Comments on: 2009 Was Breakthrough Year for Global Hybrid Car Sales

By: tapra1

tapra1 — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:22:07 +0000

that are cheaper and sportier than the Prius. In Japan, though, Toyota is an even bigger brand than it is here, so Ford doesn't have as much of a chance there.jjwyy

By: james2

james2 — Tue, 24 May 2011 14:54:45 +0000

Who said the auto industry is dyeing? With numbers like these we can expect it to get back to normal pretty soon, the only things which stood against it were the gas emissions and the higher combustible prices. The hybrid cars are the solution though, I guess that's why people are asking more and more about them on all the car dealer websites I have visited lately.

By: Chris2010

Chris2010 — Thu, 06 May 2010 19:54:48 +0000

The Prius doesn’t have total market domination in the U.S. like it did in the past. We have American hybrids like the Focus now, which had enormous gains during 2009 (bigger than any other hybrid model), that are cheaper and sportier than the Prius. In Japan, though, Toyota is an even bigger brand than it is here, so Ford doesn’t have as much of a chance there.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:46:55 +0000

I think Wikipedia is wrong – I am doing a research project on the Prius and after looking at the source for the 2009 number, the auther misquoted the article. The actual number is 187,860 – YOY growth of 18.2%

By: Thomas Schaffter

Thomas Schaffter — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:43:13 +0000

Us Prius sales decreased 12% in 2009, which seems reasonable, given the economy. (158,900 to 139,700 - Wikipedia)

But sales in Japan INCREASED 285% !!! (73,100 to 208,900)

Explanation??

By: jmbrendel

jmbrendel — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:15:07 +0000

This is really encouraging news. I'll bet that hybrids reach 5% of new-vehicle sales in the USA in 2010.

And just wait till gas prices spike again. There are at least three geopolitical events that could send gas prices skyrocketing in the near future:

(1) a revolution against the communist dictator in Venezuela;
(2) an Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear facilities;
(3) sustained Muslim terrorist attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial bottleneck for the passage of oil exports.

Personally, I'd love to see #1, but not necessarily #2, and of course not #3.

But whether we think these events are good or bad, there's a decent chance they'll occur in the next 5 years. If they do, we'll see gas at $5 or $6 per gallon immediately. Under those circumstances, hybrids could make up 25% or more of new-vehicle sales. And it's about time.

By: Casey Verdant

Casey Verdant — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 02:52:00 +0000

Great news from the Detroit Auto Show! Toyota’s cheaper hybrid can’t come soon enough! The Toyota FT-CH is a great addition to the Prius family: smaller, more efficient, and cheaper!

By: James K

James K — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:52:10 +0000

The Prius and most hybrids for sale in the U.S. are not stop/start hybrids. The CVT takes drive power from both gas and electric motors to drive the wheels.

Europe seems to have foolishly pinned its fuel efficiency on diesel. Although diesel can be priced competitively in the near term, as peak oil has more of an effect, the lower percentage yield of diesel from a barrel of oil compared to gasoline (10.31% diesel vs. 18.56% gasoline) will start to hurt diesel-based solutions.

What Fuels Are Made From Crude Oil? http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=oil_home-basics#oil_refining-basics

By: ms

ms — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:40:39 +0000

I have said this so many times.

Start and stop system is no hybrid system or car.

It is just a car with a higher standard battery, no electric engine exists.

In europe there are a lot of versions with this system and none receives tax beneficts or are consedered as hybrid.