Size still matters in local automotive world
Demand for large cars remains high even as trends move to reduce emissions
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

HAPPY WITH A HYBRID- Moorpark City Councilmember Keith Millhouse displays the underthehood mechanics of his Toyota Prius.

Following decades of misfires, technologically advanced vehicles with lower CO2 emissions are beginning to gain ground on local roads.

Automakers began to build smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles in the 1970s; some created functional electric vehicles in the 1990s, but manufacturers struck a balance at the turn of the century when they unveiled hybrids that use both gasoline and electricity for power.

The hybrids quickly outshined their electric counterparts, evolving to better accommodate the needs of today's drivers while meeting California mandates requiring carmakers to build vehicles minimizing CO2 emissions, experts said.

Whereas some people believe that global warming is conclusively linked to CO2 emissions, others remain unconvinced. But everyone seems to agree that individuals should try to conserve energy.

"Those who denounce global warming issues or say we will restrict economic growth if we try to minimize it are perhaps a little naive and self-serving," said Keith Millhouse, a Moorpark City Council member and a hybrid-owner himelf.

"Someone has to take the lead in establishing some environmental leadership. I feel a certain amount of responsibility for future generations."

Millhouse said he takes the train to commute whenever possible and serves on the Metrolink board and the Ventura County Transportation Commission board.

County Supervisor Peter Foy, who represents the 4th District, has a different perspective.

"They say global warming is a fact but I'm not sure we have the exact science to allow us to make a conclusive decision," said Foy, who supports the improvement of roads throughout the county to maximize efficiency and minimize pollution.

While people should try to conserve energy, Foy said, taxpayer dollars shouldn't go toward something that isn't proven. The U.S., the Simi resident opined, can decrease its foreign oil dependency through increased indigenous oil production and alternative fuels.

"We just have to find the balance to make a conscious effort to be good stewards of the earth," said Foy, the owner of an SUV and a Lexus.

Still in demand

According to Mickey Shaver, a general sales manager at Shaver Pontiac and Jeep in Thousand Oaks, "The need for standard utility vehicles hasn't gone away."

There's been a small decline in the sales of extra-large utility trucks as people favor smaller SUVs, Shaver said.

Car manufacturers are moving toward fuel-efficient options, but that's still in the future because of practical barriers, Shaver said.

Jeep now makes a flexfuel option vehicle that uses an 85 octane gas mix with 20 percent ethanol, but the special formula is only available at a handful of gas stations nationwide, he said.

Cost also remains a deterrent. It takes many years of gas savings to make up for the initial extra costs of buying a hybrid, Shaver said.

Hybrid trends

"We anticipate that hybrids will make up about 1.5 percent of car sales in 2007," said Kevin Riddell, an automotive analyst for Westlakebased JD Powers and Associates, a global marketing information firm that conducts independent surveys of customer satisfaction, product quality and buyer behavior.

Hybrid owners earn an average of $113,000 per year, and 40 percent of them have an advanced college degree, Riddell said.

Studies show that people say they're environmentally conscious when they look to buy a car, Riddle said, but when the rubber meets the road, environmental concerns are among the least important factors. Hybrid sales tend to increase when gas prices go up and slow down when costs dip.

"It seems that consumers are paying more attention to what hits the pocketbook," Riddell said.

Riddell also indicated that hybrid owners anticipate more gas savings then they actually get.

"They expect to get 28 more miles per gallon but get about 7.5 miles per gallon because they don't change their driving style," he said.

Even though they're not perfect, Ridell said he thinks hybrids are successfully bridging a gap.

"You get the alternate power to boost your range- at the same time they're not as expensive as a totally electric vehicle," he said.

But some gas-powered small sedans don't fall far behind when it comes to fuel efficiency, he said.

Manufacturers of Japanese cars have an advantage in the hybrid field now, but the playing field will level out since other companies are working together make a hybrid system for larger vehicles.

"Because research is so expensive, General Motors, Daimler Chrysler and BMW formed an alliance to design a hybrid system that all three manufacturers will use," Riddell said.

A hybrid Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon should hit the market toward the end of this year.

At the same time Chrysler will bring out a Dodge Durango with the same system and BMW will follow suit.

There will also be new plug-in hybrids that use more battery power, the analyst said. The new cars will have electrical systems that can hold a charge longer then the current hybrids can, so drivers can use even less gas.

Other alternatives lag behind

Although there's been increased interest in diesel vehicles because they consume less fuel than standard autos, strict emissions laws have discouraged manufacturers from building them for the U.S. market, according to Riddell.

Solely electric vehicles didn't succeed in the marketplace because they weren't practical for individual consumers; they were, however, successfully used in fleets for a time, car experts said.