Hybrid cars have been mass-produced for more than 10 years. With technology constantly improving, they have definitely come a long way. While the first mass produced hybrid vehicle, the Toyota Prius, is still the best selling hybrid, the number of models available to consumers has increased drastically in the past few years.

Looking back, it’s hard to imagine that ten years ago, Americans were on a waiting list for a hybrid from either Toyota or Honda, especially considering a recent Accenture study that showed that 42 percent of consumers are likely to purchase a hybrid or electric automobile in the next two years.

In honor of Earth Day on April 22, I’ve decided to put together a timeline of how far hybrid cars have come and what to expect in the very near future.

1997 – Toyota launches the world’s first mass-produced hybrid vehicle, the Toyota Prius, in Japan. 37,000 Prius’ were sold in Japan before the popular Toyota became available in the U.S.

1999 – Honda releases the Insight in the U.S., making it the first mass-produced hybrid automobile sold in the US.

2000 – Toyota launches the Prius in the U.S. Only 12,000 vehicles are available.

2002 – Honda unveils the Honda Civic Hybrid

2003 – The second generation Toyota Prius was named the 2004 Car of the Year by Motor Trend Magazine. Over 700,000 Prius’ were sold in the U.S.

2004 – Ford introduces the Escape Hybrid, the first hybrid SUV and the first American-made hybrid. The Escape Hybrid was named the North American truck of the year in 2005.

2005 – Three hybrid SUVs, including the Lexus RX 400h, Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid are introduced. The Highlander Hybrid is considered a “muscle hybrid” because of its increased horsepower; however, it sacrifices fuel economy.

2007 – Nissan enters the hybrid market with the Altima Hybrid sold in 8 states – New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and California. Chevrolet also introduces the first full-size SUV hybrid that increases fuel economy by approximately 25 percent more than the conventional model.

2009 – The newly redesigned Honda Insight becomes the only hybrid option under $20,000. Toyota also introduces the 2010 Prius with the highest fuel economy of any car on the U.S. market at 50 mpg.

2010 and Beyond – In Fall 2010, GM is expected to unveil the Chevrolet Volt that is supposed to travel up to 40 miles on electric power alone. GM estimates that it will cost 2 cents per mile under batter power.

In 2012, Toyota is expected to produce 20,000 to 30,000 Toyota Prius Plug-in hybrids which can run about 12 to 18 miles on battery power alone.

[Source]: HybridCenter.org

With an increased focus on sustainability and energy reform from the Obama administration, now is the perfect time to talk about recycling. No, not about the importance of recycling of plastic bottles and paper, but it is the perfect time to talk about the benefits of recycling your old vehicle.

While many used car owners are able to resell their cars, some vehicles are so old that they are considered “end of life” vehicles. These cars are those that need repairs above and beyond the value of the car and are inoperable due to mechanical failure. Every year, as many as 11 million vehicles in America reach the end of their useful life.

Typically, when a vehicle reaches the end of its useful life, it is taken to an auto recycle where any re-saleable parts and environmentally harmful materials are removed. The car is then sold to a shredding operation that breaks down the vehicle into small pieces that usually end up at landfill sites. Currently, the majority of your car ends up in a landfill, amounting to more than 408,000 tons of car materials in a landfill site every year.

But did you know that almost 75 percent of your old car can be recycled?

If you have a car that is close to or has already reached the end of its useful life, consider recycling that clunker, rather than dropping it off at a junkyard. Here are three tips to help you get started:

1. Do your research!
Some cities, such as San Francisco, offer Buy Back programs for old vehicles meeting certain requirements.

2. Find a Charitable Organization.
Often times, you can recycle your vehicle and donate 100 percent of the proceeds raised through re-saleable parts to a Charity. Habitat for Humanity has a Cars for Homes program and organizations such as Green Vehicle Disposal allows you to choose from a variety of charities to donate to.

