Study shows U.S. is dominant market for hybrid vehicles
The results of a new study have been released on the hybrid vehicle market around the world. They found that in spite of the U.S. market's general predilection for gas-guzzlers, it remains the dominant market for hybrid technology. In 2005, 70 percent of all hybrid vehicles sold went to the U.S. market.
Through 2006, the dominant players in the hybrid market remained pioneers Toyota and Honda, although that will be changing rapidly with many new introductions of hybrid vehicles from other manufacturers, including all of the US automakers. The increased initial cost of hybrids is likely to limit their long-term appeal to half of the market or less unless they continue to receive incentives like tax breaks. If you want to read the full report it will cost you about €1,070 for an electronic copy.
UPDATE: As readers have noted in the comments, one reason for high U.S. hybrid sales is Europe's fascination with diesel the U.S. doesn't get, like this one.
[Source: Research and Markets]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
susan.kraemer 11:02PM (6/21/2007)
Thats because we have no other choices. We are allowed two green models. The rest of the world has over 100 options.
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ThwartedEfforts 12:28PM (6/21/2007)
The only reason hybrids are selling like hot cakes in the States is because they're the only fuel-efficient vehicles on sale there. There are virtually no diesels, no superminis, no 1-Series, no A-Class, no small VWs, no French cars... and people have no choice other than hybrids if they want more than 40mpg!
In addition, Ford alone are pumping out 100,000 F-Series trucks each month, each one having a minimum 4.2L V8 capable of little more than 12mpg. Does anyone seriously believe that the tiny share of hybrids is going to make a genuine difference to gas use and pollution levels? Because I don't.
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Phil L. 2:06PM (6/21/2007)
To be fair, the F-150 4.2 is a V6, not a V8, and is rated 16/20 city/hwy (auto trans - manual gets 1 mpg more on the highway).
Yeah, not great - but one of the best if you absolutely must have an 8 foot bed.
Personally, I'm waiting for the efficient car market (not just hybrids) to expand a bit. Small cars can get great mileage - but I still have 3 small kids in car seats. Not too many options available there.
An example, to illustrate my challenge: The current Accord has 3 sets of seat belts in the rear seat - but only provisions for 2 LATCH car seat positions.
Its seems to me that diesel and hybrid technology could make a big difference in the minivan market, but the OEMs seem to have little interest right now.
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amg 3:18PM (6/21/2007)
I agree with ThwartedEfforts; apart from a hybrid, no small car available in the States will get me better MPG than my mid-90s civic, not even the current civic. MPG numbers have been falling steadily as the "thirst for (horse)power" has increased over the last 15 years.
However, I do wish that there could be some kind of significant tax credit/incentive to encourage people who buy gas guzzlers (and all respect, but 16 MPG city seems like a guzzler to me) to also buy a secondary, fuel efficient car for the many many trips that they will take by themselves. I understand why some people have to own a large pickup, minivan, and even SUV. But mostly when I'm at the grocery store or Walmart and I see someone get out of an SUV or minivan, there's at most only two people who exit. And in most of those cases, I'm sure a Geo Metro (remember those) would have sufficed for the needs of the trip.
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Bill 4:32PM (6/21/2007)
Hybrids are popular here because we've not had decent diesels.
In less than a year VW will be back with its 50-state approved diesels like the Jetta.
A year after that the Asian diesels arrive (50 mpg highway Accord!)
Unless they adopt plug-in technology sales of current (parallel) hybrids will drop dramatically (series hybrids like the Volt might do O.K.)
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Common Sense 4:38PM (6/21/2007)
Guys...get out of your green bubble. The US has the Honda Fit, VW Rabbit, Chevy Aveo, Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent, Scion xA, Scion xB, Nissan Versa, and Toyota Yaris. No small cars my ass. The 1 series and Mercedes A-Class have been slammed in the European press.
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Drew 1:53AM (6/25/2007)
I actually like the 1 series. But I do agree about the diesel crowd. I've been hearing the impending takeover of diesel cars on the Web for seven years now. I'm not in the mood to search for a station offering diesel, nor are most people.
The 1992 Honda Civic with a 1.5 OHC I-4 (102 hp) had an EPA rating of 32.5 mpg overall. The 1996 Civic with a 1.6 L OHC I-4 had the same average. The 2006 113 hp 1.8 L I-4 has an EPA rating of 33.5 mpg. All numbers are for cars equipped with an automatic transmission. The Civic Hybrid has a rating of 50 mpg.
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Rolf Oldeman 6:01AM (6/22/2007)
The Prius in Italy costs 24k euro, beyond the budget of the italian middle class with a 15-20k euro yearly income.
