The trend toward hybrid vehicles in Europe and North America is well covered in the press at the expense of more encouraging developments. Israel offers an example of a small nation with Western ideals committing fully to alternative fuels in the midst of Middle Eastern politics. The Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection and its Air Quality Division have compiled statistics for the last four years that show Israel as a leading advocate for sustainable transportation.
The basic measure of Israel’s hybrid craze is the number of vehicles sold since 2005. The Ministry reports that a mere 10 hybrid cars were sold in Israel in 2004. These numbers grew rapidly in subsequent years with 130 in 2005 and 493 in 2006. The 2007 calendar year saw a massive increase in hybrid sales with 1,731 hybrids hitting Israeli streets. The Air Quality Division reports that there are already 506 hybrid cars sold through the first two months of 2008 setting a pace for 3,036 vehicles by January 2009.
The Israeli consumer’s pocketbook is not the only measure of the nation’s commitment to new methods of transportation. Minister Gideon Ezra has lobbied the Israel Tax Drivers Association recently in an effort to convert every cab in the nation from gas to hybrid power. Ezra has worked with the Israel Car Importers Association to increase incentives for foreign car companies to flood the market with hybrid vehicles. The national legislature has taken action to decrease the costs of hybrids by reducing sales taxes on alternative fuel vehicles.
There are many reasons why Israeli drivers are ditching gas-powered vehicles in favor of hybrids. These drivers live close to Middle Eastern nations that are benefiting greatly from the rising costs of oil in the West and Asia while others experience economic problems. Israeli gas prices are raising quickly and the fact that hybrid price tags are drifting downward make them a good long-term investment.
It seems that the more compelling argument for many Israelis who have purchased hybrids since 2005 is impact on the environment. Residents of Israel are gaining awareness of smog, diminished air quality and the need to conserve resources for future generations. The Air Quality Division has gone further to promote environmental awareness by pointing out that the trend toward hybrid vehicles has caused annual decreases in carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide emissions.
