Comments on: The Death of Hybrid Cars? Just The Opposite

By: Walter

Walter — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:46:09 +0000

China has just implemented an export cap on Lithium ore and other rare earth elements ores used to make magnets/electric motors. China will be limiting the export of lithium and other rare earth elements to finished chinese products. This is likely to effect the cost and availabity of Li-ion battery systems and BEV dependent on them.

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:47:23 +0000

Let me make myself clearer.

"I think the sales analysis of the S.F. Bay area would be better if it's as a percentage of new hybrid registration against all new vehicles"

=> I think the sales analysis of the S.F. Bay area would be better if it's as a percentage of new hybrid registration against all new vehicles IN THE LOCAL MARKET.

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:42:14 +0000

The analysis of the WSJ article is not as well thought through as it should be.
I think the sales analysis of the S.F. Bay area would be better if it’s as a percentage of new hybrid registration against all new vehicles, compared with previous periods, and with national average, so to eliminate (minimize) the impact of changes in local economy.

By: Indigo Halo

Indigo Halo — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:59:47 +0000

Once you drive a hybrid, you can never go back. I’m on my second hybrid (Insight-II). I love every drive. Aside from the really awesome gas mileage, it’s quiet, smooth, and aesthetically pleasing. I recently got 56.9 MPG over a 606-mile drive. No conventional car can beat that.

By: Rob D

Rob D — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:56:00 +0000

Just maybe there is still hope for becoming energy independent. Although, when I told my wife I was going to buy a Honda Fit Hybrid when they come out in 2012, she said it was too small and consequently unsafe. Old habits die hard don’t they.

By: John & Regina

John & Regina — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:03:08 +0000

We still expect internal-conbustion-only vehicles to go the way of the horse and buggy. Slowly but surely, they will constitute a lower share of the market each year.

The adoption of hybrids will be accelerated by gas-price spikes. Those spikes will be caused by several events, such as the likely upcoming war with Iran. The adoption of hybrids will be boosted generally by PERMANENTLY higher gas prices. A higher base / "floor" price is inevitable given the relentless increase in gas consumption by China and India. (Even China's apparent drive for EVs will only mitigate, not stop, the Chinese surge in vehicle and industrial gas consumption.)

In 2007, we decided that we'd NEVER again buy a vehicle that runs only on fossil fuel. And we never have. We bought a 2009 Prius. Now we're socking money away each month for two big cash purchases: (1) convert the Prius to a plug-in hybrid in 2013 and (2) buy a new plug-in hybrid Ford Escape in 2015.

If we truly want to stop importing oil, another vital piece of the solution is nuclear power. We must construct new nuke plants ASAP. They can be supplemented by solar power in the South, Southwest and California, and wind power in suitable locations.

By: JamesDavis

JamesDavis — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:37:51 +0000

Too late! I’ve already canceled my order for that hybrid – I’m going all electric.