We got a FIAT IDEA instead, similar in size and options at half the price. Driving 10,000km/year a Prius doesn't recuperate the price difference even at european fuel prices.
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CB 9:59AM (6/22/2007)
Thankfully we don't have French cars. I get 22.5 MPG with my F-150 on the highway. That's 27 MPG converted to imperial gallons. Certainly not great but way better than the 12 MPG cited above. My truck is a base model with the 4.2 L V6 and manual transmission. It cost me approx. $12,000 brand new. I got a steal. That's about $10,000 less than a Toyota prius. I'd have to drive 75,000 miles to make up the cost difference. (assuming 45 MPG in the $22k prius and $3.00/gallon) And I have a truck with a bed and I can tow whatever I want. I wonder how long it would take to make up the difference between a $15k Honda Fit and a $22k Prius. A long time I'm sure.
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CaliberMan71 6:44AM (7/01/2007)
The diesel Caliber in Europe gets like 40+ mpg hwy, I wonder why we can not get them here. I would by a diesel if I could especially a Caliber. I get around 30 hwy.
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manuel ybanez 7:59AM (7/01/2007)
I understand that the Prius costs more, but it is just a matter of time before the prices come down(I hope) because of competition. I think for most of us, the Prius or other gas-sipping equivalent can handle most of our daily needs as motorists. I know. I have a Prius, a Toyota Tacoma, and a Toyota Land Cruiser; the last two vehicles sit in the garage all week now. The last point I want to make is that, all these arguments about cost aside, the one thing the hybrids can rightfully crow about is that because of ultra-low emissions, they are the best thing on four wheels for our planet right now, given that we all need to drive cars for one reason or another.
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David 8:54AM (7/01/2007)
Thanks ybanez. Hybrids do have two advantages - great MPG and very low - almost zero - emissions. They are more expensive to buy, but Consumer Reports found the total five year cost of ownership of the Prius is less than the Corolla. If you can't afford the up-front hybrid premium, an efficient car like those listed by Common Sense are great alternatives. If this is what we buy, it is what the car companies will make.
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Frank 11:47PM (7/01/2007)
Hybrids, lowbrids. All this talk about these cars and only one person seemed to work the numbers to find that you might not even own the car by the time you recoup the extra cost. Some one mentioned imposing a tax or incentive for the percieved favorable behavior of driving one of these cars. Why not impose a tax on smokers, who some claim create a tremendous strain on healthcare. Or those who are obese. Include cancer patients, and thosewith aids or so many other diseases that can cause you to suffer for a long time. What about people who keep their air conditioners on longer than what some study might show is the optimum length of time.
Shouldn't we tax each ear of corn in the supermarket because, after all, they could be used to make ethanol. Lets tax polyester wearers as opposed to giving natural renewable fiber clothes wearers incentives for their cotton undies!
Better yet, lets field a panel of people, with pet causes, and let them tell us what to do, how to do it, and when we can do it and for how long it could be done. Then we could make it so our paychecks every week would be forward to a national or world account, so all the funds for satisfiying these people would be available to solve each and every problem the world has. We would be pleased to ask the panel for an allowance , to purchase approved items in approved quantities.
Wouldnt it be better for society if we were all just mindless robot-like beings with no choices and no freedom? Shouldnt we just believe what we are told. Lets just take away what made our country great, and work towards being numb drones.
Yes, lets throw away what our fathers and grandfathers and great grandfathers fought and died for. Make the sacrifice of our sons and daughters seem like a worthless endeavor. At least we will get better gas milage, and lower emissions.....
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benny 9:21AM (7/01/2007)
I believe if we would just learn how to drive we could save a lot more gas. When I get to the top of a hill or exit ramp I shift into neutral. I have a '98 Plymouth Breeze and in the summer I get 40 mpg combined. In the winter I get about 30. I also think the person who has to stomp on the gas to get going faster is the main culprit in using too much fuel. What difference does it make how fast you catch up with the guy ahead of you. Your stuck behind him for another 10 miles anyway.
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Brad 10:16AM (7/01/2007)
Well i bought a Ford Hybrid Escape and i have loved every moment of this SUV. Its funny to me how no one wants to talk about Ford's SUV and yet i am averaging over 38 mpg in the City. On the Highway at 70 mph i average 31 mpg. This SUV is roomy and very comfortable on long trips, and for in-town driving, i would not want any thing else. I hope Ford will continue to work with this technology because i know this is the way i want to drive. Remember everyone, leave early and do not speed, that is the best way to conserve fuel!
