Clark Howard's Tips

Honda to launch affordable line of hybrids in 2009

May 21, 2008

Less than a year ago, oil was under $50/ barrel. There has been a massive run-up in price, especially for airlines and other transportation-based businesses.

There are things you can do to fight back against the high prices at the pump. For example, Honda will be rolling out a huge new fleet of affordable hybrids in 2009. The payback should be very quick for buyers; the hybrid version of a car will only be about $1,900 more than the traditional gas engine version.

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Nissan, meanwhile, is launching a battery-powered car in the next 2 years. TheyÕve partnered with NEC to make a new battery for plug-in hybrids and electric cars. It will be beta tested in forklifts, so beware if youÕre an operator!

The point is there are real solutions coming. Oil was previously so cheap that we could almost be forgiven for not being more energy smart. But to paraphrase Winston Churchill, "The American people are finally getting around to doing the right thing after trying nearly everything else."

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