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Jim Lentz, President of Toyota Motor Sales USA, notes that for the year, hybrid sales fell only 12% (http://www.businessweek.com/autos/autobeat/archives/2009/01/who_needs_a_hyb.html)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2009_Toyota_Prius_Touring.jpgDavid Welch - BusinessWeek (http://www.businessweek.com/) - January 06, 2009

Green is for sale. But who’s buying? Seriously, who needs a hybrid? Without question, fuel-saving technology is essential both for automakers who hope to compete in the next decade and for a nation stricken by energy problems. But if you dig through the sales numbers over the past few months, it’s easy to see that more consumers are asking whether the extra cost of a hybrid-electric car is really worth it.

In December, sales of Toyota’s Prius—the standard bearer of all hybrids—fell by a whopping 45%. In November, sales were off 48%. During those two months, gasoline prices plummeted below $2 a gallon. This proves that America hasn’t turned truly green. More likely, they turned red at the pump back in July when gasoline prices topped $4 a gallon. People fled their suvs and bought smaller... http://www.businessweek.com/autos/autobeat/archives/2009/01/who_needs_a_hyb.html

Prius sales have been and remain tied to energy prices. All car sales are tied to the economy. Prius sales would also be off now that we are 5 days from the 2010 debut, and only a few months from 2010 availability... Three strikes and you are down 45% December to December. The better to buy you, my pretty.

This hesitation to embrace hybrids whole-heartedly will go away with the introduction of the PHEV. Once people realize the convenience of plugging in their vehicle in their warm dry garage verses stopping on their way home, standing in the elements to spill some gas on their clothes for a price that is different every time you fill up, people will switch.

Even with the added cost of extra batteries, I firmly believe that people will pay more for convenience.

This hesitation to embrace hybrids whole-heartedly will go away with the introduction of the PHEV. Once people realize the convenience of plugging in their vehicle in their warm dry garage verses stopping on their way home, standing in the elements to spill some gas on their clothes for a price that is different every time you fill up, people will switch.

For those that have garages ,I totally agree with you.

I worry a little about those apartment dwellers that have no electrical access in their parking lots.

... and battery productivity in cold climates, where the car has sat outside overnight, isn't quite as rosy a picture, either. How much of a hit will we take at -20 degrees? Or worse?

... and battery productivity in cold climates, where the car has sat outside overnight, isn't quite as rosy a picture, either. How much of a hit will we take at -20 degrees? Or worse?

You'd want a BPH, instead of an EBH - a battery pack heater. Kind of like an electric blanket around the batteries, to keep them at a set temperature.

Heck, this is the time to buy. In 2006-with the tax credit-you could get a Prius for $20,000+TTL. I would bet you can approach that now.The payback with $2 gas vs a $17000 Corolla would be only 70,000 miles.The Prius is also a lot quieter on the hy than other small cars.It rarely spins at 2600 rpms like they do-1400-1800 RPMs is what I get at 60mph. The decreased cabin noise makes it a much better trip vehicle.

Buy now. I wish I had the $$ to get the new Prius, but I'll have to stick with what I have.

Charlie

Hi All,

The local Toyota dealer emailed me an offer to buy a Used 2007/8 Prius (in stock). Apparently they have a few. It probably is a great time to get a pratically unused used Prius.

An acquantance got a used HCH 1 for $10K. Its still getting 50 mpg on the two lane highway.

The batteries have power reduction with cold weather, but not capacity reduction as has been mistakenly claimed. So, you can regen down a hill and charge the battery up just far as before. You just loose some of the Prius 10.5 second 0-60 time. Which with roads as slick, and traffic as thick is no big deal.

Here's my 2 cents.

I think the industry is still dynamic, in the way that no real clear winning technology can be decided yet. Like HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray DVD (or Beta vs. VHS, take your pick), each camp has its pros and cons, and when one wins it will be embraced by the buying public.

The current market situation for clean cars is a little tug-of-war game between supply and demand. We all know we want efficient cars, but there are many ways to do it. All this while the manufacturers are trying to balance what they can do and what the consumers will buy, and the consumers are trying to see what will be the best technology for them and how much it will cost.

For me, I'm having fun observing, and when I need a new car, I'll see what's best and available at that time.

For those that have garages ,I totally agree with you.

I worry a little about those apartment dwellers that have no electrical access in their parking lots.I think this will be a 'chicken and egg' thing. If PHEVs become prevalent, apartment buildings, city parking lots, etc will eventually end up with easily accessed charging stations. Probably some way of locking your cord into the station and charging your credit card I would guess.

Once people realize the convenience of plugging in their vehicle in their warm dry garage verses stopping on their way home....I find this amusing. Now plugging in is a BENEFIT. Toyota went to a lot of trouble advertising that the Prius did NOT have to be plugged in because people were averse to the concept. :)

Personally, I would LOVE to be able to plug in my Prius (other than the EBH) and use less gasoline!! But I'm not forking over $10K and losing all the storage in the back to gain that ability.

I think this will be a 'chicken and egg' thing. If PHEVs become prevalent, apartment buildings, city parking lots, etc will eventually end up with easily accessed charging stations. Probably some way of locking your cord into the station and charging your credit card I would guess.

After several years at Minot AFB ND, where almost everyone you talked to said "you NEED a block heater", I still wondered why they didn't have electrical outlets in the parking lots. From what I hear they finally have them, 18 years later (and only on base).

It was very common to go to the mall and see dozens of vehicles running in the parking lot while the owners were in the movie theater.:eek:

I don't think they would react any faster to this electrical need.