With gas prices soaring, people are once again turning to smaller, more fuel-efficient cars, which are on display at the NY auto show.
Thanks to the Obama Administration’s passage of new fuel efficiency standards, automakers are finally producing cars that get significantly better mileage.
Some of the less expensive models are:
2012 Nissan Versa starts at $11,750 and gets up to 37 mpg.
2012 Kia Rio is priced under $13,000 and gets 40 mpg. It goes on sales this summer.
2012 Hyundai Accent has an Active ECO feature which optimizes fuel economy to help it achieve 40 mpg.
2012 Honda Civic sedan also gets about 40 mpg.
2012 Volkswagen Beetle has been redesigned and three engine options, including a diesel, which gets 40 mpg on the highway.
China Gets Ready to Take Lead
In other news, China’s clean vehicle plan has been submitted for approval the State Council. The plan would provide 100 billion yuan ($15.28 billion) over 10 years for hybrid and electric vehicles.
The country wants to be the world leader in clean vehicles and is targeting sales of 5 million units by 2020. The government will invest in core technologies – battery and electric motor manufacturers – to build a clean vehicle supply chain. China already leads in rare earth production. Its goal is to reduce the price for EV batteries to 2 yuan per watt-hour by 2015 and 1.5 yuan a watt-hour by 2020.
Part of its 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) is to create the capacity to produce 1 million clean vehicles, with electric and plug-ins accounting for 50%.
China could take a 15% share in the clean vehicle sector by 2020, said Chen Qingquan, chairman of the World Electric Vehicle Association.
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