Chevy Volt and Toyota Prius tease future hybrid buyers

The highly anticipated 2010 hybrids are soon to debut on the streets, if they haven't already. No it won't be a full scale production frenzy for the plug-in hybrids like the Chevy Volt and Toyota Prius, but it will certainly be a teaser for the hybrid enthusiasts who have long awaited their untouchable estimated MPGs.

The Toyota Prius, since it arrived in 2001, has, for the most part, dominated the hybrid market. By strategically developing a plan early on to save consumers money while at the same time saving the environment, Toyota was able to offer what other car companies simply could not.

The increasing growth in demand, however, for hybrid vehicles has created a fairly even playing field as car companies like GM, Ford, Honda, and Hyundai have each tried to create a competitive advantage in one area or another in the hybrid market.

Now, companies are elevating the competition by rolling out the big guns: the plug-in hybrids.

So what happens when Toyota has been depending on the Toyota Prius for years and the Chevy Volt is finally set to hit the streets as one of the most anticipated cars ever?

Be prepared for a full-scale marketing blitz combined with teasers that provide highly relevant consumer data that backs the impressive performance of both the Volt and Prius.

To do so, both Toyota and Chevy are planning to run test programs to pave the way for plug-in stations and introduce consumers to the plug-in technology that will shatter the current standard for MPGs.

Irv Miller, Toyota's VP for Environmental and Public Affairs, explains that "When these vehicles come to market, customers must understand what to expect and if this technology is the right fit for them."

It is much more than that. The Volt and Prius will be creating an insatiable desire for not only what can be seen on the road, but also what is finally feasible from plug-in hybrid cars.

Early predictors indicate that the Chevy Volt certainly has an edge over the Prius with a 40 mile fully electric range, compared to the modest 13 mile range of the Prius. The price, however, could be the breaking point for many Chevy Volt would-be-buyers that can no longer afford the expensive technology (rumored to be around $30,000 to $40,000). For that reason, the Prius may still remain dominant, even in the plug-in category, because of its historically competitive prices.

2010 might only tease the taste-buds, but it is sure to deliver one of the more exciting years for hybrid cars.