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Ironic 10:22AM (7/02/2007)
I think it is really funny that the same hippie tree huggers who want more fuel efficient cars, and the same tree hugging hippies that don't like diesels because of the soot. Soot, is not smoke, soot settles, and is mostly carbon, carbon on the ground is used by plants, even in tractor trailers, emmissions that actually go up, are no more than your average economy car. Oh, lets see really quick here.
Ethenol Vs. Gas Vs. Diesel.
Ethenol has 85% the energy of gas, Gas has 85% the energy of diesel. Now, without talking about hybrids, you take these flex fuel vehicles that get 30MPG (on gas) put ethenol in them, and you get 22MPG, and emmissions isnt any better.
You take that same vehicle, a diesel equivalent engine, that 30MPG on gasoline, goes up to 37+
We don't need hybrids, we don't need alternate fuel, we just need to wait for "clean" diesels to hit the states, there is a reason why huge trucking companies use diesel instead of gas, they get 12mpg, instead of 6. Not to mention, diesel is about 10 cents cheaper per gallon.
Anyways, if you drive a car, and bitch about emissions, ride a bike. If you drive a car and bitch about gas prices, buy a honda. If you drive a car, and want power, and want to be comfortable, then welcome to america!
Also, one last thing.... Those of you complaining that cars are getting the same gas mileage that they did 10, even 20 years ago.... Cars are heavier, for safety reasons, engines are more powerful, also for safety reasons. Honestly how safe is it merging onto the interstate when you go 0-60 in 20 seconds? Either the semi you cut out in front on jackknifes and pours fuel all over the interstate and bursts into flames, or it ends up in your back seat.... and you you complain about gas prices vs your life. Ahhh... why doesn't the united states have an unrestricted highway? Also much more efficient than going 55-65 MPH, since... obviously you have much more momentum, which adds to MPG, and you get in the tourqe range of the vehicle.
Funny that I get 32MPG going 90, and I get 24 going the speed limit.
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Mike 12:21PM (7/01/2007)
Part of the blame goes to the insurance companies. If they insured the driver instead of the car two things would happen; Really bad drivers couldn't afford to drive anything, and good drivers could afford to run some little puddle-jumper that gets good mileage for no load driving alone, and still have that gas-hog for work or hauling the yard-apes to soccer. Insurance companies are as greedy as oil companies. Even here in Canada (government insurance, part of vehicle liscense) it is tha car that's insured and we have drunks, senexes, idiots, and general all-around screwups dirving cars licensed to someone else. In our case here in BC we're up against the impossibility of enlightening Government which is what Mark Twain was really talking about when he advised against trying to teach a pig to sing "You'll waste your time and annoy the pig".
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ANN 12:59PM (7/01/2007)
I JUST TRADED IN MY '05 HONDA ELEMENT FOR A HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. I WAS GETTING 20 MPG WITH THE ELEMENT BUT WITH THE CIVI I AM SUPPOSED TO GET 49. I HAD A HONDA CRX '86 GREAT MILAGE. HOWEVER THE INSURANCE COMPANIES CHARGE A LOT MORE BECAUSE THE CRX ONLY SEATED TWO...IT MAKES IT A SPORTS CAR IN THEIR EYES AND NOT A FUEL EFFICIENT MODEL WHICH WAS THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE CAR. WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE WHO ARE DRIVING SUV'S AND GETTING 12 MPG...I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY WOULD BUY IT. WHERE IS THE LOGIC?? THIS GAS PROBLEM HAS BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS...THAT'S WHY MY LAST 6 CARS HAVE BEEN HONDAS.
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benjamin 1:04PM (7/01/2007)
I think that you guys are missing the real point to the story. It's not about saving money when buying a hybrid-- It's about the bigger picture which is the environment. We are not considering MPG necessarily, but emissions. Sure your 1990 Plymouth Breeze and your 1992 Honda Civic may get GREAT gas mileage, but what kind of pollutants are they injecting into the atmosphere to give you 35 mpg? This is what happens when Americans get something good-- They look for the bad and critisize something so incredible. I am sure that the little cars in Europe are getting great mileage as well, but they are running on gasoline 100% of the time. Wake up people.
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llrree 1:24PM (7/01/2007)
I just bought an '07 Prius to replace my '02 Ford Sport Trac. With 2 kids traveling to games and activities, I am averaging 600 miles a week. At 17 mpg, the suv was eating our budget in gas. The small cars with decent gas milage were not an option because we needed more room. The Prius is good sized in the interior and I'm averaging 46 mpg.
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