Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., January 14, 2008 Shvat 7, 5768 | | Israel Time: 08:18 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

The Volvo ReCharge plug-in hybrid concept vehicle being featured at the Los Angeles Auto Show last month. (Reuters) Last update - 09:31 09/12/2007 Eco-friendly hybrid cars gaining popularity among Israel's drivers By Daniel Shmiel Tags: car, hybrid, Israel  At the end of a year that saw the Nobel Peace Prize go to an environmentalist, it is interesting to see that reducing air pollution has become a fashion in the Israeli car market. Sales figures of hybrid vehicles in the first 11 months of 2007 show a big rise in their popularity: 1,719 hybrids were sold. This is almost 1 percent of the total number of new cars sold this year, a 280 percent increase from 2006. Toyota has sold 1,091 Priuses through November, compared with only 454 for all of last year: a 140 percent increase. The Honda Civic IMA had a very successful introduction this year: 620 have been sold, 300 of which were sold in the last month. Most, however, went to leasing companies and Avis. In addition, eight luxury Lexus RX400h SUVs have been sold so far in 2007. Advertisement The hybrids have two engines ? one is electric and the other has an internal combustion mechanism. The hybrid principle is to use the non-polluting electric engine as much as possible, which also increases gas mileage. Dror Goralnik, Toyota's sales manager in Israel, says the growth in hybrid sales points to an increasing awareness of environmental issues. "For many people it is important to drive an environmentally friendly car," he says. Honda also credits its success to its advertising campaign, as the hybrid car has become a fashion statement, showing drivers to be concerned about the pollution they emit. A number of high-tech companies such as Cisco have offered their employees the choice of a hybrid as a company car. Knesset members can also choose a hybrid, though there have not been many takers. Only MK Zevulun Orlev, the head of the National Religious Party, has chosen a hybrid over the bigger and more prestigious cars offered to MKs. The car importers are optimistic about next year, too. Toyota's Goralnik expects unit sales of the Prius to be between 1,500 and 2,000. But this does not mean that these cars will displace gasoline-powered ones soon. The main reason seems to be the price. The difference in price between the regular, gasoline Civic and the hybrid is NIS 18,000, with the hybrid car valued at NIS 151,000. Hybrids are also less attractive to businesses because they are in the higher, Group 4 tax bracket, while most of the competing gasoline-powered cars are in Group 2. This means an extra NIS 450 a month in taxable income. Hybrids enjoy a break on purchase tax, but this does not seem to be enough, and future changes may reduce the advantage. Related articles: Green Cities / Roads will expand, parking space will shrink Tax board hopes benefits for green cars will spark a revolution While national budget grows, funds for environment shrink Bookmark to del.icio.us   Iranian rhetoric Iranian boats threaten, so the U.S. candidates step up rhetoric. A new citizen Israeli pianist Daniel Barenboim takes Palestinian citizenship   1.   Prius 09:27  |  Leon 09/12/07   2.   knesset members and airpollution 12:46  |  moshe m 09/12/07   3.   need to convince the leasing companies 14:25  |  SJ 09/12/07   4.   I just read Toyota has set a dateline, 2010, to release their 06:48  |  Sam 14/01/08

Today Online Israeli pianist Daniel Barenboim takes Palestinian citizenship Responses: 231 Palestinians sue for NIS 40 million for land taken by settlers Responses: 163 Yossi Sarid: Nice things in U.S., which would do Israel well Responses: 114 Gideon Levy: Time for PM to oust refusers of peace in government Responses: 87 Haaretz.com TV: Gaza parents can't join their sick children in Israel Responses: 179 Rosner's Domain Iranian boats threaten, so the candidates up the rhetoric The way to war with Iran (WTR) From 'The year of change' to 'The year of the comeback'? Rosner's Guest: The Jews are best prepared for a "flat world" Poll: Who is the candidate that will have better policies for Israel? More Headlines 03:07 Barak reaches deal for evacuation of outposts 07:12 IAF air strike kills at least two Jihad militants in Gaza City 01:26 Shin Bet head: More than 800 killed in Gaza in last two years 07:07 Court to hear petition against segregation of sexes on buses 06:35 Court not to issue back-to-work orders for striking lecturers 05:44 PM 'unworried' by Lieberman's threat to leave gov't over peace talks 03:45 Families lament ignorance of Lamed Heh's heroic sacrifice 03:50 PM aide: We'll fire rabbis who refuse to recognize legitimate converts 02:17 Diskin to MKs: Hamas managed to smuggle $100 million into Gaza 04:30 Cops: Mistaken identity behind attacks on elderly millionaire Previous Editions Select Day 13 jan 11 jan 10 jan 09 jan 08 jan 07 jan 06 jan 04 jan 03 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec

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