In 2007, 1,731 hybrid cars were purchased in Israel, compared to 493 in 2006, 130 in 2005 and only 10 in 2004. In the first two months of 2008, 506 hybrid cars were purchased.

Data compiled by the Air Quality Division of the Ministry of Environmental Protection show a dramatic increase in the purchase of hybrid cars in Israel.

In order to make hybrids more attractive, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, promoted purchase tax reductions on these cars. These tax breaks led to increased sales in Israel - from 10 cars in 2004 to 130 cars in 2005 and to 1,731 cars in 2007. A total of 2,870 hybrid vehicles have been sold in Israel to date, including January-February 2008.

Environmental Protection Minister Gideon Ezra has recently met with the General Manager of the Israeli Car Importers Association and with representatives of hybrid car manufacturers to request increased imports of hybrid cars into Israel, in light of the fact that these vehicles emit less pollution than similar sized non-hybrid cars. In the aftermath of the meeting, one of the companies promised to increase Israel's inventory of hybrid cars by 18%.

In parallel, Minister Ezra called on the Chairman of Israel's Taxi Drivers Association to help convince taxi drivers to switch to hybrid cars. According to Minister Ezra, such a switch would lead to a significant decrease in air pollution in city centers.  Furthermore, the minister contends that such a switch would also be economically viable since most taxi rides take place within the city.

Avi Moshel, deputy head of the Air Quality Division in the Ministry of Environmental Protection, notes that hybrid family cars are the cleanest cars currently imported into Israel, in terms of air pollution emissions. Emissions are 30%-50% lower than cars with comparable gasoline engines. The fuel consumption of hybrid vehicles is tens of percentages lower than cars with a comparable gasoline engine, especially in urban conditions when some of the driving utilizes the electric engine only.

It is estimated that the use of hybrid cars already purchased in Israel reduces some 3800 tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year, some 1500 kilograms of nitrogen oxides, some 1400 kg of hydrocarbons and some 6,200 kg of carbon monoxides compared to a similar number of gasoline vehicles.

What is a hybrid car?

Hybrid cars are equipped with two engines: a conventional internal combustion engine and an electric motor.

The electric motor is powered by electric batteries which are charged by the regenerative braking of the vehicle and by the conventional engine during some parts of driving.

When braking and when beginning to drive, only the electric engine is activated, thereby contributing to a reduction of pollution emitted in traffic jams.

Factors Leading to Increased Sales

Avi Moshel adds that the rise in hybrid car sales in Israel is due to several factors:

• Tax reductions on hybrid cars which brought about significant reductions in their price to the consumer.
• Growing awareness of the impacts of pollution on the environment, both in terms of the adverse health impacts of air pollution and the contribution to global warming associated with greenhouse gas emissions.
• The continuous rise in fuel prices and the search for more fuel efficient vehicles.

"Today," says Moshel, "environmental awareness is much higher, including awareness of the importance of reducing air pollution emissions and saving on fuel, which is one of the highest expenses of car maintenance."

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