CAR makers are sitting on the answer to rising fuel costs, says Democrats Energy spokeswoman Lyn Allison.
Senator Allison said it was surprising Australian car makers were still undecided about investing in a car that used dramatically less fuel.
“The new generation cars, called hybrids, use a small petrol engine and an electric motor that works in tandem,” Sen. Allison said.
“The main difference being, they achieve amazing reductions in fuel consumption and hydrocarbon emissions.”
Holden, in partnership with the CSIRO, has created the hybrid ecommodore and Toyota has the Prius. However, neither car is available in Australia.
“The Prius is on the market in California because regulations that encourage such vehicles,” Sen. Allison said.
“If car makers could see a demand from the public existed, I think we would have one of these hybrids on the market within two and a half years.”