3. Make a Green Choice!
Once you’ve donated your old clunker, consider replacing it with a more fuel efficient car. Even if you’d prefer not to purchase a hybrid, there are still many options available that can achieve over 25 city miles per gallon.

Are you in the market for a hybrid car? You may not be alone.

According to manufacturers’ monthly reports, approximately 1 million hybrids were sold in the U.S. between 1999 and 2007.

With the ever increasing cost of gas, hybrid and electric vehicles are attracting more and more shoppers. However, according to a study from Accenture*, six out of 10 consumers are only more likely to purchase a hybrid or electric car when it is “superior” to gasoline models on all purchasing factors, such as safety, entertainment, navigation and cost of care.

While respondents that have driven a hybrid or electric vehicle rate fuel efficient as good to excellent, most rate the ride, performance, style and other factors as either good or below-good.

With 42 percent of respondents likely to buy a hybrid or electric auto in the next two years, this information could be extremely useful to auto manufacturers.

So if you are in the market for a new car and are considering purchasing a hybrid car, here are some key factors you should consider, outside of increased fuel efficiency:

1. Performance
2. Style
3. Safety
4. Entertainment features
5. Navigation features
6. Cost of Care

*Accenture surveyed 1,850 consumers in five countries, including Germany, France, Italy, the United States and Canada.

From in-car navigation systems to voice-activated entertainment systems, today’s cars are becoming more advanced and computer-like. While much of this new auto technology is made to make our lives more convenient, it can actually become a source of headaches and stress when it comes time to take your car to the mechanic.

According to an article on MSNBC, some auto repair shops have to turn down jobs and refer customers to more costly auto dealer shops because they don’t have the money to purchase the thousands of dollars in special equipment needed to fix these advanced cars.

Computers and electronics control nearly every vehicle function from emissions down to the ignition keys, so minor problems are harder to diagnose and repair. According to the Right to Repair Coalition, this advanced technology gives car manufacturers opportunity to force car owners to limit the number of places they can obtain service for their vehicles to dealer repair shops.

Access to affordable repairs is the foundation of the Right to Repair Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Rep. Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y., that would require automakers to provide the same service and information and tools to independent auto shops and consumers that dealership service centers receive. This law would ensure that vehicle owners have a variety of options to choose from when their vehicle needs repairs.

According to a study released by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, vehicle repairs at a car dealership cost an average of 34 percent more than at an independent repair shop, costing consumers an extra $11.7 billion each year.

However, automakers argue that the problem extends beyond cheaper repairs because they spend millions in research and development and are not willing to give away their intellectual property for free.

While the Right to Repair bill has been stalled in the House Committee since April, it already has 51 co-sponsors. However, it’s unclear when or if the committee will vote on it.

Do you have a new car with advanced computer technology? Are you finding yourself paying more for repairs?

2009 will forever be known as a sad year for Saab. In late December, Saab became history as the fourth brand that General Motors (GM) decided to shut down as part of their bankruptcy restructuring.

While there seemed to be hope for the Swedish brand, in late December, GM announced that talks to bailout Saab had fallen through.

Although Saab was never the number one selling car in America, it had a loyal following and was known by many Americans for their quirky station wagons.

So in memory of an iconic brand, I’ve created a timeline of the highlights of Saab’s history—a last look at a great car that will no longer be produced.

1937 – Saab was founded as Svenska Aeroplane Aktiebolaget (SAAB) in Trollhattan, Sweden to produce high-performance aircrafts before WWII. After the end of World War II, Saab began using their aerospace technology to develop vehicles.

1949 – Saab produced its first car – the Saab 92. With their background in aerospace, Saab’s two-stroke engine, front-wheel drive car had less drag than most of today’s cars. More than 20,000 Saab 92s were built between 1949 and 1956.

1958 – Saab introduced its first sports car, the Saab 93 750 Gran Turismo.

