Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2011 has been another year of automotive changes. There has been a big push to “go green” by introducing plug-in vehicles as well as a huge expansion of different makes of hybrid vehicles.

Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, General Motors, Ford, Mazda, BMW, Mercedes Benz are just some car manufacturers that has entered the hybrid and plug-in market.

If you are in the market to buy a plug-in or hybrid, the first thing you will take notice is the price.  You may think that a vehicle with great gas mileage is an economy car. Well, no, these vehicles with their “green” technology are not priced at the economy car range. Look for dealer incentives programs and possible tax breaks before purchasing one.

Toyota Prius / Photo Credit: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.

Many customers ask about the reliability of the hybrids and plug-ins. The technology for the plug-in vehicles is relatively new to the consumer market and its long-term reliability and practicality is still somewhat of an open question.  And while the hybrids have been on the market now for about ten years (The Toyota Prius was introduced worldwide in 2001), one major concern that any hybrid buyer should be aware of is the replacement cost of the rechargeable battery. Related to this is the concern over the future resale value of these vehicles when you factor in the eventual need to replace the battery.

Chevrolet Volt / Photo Credit: General Motors

For the plug-in type vehicles, the General Motors’ version is called the Volt. The GM Volt is a plug-in, but it also has a gas engine that will kick in to generate electricity to power the electric engine and recharge the battery, should you drive beyond the range of the battery charge.  The driving range of the Volt on a fully charged battery is about 40 miles, at which time the gas engine will kick in to assist.

Nissan Leaf / Photo Credit: Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.

Nissan’s plug-in vehicle is called the Leaf. The Leaf is a “pure” plug-in vehicle that requires a charge from a charge station. The range of the Leaf on a full charge is about 100 miles.

(Editor's note: Read Kiman Wong's series of articles on the Nissan Leaf in AroundHawaii.com HERE.)

Some people say that Hawaii, with its shorter commuter drives than the Mainland, and milder weather (extreme cold is tough on the batteries) would provide the ideal location for a successful deployment of the plug-in vehicles.

A downside of the plug-in vehicle is the limited locations and the slow expansion of the plug-in charging stations. Currently in Hawaii these plug-in stations are not widely installed in various public locations.  I personally feel that State of Hawaii and City and County needs to address this issue.

My forecast in 2012 is that there will be continued strong push to “go green” and the need for smaller cars, especially if gas prices go up. Many vehicle manufactures are still testing other types of alternative fuel resources.  Don't be surprised if you see hydrogen fuel cell running on public streets. But for now gasoline, hybrids and plug-ins are the only type of vehicles available to the consumers.

Would you consider a hybrid or plug-in as your next choice of vehicle?

Have a safe motoring and see you all in the 2012.