April 25, 2005
100% A YEAR ADDS UP FAST:
Sales of hybrid cars sizzling in California (Mercury News Wire Services, 4/25/05)
One of the few things rising faster than gas prices is -- not coincidentally -- sales of hybrid vehicles in California.Posted by Orrin Judd at April 25, 2005 8:24 AMMore than 25,000 new hybrids were registered in the state in 2004, a 102 percent increase over 2003. The national figure was 81 percent, according to figures released today by R.L. Polk & Co., which collects and interprets automotive data.
The combination gas-electric vehicles represent less than 1 percent of the 17 million new vehicles sold in the United States in 2004, but major automakers are planning to introduce about a dozen new such models in the next three years.
When the Prius was first introduced I figured it would just be a fad, but when I test drove the Accord hybrid I was pretty impressed. It leaps out of the starting gate, using it's high torque electic motor to get going before having the fairly powerful gasoline motor take over. Now that I think they're selling performance, there will be a tremendous demand for hybrids. I'd like Acura to come out with a TL hybrid.
Posted by: Bret at April 25, 2005 4:10 PM