Gas Prices Spark Higher Interest in Hybrid Vehicles

More drivers are complaining about the rising of gas prices over the last few months. The national average of a gallon of gas is at around $3.51, as told by Chris Woodyard from USA Today . I've seen $3.75 around here in the Buffalo, New York area quite a bit. It is really starting to worry commuters and beginning to affect the family budget.

You can look up your local average current prices at the pump by typing in your zip code at a website called gasbuddy.com. The site brings up pump prices of all your local gas stations submitted by other friendly drivers. It shows the nearest gas stations with distance to travel and the address of the business. The user name of the driver that submitted the information and how long ago they submitted the price of gas they paid is also displayed. There is even a gas buddy App for your cell phone to get the latest information just before you leave work or school. I find this to be valuable information and not to mention a great idea for anyone interested in keeping up with local gas station prices if they have the time to track the daily changes.

Hybrids had a huge increase in sales for February 2011. Customers are starting to turn to Hybrid vehicles after watching the price of a gallon of gas jump week after week. "If you stay at the gas station long enough you will be able to see the price practically change throughout the day", commented a customer on 97 Rock, which is a local radio station in Buffalo.

Who knows how much the price will go up or when the price of oil will stop rising. Some analysts say atleast $4.00 others say $5.00 a gallon. Local dealerships expect a larger increase of Hybrid sales as gas continues to skyrocket. According to Jessica Caldwell of Edmunds.com, "the amount of car buyers researching Hybrids almost doubled to 400,000 in just 3 months."

Gas prices are definitely going to play a huge role influencing a car buyer's next purchase or even incentive to trade in their gas guzzler. We will probably go through another phase of truck and SUV trade-ins along with seeing a shortage of compact and electric cars. General Motors spokesman Tom Henderson says, "GM is selling every one of the Chevy Volt extended range electric cars that it can produce." I think this can count as another phase drivers will have to get through until the price of oil settles down. People panic because they don't prepare themselves for this added temporary expense.

Some ideas that families can use to get through this situation include car pooling with your friends, family members and co-workers. Talk with your friends and family on the phone or internet instead of driving long distance to see them. Ride your bicycle to work or school. Reduce your gas mileage by keeping your car tires properly inflated and driving at a consistent pace without aggressive stopping. Shut off the engine when you are waiting idling outside for someone at work or school to pick them up. If you have two or more vehicles at your household, it would be smarter to drive the vehicle that gets the best gas mileage of the whole group and use the others sparingly. Make dinner at home or pick it up on your way home from school or work to avoid extra trips out of the house which saves you a bunch of money on gas. One of the best things you could do is set up an agreement with your boss to work from home if possible. Who doesn't want to work at home and make their own hours, that would be great.

Source:

1. Chris Woodyard, "Gas prices revive car buyers interest in hybrids" USA Today
2. Gasbuddy.com
3. My own reporting
4. 97 Rock radio station live
5. Edmunds.com

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/environment/2011-03-08-ecocars08_ST_N.htm