xcel
01-27-2007, 09:37 PM
Many hybrid owners love their cars so much they find their way to the Madison Hybrid Group, a group that shares facts, tips and support for the curious and for fellow owners. (http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/index.php?ntid=116472&ntpid=1)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/MHG_Meet.jpgAnita Clark -Wisconsin State Journal -Jan. 26, 2007
Car salesman John Dolan started selling hybrid cars in Madison about six years ago.
Customers were few, and they tended to be electrical engineers who knew so much about the cars that they scared the salesmen.
"I got stumped time after time," Dolan recalls. Now he's known as "Mr. Hybrid" for his success selling the popular Toyota Prius and other hybrids at Smart Motors on Odana Road.
Hybrid car sales have climbed steadily, in Madison and across the country, as customers embrace the high-mileage, low-emissions concept of cars powered by gasoline and electricity.
Attracted in part by a federal tax credit that once topped $3,000, Americans bought a quarter-million hybrids last year, an increase of about 23 percent over 2005.
In Wisconsin, 3,625 new hybrids took to the roads in the first 10 months of 2006, ranking the state 22nd in hybrid registrations, according to data from R.L. Polk and Hybridcars.com. In that period, 1,063 hybrids were registered in the Madison area.
Their drivers are passionate about their cars and proud of reducing pollution.
"We have a lot of people who are very thoughtful about the environment," said Eric Powers, a hybrid owner who organized the Madison Hybrid Group.
One Dane County businessman, Mark Barnes, bought a Highlander SUV hybrid for himself and 10 red Priuses for his sales fleet at Barnes Inc., his landscaping, snow-removal and construction company.
"The biggest reason was the fuel savings," said Barnes, who also was motivated by environmental concerns.
"That was the surprising thing, how good we as a company feel about what we're doing," he said.
Will the market slow?
Nevertheless, as the tax credits are phased out, some forecasters predict the hybrid market will stall.
Other analysts, however, foresee continued growth in hybrid sales. At least 10 new hybrids will hit the market in 2007.
"The trends are clearly going up," said Bradley Berman, editor of Hybridcars.com. "It's pretty clear that the hybrid movement is not just a fad. It's going to last a long time and it's likely to accelerate."
Many hybrid owners love their cars so much they find their way to the Madison Hybrid Group, a group that shares facts, tips and support for the curious and for fellow owners.
Experienced drivers, for example, are happy to share pointers on the "pulse and glide" driving technique for top mileage.
Caryl Terrell, a West Side retiree, bought her blue 2004 Prius when she was looking for a comfortable car with very good gas mileage and enough space to haul her husband's telescope.
"It's been excellent," Terrell said. She generally keeps her cars "until they croak," at about 200,000 miles, and plans to pilot the Prius as long as it lasts. She gets about 48 miles per gallon and expects to improve that by buying a block heater.
She believes hybrids are popular here because people are willing to try new things - especially to protect the environment.
That's an opinion endorsed by Powers, who drives his beloved red Honda Insight hybrid from Sauk City to Madison every day. He gets 67 mpg.
"We have a lot of people who are very thoughtful about the environment," he said.
Shoppers ponder costs
That environmental impact - versus higher costs - was on the minds of curious visitors at the Madison Auto Show last weekend at the Alliant Center.
"I have mixed emotions about hybrids," said Bill Minardi of Madison, who was examining a Honda Civic hybrid. "You want to do the right thing, but, by the same token, you pay a premium to do it."
Another shopper, Glenn Natzke of Adams, rapped the window sticker on a Prius advertising mileage of 60 mpg. "In the future, I probably will" buy one, he said. "The reason I'm doing it is right here."
Melissa and Ethan Woodson of Oregon tucked their children, ages 4, 5 and 7, into the back seat of a hybrid Saturn VUE Green Line. The youngsters fit in, but their parents want better gas mileage, perhaps from a plug-in car. They recently saw the documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car?"
"I think the technology is there. Let's bring it to market," Ethan Woodson said.
Shoppers weighing sticker prices against their environmental conscience face a tough decision. In a September report, Consumers Reports noted that hybrids typically cost thousands of dollars more than similar conventional models and warned that consumers should look closely at fuel costs, sales incentives and other variables.
