Someone has to gear up to service these vehicles in the next decade. Remember, as in the past, the first guys to do it right position themselves for continued, almost effortless success. The following news wire article illustrates some current thinking. But Ford predicted that both hybrids and vehicles powered by traditional internal combustion engines will eventually be replaced by clean-burning fuel cell engines. Automakers have been introducing more electric and alternative fuel vehicles in the last few years as they experiment with new ways to build more efficient engines.
Hybrids now make up a tiny fraction of vehicles sold.
Toyota Motor Corp and Honda Motor Co. Ltd currently sell hybrid vehicles in Japan, and are expected to start sales in the United States early this year. Ford Motor, General Motors and DaimlerChrysler AG are scheduled to introduce hybrid vehicles that get 80 miles per gallon by 2003 as part of a U.S. government-sponsored program. Also, Ford said the world's No. 2 automaker will use its new Think brand to develop and sell alternative fuel engines and vehicles. In the near term, hybrids will make the first substantial inroads into the market. They could represent 20 percent of the market in the next 10 years.