1978 – Saab became the first manufacturer to offer cabin air filters, a relief for those with allergies.  In 1978, Saab partnered with Fiat to develop a series of products like the Saab 600 also known as the Lancia Delta.

1990 – GM purchased a 50 percent stake in Saab’s car division, Saab Automobile AB, which was restructured into an independent company.

1997 – Saab introduced its first premium four-door sedan, the Saab 9-5. This car was also the world’s first car with Saab Active Head Restraints and ventilated seats.

2009 – In December, GM announced that it would shut down Saab after last-minute talks with small Dutch sports car builder, Spyker, fall through. GM eliminated 3,400 jobs in Sweden and dropped 1,100 Saab dealers as part of this move.

2010 – GM began offering Saabs at deep discounts to get rid of their inventory of Saab vehicles.

[Source] Saab Official Website

Almost every year at least one car model is discontinued. You can probably think of at least one or two cars from your childhood that you no longer see at dealerships.

Also known as “orphan” cars, some of these vehicles become collector’s items while others simply disappear onto the ever growing list of discontinued cars.

2009 was a tough year for auto makers. Because of the weak economy, high unemployment rates and the credit crisis, 2009 marked the worst year for U.S. auto sales in nearly 30 years.

General Motors (GM) sales were down 33 percent from 2008 and Chrysler sold only 931,000 vehicles, its worst performance since 1962. In addition, both GM and Chrysler filed for bankruptcy protection this summer.

Here is a look at some of the cars and brands that were discontinued in 2009:
1. Hummer
2. Saturn
3. Pontiac
4. Saab
5. Honda S2000
6. Volkswagen GLI (expected to return in 2011)
7. Audi S8
8. Land Rover LR3
9. Bentley Arnage
10. Hyundai Entourage

[Source]: Drive MileOne

This year’s DuPont Color Popularity Report of the most popular car paint colors around the world shows that while black, silver and white are still the most popular colors, car buyers are also favoring the blue.

So how are the colors broken down by continent?

Asia-Pacific – Dark blue metallic, candy whites and white pearl are the most popular colors. However, luxury buyers favor black and mid-tone metallic grays. According to Emily Hung, DuPont’s color designer for the Asia Pacific region, the wide range of colors offered in India and China are a reflection of the countries’ “booming economies.”

Europe – In the past year, black has become more popular than silver, however chromatic colors (those with a hue, unlike white, gray and black) are still very popular. According to Elke Dirks, Dupont’s color designer for Europe, blue is the most popular chromatic car paint color because of an increasing demand for light, pure and sophisticated looking cars. A strong penchant toward chromatic colors points to a desire by consumers for more personalization of their vehicles.

South America – White, silver, gray and black still dominates the market in Latin America and while green has been the most popular chromatic color, blue is also beginning to gain in popularity. According to Dupont’s color designer for Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador, Wolstano Marin, personal preference, fashion and resale value are major factors in determining car paint color choices.

North America – While white has been the most popular car color in North America for several years, black has been slowly gaining momentum. While in 2003, 31 percent of vehicles were white, only 17.8 percent of vehicles were white in 2009. Blue, red, brown and green took the number fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh spots. According to the Socionomics Institute in Gainesville, Georgia, color trends provide insight into America’s optimism for the future.

During 2009, there was a lot of discussion over the dangers of driving while using your cell phone.  According to the National Highway Administration, drivers are four times more likely to have an accident if they are on their cell phone, even if they are using a hands-free headset.

Currently, 19 states and the District of Columbia have laws banning texting while driving and according to the National Conference of State Legislators 26 states have proposed legislation limiting cell phone use on the road.

Some organizations, such as the National Motorists Association, have argued that these laws are ineffective and unnecessary and are difficult to enforce. Because many Americans are constantly connected, whether it’s through their computer or cell phone, it can be difficult to resist picking up the phone when it rings or when you receive a text.

On this episode of Vehicle Vibes Radio, host Marcia Hansen will be talking with Matt Howard, the Co-founder and CEO of ZoomSafer, a new company that disables your cell phone while driving.