Federal tax credits are being phased out, though state Rep. Joseph Parisi, D-Madison, is drafting a bill that would provide a $1,000 Wisconsin income tax credit for hybrid owners.
Even Powers doesn't think he's saving money.
"Some people think it's blasphemy to say this, but I don't necessarily think they'll save you money," he said. "But you'll definitely consume less of the world's resources by buying one."
Dolan, the Smart Motors salesman, says he sees buyers ready to "put their money where their mouth is" by buying a hybrid.
"In Madison, we have such a green streak," he said.
The Madison Hybrid Group
If you're the new owner of a hybrid vehicle, or even if you're just curious, you're welcome to join the Madison Hybrid Group.
It meets on the second Saturday of odd-numbered months. The next meeting is March 10, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Culver's, 2102 W. Beltline, near Todd Drive.
Members enjoy answering questions and showing off their cars, said organizer Eric Powers.
The public is also invited to this year's Hybridfest on July 21 and 22 in Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Center, during the Dane County Fair.
Tips to improve gas mileage in a hybrid
Don't speed. Slow down gradually for a red light. If it changes to green, you may be able to cruise through, using less gasoline than accelerating from a stop.
Keep your tire pressure at the recommended level.
Skip "jack rabbit" starts. Accelerate smoothly.
Avoid idling.
Pay attention to regular maintenance.
Track your gas mileage. You're more likely to make changes if you calculate how you're doing.
Buy a gauge to measure moment-by-moment gas use if your car doesn't have one.
Use the air conditioner less. Roll your windows down. But at highway speed, roll them up and use the air conditioner to reduce wind resistance.SOURCE: Eric Powers, Madison Hybrid Group
Cities where hybrids are most popular
Hybrids per 1000 households*
1. Portland, Ore. 9.21
2. San Francisco 7.28
3. Monterey, Calif. 5.83
4. Santa Barbara, Calif. 5.15
5. Los Angeles 4.70
6. Bend, Ore. 4.42
7. Washington, D.C. 4.35
8. Charlottesville, Va. 4.23
9. San Diego 4.18
10. Eugene, Ore. 3.76
11. Seattle 3.46
12. Honolulu 3.37
13. Eureka, Calif. 3.15
14. Sacramento, CA 2.97
15. Madison, WI 2.91
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/MHG_Meet.jpgAnita Clark -Wisconsin State Journal -Jan. 26, 2007
Car salesman John Dolan started selling hybrid cars in Madison about six years ago.
Customers were few, and they tended to be electrical engineers who knew so much about the cars that they scared the salesmen.
"I got stumped time after time," Dolan recalls. Now he's known as "Mr. Hybrid" for his success selling the popular Toyota Prius and other hybrids at Smart Motors on Odana Road.
Hybrid car sales have climbed steadily, in Madison and across the country, as customers embrace the high-mileage, low-emissions concept of cars powered by gasoline and electricity.
Attracted in part by a federal tax credit that once topped $3,000, Americans bought a quarter-million hybrids last year, an increase of about 23 percent over 2005.
In Wisconsin, 3,625 new hybrids took to the roads in the first 10 months of 2006, ranking the state 22nd in hybrid registrations, according to data from R.L. Polk and Hybridcars.com. In that period, 1,063 hybrids were registered in the Madison area.
Their drivers are passionate about their cars and proud of reducing pollution.
"We have a lot of people who are very thoughtful about the environment," said Eric Powers, a hybrid owner who organized the Madison Hybrid Group.
One Dane County businessman, Mark Barnes, bought a Highlander SUV hybrid for himself and 10 red Priuses for his sales fleet at Barnes Inc., his landscaping, snow-removal and construction company.
"The biggest reason was the fuel savings," said Barnes, who also was motivated by environmental concerns.
"That was the surprising thing, how good we as a company feel about what we're doing," he said.
Will the market slow?
Nevertheless, as the tax credits are phased out, some forecasters predict the hybrid market will stall.
Other analysts, however, foresee continued growth in hybrid sales. At least 10 new hybrids will hit the market in 2007.
"The trends are clearly going up," said Bradley Berman, editor of Hybridcars.com. "It's pretty clear that the hybrid movement is not just a fad. It's going to last a long time and it's likely to accelerate."
