Q: Can I buy an HEV yet?

A: Yes. There are a few HEVs available for public purchase - the Toyota Prius, first introduced in Japan in late 1997; the Honda Insight, the first HEV to be sold in the United States; and the Honda Civic, hot off the assembly line in 2002. Other prototype HEVs are nearing production. Ford, General Motors, DaimlerChrysler, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Fiat, Renault, and Subaru are all working on HEVs of their own. Simultaneously, the automakers are working on the development of fuel cell vehicles. And check out some concept HEVs.

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Q: How do HEVs perform and compare to conventional vehicles in terms of mileage, fuels, safety, greenhouse gas emissions, etc?

A: Because HEV development has been driven by the market, not by mandates, the debut HEVs are meeting or exceeding conventional vehicle performance characteristics. The vehicles that can be purchased in the United States today, the Honda Insight, Toyota Prius and Honda Civic, perform similarly to gasoline vehicles.

The Fuel Economy Web site is a comprehensive resource for all automobiles, including the Insight and Prius. Click on "Find a Car" and use the pull-down menus to select the automobile you are interested in. It gives complete information on annual fuel costs, mileage, greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution ratings, safety studies, and more.

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Q: What tax incentives or rebates are available to me for purchasing an HEV?

A: The three HEVs presently available qualify for the federal Clean Fuel Vehicle Tax Deduction. Owners of Honda Civic (MY 2003), Honda Insight (MY 2000-2002), and Toyota Prius (MY 2001-2003) HEVs are eligible to claim the maximum deduction of $2,000.

The tax deduction is taken as an adjustment to income (line 32, IRS form 1040), and taxpayers need not itemize deductions to claim it. The deduction applies for tax year 2002 and the previous two years for which HEVs were available. An amended tax return can be filed to claim the deduction for a past year. Current law phases out the clean fuel tax deduction during tax years 2004-2006. Because current hybrid vehicles are certified as being primarily gasoline powered, they are not eligible for the electric vehicle tax credit (IRS form 8834).

The Clean Fuel Vehicle Tax Deduction is a deduction for clean fuel vehicles and certain refueling properties. A tax deduction for the purchase of a new original equipment manufacturer (OEM) qualified clean fuel vehicle, or for the conversion of a vehicle to use a clean-burning fuel, is provided under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct), Public Law-102-486, Title XIX-Revenue Provisions, Sec. 179A. For more information on the tax deduction, check out the Incentives and Laws section of the Fleet Buyer's Guide Web site.

In addition, individual states offer incentives, rebates, or grant programs to encourage purchase and leasing of hybrid and low/zero emission vehicles. To find out what your state may offer, refer to the Incentives and Laws section of the Fleet Buyer's Guide and select your state in the pull-down menu (note: some of this information may apply to individual private citizens as well as fleet owners).

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Q: Is an HEV simply a transition vehicle between a conventional vehicle and a pure EV?

A: No. Most experts agree that the car of the future will be an HEV of some kind. Because the energy density of electric batteries will never equal that of liquid or gaseous fuels, these fuels will likely need to continue to be a part of future vehicles. Even fuel cells, which are a promising long-term technology for personal transportation, will most likely still be put into an HEV configuration with a high-power energy-storage/buffer device on board. With further development, we might get to the point where we can select the propulsion system on our HEV in the same way we select a 4-cylinder engine or a V8 today.

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Q: I am interested in converting my standard automobile to an HEV. Do you have information on conversion, conversion kits, and companies or qualified mechanics that perform conversions?

A: Most conversions being performed are from a conventional gasoline vehicle to compressed natural gas (CNG), liquid natural gas (LNG) or biodiesel fuel. Presently, it is costly to convert a gasoline vehicle to a HEV.

Q: What is the life expectancy of HEV batteries, and what are the costs associated with replacing them?

A: Most warranties for HEV batteries typically cover a driving range from 80,000 to 100,000 miles, depending on the manufacturer. Therefore, costs associated with replacing the battery are depended on the warranty and time elapsed. For a new battery not under any warranty, costs can range from $3,000 to $8,000. For specific details check with the HEV manufacturer and read about HEV batteries.

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Q: My primary interest in buying an HEV is in doing MY part to clean up the air. Can my decision to purchase an HEV now really make a difference?

A: YES. Conventional vehicles release harmful chemicals, or pollutants, through their tailpipes. These chemicals, such as oxides of nitrogen, volatile organic compounds, particulates, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, are produced through the combustion of fossil fuels. In addition to causing "smog," and possibly contributing to global warming, these chemicals have been determined to cause or aggravate human respiratory diseases, including bronchitis, emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, and asthma. HEVs, with their increased fuel economy and reduced use of fossil fuels, emit fewer of these pollutants into the air we breathe. And because every little bit helps, your decision to purchase a cleaner vehicle now can have a big impact on the quality of our air in the future.

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Q: Can you get Energy Policy Act (EPAct) credit for purchasing an HEV?

A: Not at this time. Although HEVs are fuel efficient and produce low levels of emissions, they do not count as "alternative fuel vehicles" under EPAct. EPAct, which was passed in 1992 to accelerate the use of alternative fuels in the transportation sector, requires that federal, state, and alternative fuel provider fleets ensure that a certain percentage of their new vehicle purchases each year are alternative fuel vehicles. Because the HEVs on the market today do not use alternative fuels (they use gasoline), they can't be considered for credits under EPAct. There's been discussion on including HEVs in the future, but no final decision has been made to date. For more information on EPAct and other laws and regulations, go to DOE's Regulations and Legislation Web page.

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Q: Can you tell me more about the Department of Energy's HEV Program?

A: From its inception (in early 1993), the HEV Program had specific goals to develop an HEV drivetrain that achieves twice the fuel economy of conventional vehicles. The program mainly focused on the powertrain and internal components of the vehicle, which did not include elements such as the chassis, body, aerodynamics, and rolling resistance.

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Q: Where can I find information about future technologies and HEVs being developed for the marketplace?

A: Many of the major national and international automobile companies have developed or are developing HEVs. Check them out at: http://www.ott.doe.gov/hev/related.html. The American companies, General Motors, Ford, and DaimlerChrysler, are in the process of developing market-ready hybrid vehicles. To learn more, go to http://www.ott.doe.gov/hev/auto.html.

You may also want to visit auto shows that preview upcoming HEVs. The annual SAE World Congress, held in Detroit, Michigan, is the largest OE service, parts and components exhibition in the world.

We also have new listings of HEV's as they are being introduced: ElectricCars.com Hybrid Vehicles

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