A couple weeks ago, J.D. Power released its Alternative Powertrain Study, which found that hybrid consideration among new car buyers is slipping, while interest in diesels is growing. Today J.D. Power released its 2007 U.S. Hybrid Vehicle Forecast Second Quarter Update, which projects that hybrid sales for 2007 will increase up to 35% this year. Last year, 256,000 hybrids were sold in the U.S., while the report released today indicates that up to 345,000 may be sold by the end of 2007. That would give hybrids a 2.3% share of the total market in the U.S. Sure doesn't sound like interest is slipping to us.
And that number is only likely to grow as more hybrids enter the market like the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Chevy Malibu Hybrid, GM's stable of Two-Mode Hybrid SUVs and like models from Dodge and Chrysler. Toyota itself pledges to have a hybrid option for all of its vehicles by 2020.
Nevertheless, hybrids have become an increasingly tough sell based only on their green merits, as new procedures to estimate EPA mileage have driven down their city and highway mileage estimates to more realistic levels. Also consider a report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory that claims in the eight years that hybrids have been on the market in the U.S., they've saved 230 million gallons of fuel. Considering that we use about 385 million gallons of dead dino juice a day in the U.S., that means hybrids have saved us a total of 14 hours of fuel use in 8 years.
[Source: J.D. Power, AutoblogGreen]
And that number is only likely to grow as more hybrids enter the market like the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Chevy Malibu Hybrid, GM's stable of Two-Mode Hybrid SUVs and like models from Dodge and Chrysler. Toyota itself pledges to have a hybrid option for all of its vehicles by 2020.
Nevertheless, hybrids have become an increasingly tough sell based only on their green merits, as new procedures to estimate EPA mileage have driven down their city and highway mileage estimates to more realistic levels. Also consider a report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory that claims in the eight years that hybrids have been on the market in the U.S., they've saved 230 million gallons of fuel. Considering that we use about 385 million gallons of dead dino juice a day in the U.S., that means hybrids have saved us a total of 14 hours of fuel use in 8 years.
[Source: J.D. Power, AutoblogGreen]
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