Honda launches hybrid car in UK

Honda unveiled its hybrid car, but a survey shows lack of awareness on hybrids.

3 April 2006
LONDON, UK

While Honda has launched a new hybrid car that uses a petrol engine supplemented by batteries, a survey of 1,200 British drivers, carried out by the manufacturers revealed a serious lack of awareness regarding hybrid cars. This will be something to consider for other hybrid manufacturers like Toyota and Ford as well.

The British drivers, who were questioned by market research company TNS, on behalf of Honda, seemed confused about what exactly a hybrid was (with some thinking it meant two cars welded together), and when and how it could be used (with some thinking it had to be plugged in at night).

The Honda car, in fact, combines a petrol and electrical engine, with batteries that recharge while the car idles. The company speaking on the car said, according to a BBC report, "The result is a car that behaves like a petrol-engined car in terms of performance, emits less CO2 than an equivalent diesel and delivers mind-boggling fuel economy."

Although sales of hybrid cars are increasing, according to a BBC expert, even people who claim to know about hybrids lacked basic information, with as many as 40% of the "knowledgeable" ones not knowing that hybrid cars are vehicles which operated using a combination of petrol and electric power. Lack of awareness may lead to consumers being put off hybrids, which currently have an image of being "difficult to fill up, drive and maintain - and expensive to buy."

The car is in fact more environmentally friendly because of the integrated electric motor, which aids the engine by giving it a boost during acceleration and thereby helps the car become more fuel efficient.

Other companies that manufacture hybrid cars include Toyota subsidiary Lexus, which was the first company to bring out a luxury car equipped with a hybrid engine, and the Ford Focus car, which runs on bioethanol.

The survey also indicated that 70% of those interviewed believed that the government should take the responsibility of encouraging better take up of environmentally friendly vehicles, while only 35% felt car manufacturers should be responsible.

According to Honda, 130,000 hybrid vehicles have been sold worldwide, with 2,000 sales in Europe alone.