Hybrid Sales Struggle To Keep Pace As Diesels Gain Momentum In September

Actually, if hybrid sales continue to decline at 7.5% per month and diesel continues to increase by 10% per month, that that 14,000 unit difference will be zero in 5 months. Yep, at this rate of change, in 5 months, hybrid and diesel volume will be about 13,000.

Obviously, this assumes that these rates of change continue unabated, which is unlikely because at some point hybrid sales will hit a bottom just as diesel sales will hit a ceiling, but again, it only takes another 5-6 months of this for the two volumes to be the same.

I think he read it better then you. That 7.5% decline was compared to last month. The 10.7% gain in hybrid sales vs this month last year was nothing compared to the diesels 124.1% gain in sales compared to this month last year.

sportsbike, I did re-read it and the numbers show that it was a 7.5% decline vs. last month but a 10% increase compared to last year; so I think I got the math right.

Again, my original conclusion was based on the premise that these declines will continue into October, November, etc. Just drawing the graph and connecting the dots to see how the trend will be moving forward.

At the end of the day, whether choosing diesel or hybrid, the consumer knows that he has to pay a premium for "fuel savings" and has figured out that it would take him on average 6-8 years to recover the initial cost outlay compared to a similar vehicle in a standard low output engine. This is not a good thing. Also, unlike the diesel, the consumer has to pay an extra $3000-$5000 for a replacement battery if he plans to drive the thing over 100,000 miles; read the small print on those battery warranties, I doubt a manufacturer is ready to give you a free $4,000 battery right before the extended warranty ends - it makes no business sense at all.

I don't get why they included hybrid trucks but they didn't include diesel trucks. The numbers are backwards there are far more diesel vehicles than hybrid vehicles in America.

Oh right, I almost forgot about the industrial big rigs *eyesroll* here I made my assertion purely on mass produced super duty diesel trucks. Thanks for taking what I said for another spin DJ Spinmaster.

Who said anything about CAFE? lol

nonono, my lack of understanding with how CAFE gets 36mpg average from a company that sells less than 3% of their vehicles over that mileage has absolutely no impact on this argument. Stop your spinning right there. I said that CAFE simply wasn't even mentioned. You can't bring it up as a point.

I would just be a tad bit worried that the market has hit the plateau if I were investing heavily in hybrids.

Study after study proves you have to hang on to them at least 5 years to receive a payoff on the investment (something the avg buyer does not do).

The diesels do not have the performance sacrifices a hybrid does and are typically associated with lower operating costs. (some true, some not)

Then there is the recent news that bad battery packs in GM hybrids and the tarnished reputation of the world largest hybrid maker.

Who knows just how long those batteries will last?

I always laugh at people who say "who knows how long those batteries will last" while driving a Dodge Caravan on it's 3rd transmission. AND they're happy! "Best car I've ever owned....only problem has been the 2 transmissions.....otherwise great car!"

it's about time the american market woke up to diesels. green-crazy europeans have been on this bandwagon for decades. diesels get great mileage, have crazy torque and are available in true sports sedans. hell of a combination.

those who deboost, please do explain what's inaccurate about what i said. oh right, there's nothing inaccurate.

what hybrid sports sedan would you suggest i drive instead of a 335d?

Just drove a BMW 740d in and around Munich in August. Mileage was poor, torque was useless, and it definitely didn't improve the sportiness. If this is as good as a diesel gets, I'll skip them entirely.

Hybrids are nothing more than a Fashion statement. I'd pick a diesel over a hybrid in a heartbeat.

sportsbike80 is Badgewhore.

Give me the diesel anyday. Less complex and more like a real car. Not so artificial like a hybrid. Personally I don't know why they don't make a diesel hybrid. Think of a tiguan with the 2.0tdi mated to a hybrid powertrain. I bet the mileage would be outstanding with more than adequate acceleration.

I'm with 85bmw745i on this one. A diesel hybrid (notice I did without the use of the ridiculous prefix "clean"?!?) would be a very interesting prospect. The Volt is my choice for hybrids, of course, but if GM does bring out the proposed mid-sized diesel I'll be first in line. I refuse to buy one of the German diesels currently on sale.