How do you relieve gas pains?

As prices at the pump rise, some people are giving hybrid vehicles

and motorcycles a second look

Rising gas prices have become so much a part of everyday life they no longer make front-page headlines.

Consumer pain over the increasing economic effect, however, remains unabated.

From spring into fall, local gas prices zoomed from $2.28 to $2.54 a gallon, and Flathead residents are coping as best they can.

Hybrids, for example, are becoming more popular. A hybrid vehicle is a cross between a traditional gasoline-powered vehicle and an electric vehicle. The gas and electrical components connect to the vehicle's transmission so that both modes can provide the necessary power to get it going.

"Our Prius hybrids are in huge demand now," said Jim Harris, Glacier Toyota Scion sales manager. "We get three to four of them a month and usually they're sold before they even get here. They're rated at 60 miles per gallon in the city and 51 on the highway.

"You use the electric in town and a combination on the highway, so if you're going below 45 miles an hour, you're using mainly the electric motor."

And hybrids are not just passenger cars. They also can be trucks - Chevrolet's Silverado hybrid gets 18 to 20 miles a gallon - and sport utility vehicles such as Ford's Escape hybrid (32 to 39 miles a gallon).

Dan Sherwood, finance manager of DePratu Ford, said hybrids are harder sells in Montana than they are in strictly urban environments.

"The hybrid is set up more for in-town drivers," Sherwood said. "It's the opposite thinking of a regular car. The hybrid gets better mileage in town than on the highway and, here in Montana, highway time is important."

The Detroit Big Three automakers' aggressive "employee-pricing" sale this summer has stimulated new-car sales. But Sherwood said that those customers who always have been gas-conscious bought new gas-efficient vehicles, while those who have not cared about fuel economy continued buying truck and SUV models.

And what about the Ford Excursion, which falls into the gas-heavy, large-SUV category?

"We're selling all we can get," Sherwood said. "If you haul seven to eight passengers in one vehicle versus two people in a car that gets twice the gas economy, you'll still be doing way better on fuel economy in the Excursion."

The Environmental Protection Agency's fuel economy ratings - traditionally a source of disappointment for consumers - have been under more scrutiny than usual lately, with environmental groups such as Bluewater Network arguing that actual, on-the-road mileage is often one-third lower than the EPA figures.

The government, on its fueleconomy.gov Web site, says, "The EPA ratings estimate the MPG a 'typical' driver should get under 'typical' city and highway conditions. However, most drivers and driving environments aren't typical, and the factors that affect fuel economy can vary significantly."

And then there are the motorcycles and scooters.

Phil Wolf, who owns a Ford diesel truck as well as a motorcycle, said he rides his KTM cycle to work every day - "rain or shine."

"My truck is just too expensive for me right now," he said. "It takes more than $100 to fill up the tank."

According to Steve Botkin, business manager of Penco, an authorized Yamaha and KTM motorcycle dealer, "Motorcycles can get somewhere from 40 to 60 miles per gallon and scooters get 80 to 100. Sales have increased slightly from people wanting a vehicle with better gas mileage, but they haven't gone up as dramatically as we expected.

"One thing, though is that about 10 percent of our bike sales now are to people who've never been on a bike before. We are seeing more people here in their late '30s and older - they're the ones usually concerned about gas mileage."

The down side to this sudden interest in two-wheel vehicles is that Montana Highway Patrol officials have logged an increased number of motorcycle accidents this summer.

Sgt. Roy Christensen of the patrol's Kalispell office said troopers have been discussing the recent spike in crashes. It might be that riders are looking at motorcycles as cheaper forms of transportation, he said.

"My own personal opinion is it's because of gas prices," he said.

Reporter George Kingson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at gkingson@dailyinterlake.com.