Many hybrid owners love their cars so much they find their way to the Madison Hybrid Group, a group that shares facts, tips and support for the curious and for fellow owners.
Experienced drivers, for example, are happy to share pointers on the "pulse and glide" driving technique for top mileage.
Caryl Terrell, a West Side retiree, bought her blue 2004 Prius when she was looking for a comfortable car with very good gas mileage and enough space to haul her husband's telescope.
"It's been excellent," Terrell said. She generally keeps her cars "until they croak," at about 200,000 miles, and plans to pilot the Prius as long as it lasts. She gets about 48 miles per gallon and expects to improve that by buying a block heater.
She believes hybrids are popular here because people are willing to try new things - especially to protect the environment.
That's an opinion endorsed by Powers, who drives his beloved red Honda Insight hybrid from Sauk City to Madison every day. He gets 67 mpg.
"We have a lot of people who are very thoughtful about the environment," he said.
Shoppers ponder costs
That environmental impact - versus higher costs - was on the minds of curious visitors at the Madison Auto Show last weekend at the Alliant Center.
"I have mixed emotions about hybrids," said Bill Minardi of Madison, who was examining a Honda Civic hybrid. "You want to do the right thing, but, by the same token, you pay a premium to do it."
Another shopper, Glenn Natzke of Adams, rapped the window sticker on a Prius advertising mileage of 60 mpg. "In the future, I probably will" buy one, he said. "The reason I'm doing it is right here."
Melissa and Ethan Woodson of Oregon tucked their children, ages 4, 5 and 7, into the back seat of a hybrid Saturn VUE Green Line. The youngsters fit in, but their parents want better gas mileage, perhaps from a plug-in car. They recently saw the documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car?"
"I think the technology is there. Let's bring it to market," Ethan Woodson said.
Shoppers weighing sticker prices against their environmental conscience face a tough decision. In a September report, Consumers Reports noted that hybrids typically cost thousands of dollars more than similar conventional models and warned that consumers should look closely at fuel costs, sales incentives and other variables.
Federal tax credits are being phased out, though state Rep. Joseph Parisi, D-Madison, is drafting a bill that would provide a $1,000 Wisconsin income tax credit for hybrid owners.
Even Powers doesn't think he's saving money.
"Some people think it's blasphemy to say this, but I don't necessarily think they'll save you money," he said. "But you'll definitely consume less of the world's resources by buying one."
Dolan, the Smart Motors salesman, says he sees buyers ready to "put their money where their mouth is" by buying a hybrid.
"In Madison, we have such a green streak," he said.
The Madison Hybrid Group
If you're the new owner of a hybrid vehicle, or even if you're just curious, you're welcome to join the Madison Hybrid Group.
It meets on the second Saturday of odd-numbered months. The next meeting is March 10, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Culver's, 2102 W. Beltline, near Todd Drive.
Members enjoy answering questions and showing off their cars, said organizer Eric Powers.
The public is also invited to this year's Hybridfest on July 21 and 22 in Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Center, during the Dane County Fair.
Tips to improve gas mileage in a hybrid
Don't speed. Slow down gradually for a red light. If it changes to green, you may be able to cruise through, using less gasoline than accelerating from a stop.
Keep your tire pressure at the recommended level.
Skip "jack rabbit" starts. Accelerate smoothly.
Avoid idling.
Pay attention to regular maintenance.
Track your gas mileage. You're more likely to make changes if you calculate how you're doing.
Buy a gauge to measure moment-by-moment gas use if your car doesn't have one.
Use the air conditioner less. Roll your windows down. But at highway speed, roll them up and use the air conditioner to reduce wind resistance.SOURCE: Eric Powers, Madison Hybrid Group
Cities where hybrids are most popular
Hybrids per 1000 households*
1. Portland, Ore. 9.21
2. San Francisco 7.28
3. Monterey, Calif. 5.83
4. Santa Barbara, Calif. 5.15
5. Los Angeles 4.70
6. Bend, Ore. 4.42
7. Washington, D.C. 4.35
8. Charlottesville, Va. 4.23
9. San Diego 4.18
10. Eugene, Ore. 3.76
11. Seattle 3.46
12. Honolulu 3.37
13. Eureka, Calif. 3.15
14. Sacramento, CA 2.97
15. Madison, WI 2.91