Even With $4 A Gallon Gas Hybrid And EV Sales Not Living Up To Predictions

Seeing as how there is a post here every other day outlining how EV adn Hybrid are or are not living up some idiots "standards", why dont you just present this data on a quarterly basis...Or in you case 009, dont post this BS so often...just my insight!

Because driving less is more effective than paying 20k for a smug mobile.

NASCAR pulls the plug on inaugural Chevrolet Volt 400. The story can finally be told ... http://placeitonluckydan.com/2011/05/nascar-pulls-plug-on-chevrolet-volt-400/

Recently, an American friend of mine summed his people up in a sentence. He said, "The problem with us Americans is that we are constantly caught up with nostalgia, and that causes us to blind ourselves to new, more efficient ideas, so efficiency and progress tend to take a back seat to things we are comfortable with." I would tend to agree. Most things "American" are based on very nostalgic principles that are hurting the country as a whole. The American public is generally still turned off by the belief that diesels are smokey and noisey and diesel fuel is more expensive than gasoline. In many cases the belief as far as hybids are concerned is that the extra 1 or 2 mpg benefit that many offer is not worth it.

Hybrid sales are off because of no production the last couple of month. It is here to stay and more and more people will start buying into it.........

"Even professional forecasters have fallen victim to EV fever. In 2008, J.D. Power's veteran powertrain expert Michael Omotoso looked ahead to 2009, when a more powerful and fuel-efficient next-generation Toyota Prius was scheduled to debut, and declared, "In 2009 we see hybrid sales going over 600,000 units." It was a bold forecast but way off the mark. Hybrids finished the year with sales of 290,272."

"Undaunted, Omotoso didn't stop there. He went on to say, "We see the hybrid unit continuing to grow to over 1 million units by 2012 so long as gas prices grow." Gas prices moderated for a time, and hybrid sales actually fell in 2010 to 236,000."

"In a speech before the National Press Club in 2005, he talked about Ford's intention to build "up to 250,000 hybrids by 2010." "Up to" is the operative phrase here -- Ford never came close. Ford sold exactly 35,496 hybrids last year."

There is the Prius and all other hybrids. The Prius has good sustained sales that are reasonable for a Toyota with its price. Essentially all other hybrids sell in small volumes especially considering most come from mainstream brands with large annual sales.

In many cases the belief as far as hybids are concerned is that the extra 1 or 2 mpg benefit that many offer is not worth it.

You nailed it, when i think hybrid i want a minimun of 50 mpgs,anything under that is a disapointment.Why can't they get up in the 50-60 range?

Then there is the pain of recharging the stupid battery and the ultimate battery life. In today's economy (which may last a lot longer then most of us realize) people are holding on to cars longer. So say in 6 or 7 yrs you got to replace the battery. True they should eventually go down in price. However right now it's between 5 and 10 grand to replace these things. Frankly it is a lot easier to go buy a diesel and forget it.Cost of diesel fuel is more then gas. However diesel cars cost less to maintain then gas equivolents, they get great gas mileage and there is not the big bump up in price over the cost of the gas vehicles.Lets take my favorite poster child at the moment,the new VW Passat. It's a simple,conservative looking car. It has tons of room inside and the trunk,it still has the euro ride and handling. For the mid 20's in price you can get their diesel and get 800 miles to a tank.You don't need a special plug to recharge it in 3 to 4 hrs instead of 8. You simple spend a little more initially to fill it up and then you can jump in and take your long trip and carry lots and lots of stuff in it.I agree with many VW has had issue with reliability. However perhaps this new facility in Tennessee will change things. It may be worth a gamble.