This can't be good news for GM and Ford!

How many of those surveyed were replacing cars?

>Of those who SAID they MAY replace their >vehicles, 50-percent said they are considering >gasoline/electric hybrids and 38-percent are >considering either flexible-fuel vehicles or >diesel vehicles.

>Many (43%) of those looking for more fuel->efficient transportation are young people ages >18-34 who are hardest hit by fuel costs

It would be nice to know how many are in the market for a new car. That would give the clearest overall picture of the demand for Hybrids.

Can anyone find out of the 2400 surveyed how many actually were in the market.

THe demand of the Hybrid is immense,huge.
No argument...Whether Hybrids a good idea or not.
Every body is making them(copying Toyota)and everybody also buy them.

JUGNU

THe demand of the Hybrid is immense,huge.
No argument...Whether Hybrids a good idea or not.
Every body is making them(copying Toyota)and everybody also buy them.

JUGNU

Hybrids don't sell very well in Europe, whetre gas costs twice what it costs here in America. Why? Because when all costs are considered, it's cheaper to buy a fuel-efficient gas or diesel than it is to by a gas/electric car. Thems batteries is a killer.

Hybrids don't sell very well in Europe, whetre gas costs twice what it costs here in America. Why? Because when all costs are considered, it's cheaper to buy a fuel-efficient gas or diesel than it is to by a gas/electric car. Thems batteries is a killer.

I appreciate the Doc giving us the scoop and that is precisely why I hate these kind of surveys. Ask this question in downtown Chicago and you'll get people who say neither because they live and work downtown and use public transportation.
I would never buy a hybrid but would definitely consider a TDI Schvagen.

..is for one reason only. It's a status symbol for greenies.

I agree with Ted & Lewis.
Jugnu, the popularity of Hybrids is huge? Maybe where you live but here in Oregon “The green State” they are not selling very well. As greenie as Oregon and especially Portland is, many of the greenies are well educated and they know the long term problems of a hybrid so I believe that is why there not buying a lot. This Hybrid thing is just a fad and will be replaced with a common sense product in the near future and I bet GM will be leading the way.

What is it going to cost to maintain all those batteries under the floorboards especially in Northern Climates where road salt corrodes the Battery Terminals and batteries tend to Freeze and Short-Out?

If I loose an electrical Ground while making a left turn, will the electric motor fail? Will I be broad sided? Will I get a Battery Acid Shower during a collision from the Batteries housed under my seat? We all know that after a few years, Automotive electrical systems tend to loose their grounds due to corrosion.

What will the mechanic charge me to service and replace those batteries? This work sounds complex, and probably beyond the skills of the average backyard mechanic. I would doubt if Midas could even perform the work.

Here is one for the Green-planet People, what are all these Lead-Acid Batteries going to do to our planet when these cars rot in a junk-yard years from now, or when the Battery Acid goes down the street sewer after a bad accident?

Everybody says I should trade my car in for a Hybrid, well I live in New York State, the sales Tax her is almost 10%. how long will it take for me to get my $3,000 sales tax back on what I save at the pump. Penny Wise Dollar Foolish I say.

Also, New York State now gets a diagnostic readout on every car inspected here. The data on your engine gets downloaded to Albany DMV(State Capital) Do I really want a car with a complex electrical system to maintain? If the electrical system dosn't pass, the car gets impounded at the Inspection station, and the car is held for ransom until you pay the going rate to have a technician fix it. You can not bring the car to your own mechanic unless you flatbed it. You would have to be an idiot to have such a vehicle in New York State where the rick of failibg a car inspection will leave you without a car and a huge repair bill. Belive me, I have worked on cars for years, electrical parts are amoung the most Failure prone. Just compare the logevity of an electric cooling Fan to a mechanical one. The mecahancical one outlives the car all the way to the boneyard, the electrical one is nothing but constant trouble and constant money to repair.

This whole Hybrid thing is like Nike Sneakers, (gotta have it.)

I am impressed we all agree that a hybrid is not cost effective...And safety with those batteries?Replacement costs!... . The future is hydrogen and I am not talking ballard! "Google water powered car".There is a guy that was on the news in Florida that drove his ford escort 100km or 60 miles on 4 ounces of water!He ran two altinators with the standard engine with no high preashure fuel tanks.I think he may have sold out,but there are more web sights!One site even gives you the plans!Something a backyard mechanic could do!True! The more people that know the better!