Through your phone’s GPS sensors, ZoomSafer can detect when you’re driving and will lock your keypad to prevent texting, emailing and phone calls. ZoomSafer will also auto-reply to all missed calls, emails and texts.

Matt came up with the idea of ZoomSafer in September 2008 after he was involved in a distracted driving accident in which he almost killed a nine-year-old boy.  ZoomSafer was developed to ensure safe and legal use of mobile phones while driving.

The software requires an easy install on your phone and is available for a $25 onetime fee or $2.99 a month.

Join Marcia as she speaks with Matt about his experiences with distracted driving and learn more about using ZoomSafer to keep you and your family safe on the road.

Recently, the Buick LaCrosse, Ford Fusion Hybrid and Volkswagen Golf/GTI were selected as finalists for the North American Car of the Year and the Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Transit Connect and Subaru Outback were selected as finalists for theNorth American Truck of the Year.

For 17 years, a jury of automotive journalists, representing press from the United States and Canada, recognized the most outstanding vehicle based on a variety of factors including innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar. This year more than 50 vehicles were considered.

Last year the committee named the Hyundai Genesis as the North American Car of the Year and the Ford F-150 as the North American Truck of the Year.

This year’s winners, the 2010 Fusion Hybrid (car class) and the 2010 Transit Connect (truck award), were announced on January 11th at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Here are five fun facts about the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards:

1. Domestic automakers have won the North American Car of the Year eight times. Japanese automakers have won three times and European automakers have won four times

2. Domestic automakers have won the North American Truck of the Year 10 times while Japanese automakers have won four times

3. Ford has won the North American Truck of the Year five times, more than any other car manufacturer. However, Ford has only won the North American Car of the Year once with the Ford Focus in 2000

4. Hybrids have been honored three times. Winners include the Toyota Prius in 2004, the Ford Escape Hybrid in 2005 and the Honda Civic Hybrid in 2006

5. Chevrolet vehicles have been named the North American Truck of the year three times, with the Silverado winning the 2007 award

Have you ever wondered how much it costs to drive a mile in your car? Or how far a dollar will take you?

Traditionally, we have measured a car’s fuel efficiency by the standard miles per gallon (MPG). However, since gas prices are significantly higher than they were 10 years ago, is it time to reevaluate our way of measuring our gas consumption?

After reading an article titled “Gasoline’s New Math” on MSN Autos, I began thinking about how much it really costs to drive each time I take a trip to the grocery store or the mall.

According to the article, instead of calculating mpg, we should be thinking about miles per dollar (MPD).

So how do you calculate MPD? It’s a fairly simple two-step process. First, figure out your car’s MPG. You can do this by dividing the distance traveled and the number of gallons your car consumed, or you can use your car manufacturer’s estimate. Next, take your MPG and divide it by the price of a gallon of gas. This number is your car’s miles per dollar.

So how far will one dollar take you? You might be surprised by the number.

Here is a list of some of America’s best selling cars (according to Forbes.com) and their estimated miles per dollar, based on the national average of $2.58 per gallon.

1. Ford F-Series (16 mpg) — 6.2 MPD
2. Chevrolet Silverado (17 mpg) — 6.6 MPD
3. Toyota Camry (25 mpg) — 9.7 MPD
4. Honda Civic (29 mpg) — 11.2 MPD
5. Honda Accord (24 mpg) — 9.3 MPD
6. Toyota Corolla/Matrix (29 mpg) — 11.2 MPD
7. Nissan Altima (26 mpg) — 10.0 MPD
8. Chevrolet Impala (22 mpg) — 8.5 MPD
9. Dodge Ram (16 mpg) — 6.2 MPD
10. Ford Focus (28 mpg) — 10.9 MPD

Once you know how much it costs to drive your car, find out how you can improve your car’s fuel efficiency.