now being given by the Transport Ministry in conjunction with the Ministry for Environmental Protection.
The other alternative, i.e. cars that have been converted to run on liquefied natural gas have also gained interest, as LNG as it’s called cost about half the price of gasoline, and is much cleaning burning. The main drawback to this fuel first it’s availability (only a handful of filling stations offer this kind of fuel) and its potential hazards from explosions. The cost of converting an ordinary petrol burning car to one using LNG costs between NS 8,000 and 10,000, which is also a factor.
Still, in a country like Israel which has one of the highest vehicle traffic congestion rates in world, the use of Hybrid and LNG powered vehicles will be a definite advantage to reducing the country’s air pollution problems, as well as overall energy costs.
Post a Comment