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So with the cost of batteries going down and more power, why arent car makers going hybrid across the line? You would think with solar in the south, you have lot of hood and roof space for electric cars or charging the batteries.
The materials for the batteries are somewhat finite and are only being pulled out of the ground so fast by a handful of companies.
The cars themselves are MORE expensive but people get tax credits when they buy them...to an extent. More hybrids would mean less credits to go around.
Gas is too cheap and people demand more power and more utility than the vehicles can provide for the premium they cost.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Quote:
Originally Posted by notnamed
Market isn't demanding it yet. Gas prices are down.
Here gas prices are up, over $3 in Seattle, just under $3 in the suburbs. Still, that's considered cheap compared to the cost of an electric vehicle that has limited versatility. I would expect sales to start going up again if gas gets closer to $4, but not ever reach anywhere close to even 25% of new car sales. If the subsidies/tax credits are ended, even $4 gas won't help much. I remember last summer when they were celebrating that new EV sales reached 1%.
Sales of non-hybrid vehicles of similar size and capabilities still far outpace hybrid vehicles. With compact and midsize sedans getting close to 30 mpg city and 40 mpg hwy as well as offering a lower price without a government tax break, consumers are more likely to choose the non-hybrid vehicle. A consumer who is looking for a hybrid can easily find what they want but they have to weigh the benefits and trade offs. For example, some hybrids don't offer much in the way of fuel economy savings compared to compact or midsize non-hybrid cars especially if the majority of their travels are on the open highways. Their big fuel savings is in stop and go traffic, especially if the car is a plug in hybrid. There's been talk of the possibility of Toyota creating a separate car brand for their hybrid vehicles.
Most manufacturers have stated that much of their fleets will have hybrid or EV versions over the next 10 years. But yeah, gas is still cheap now and people don't think much beyond this next year when purchasing cars.
for the most part hybrids are more expensive than non hybrids, and it isnt just the batteries either, but the entire infrastructure of the hybrid itself, from the batteries to the electric motor(s) to the motor controller, to the system controller, etc.
and with all that infrastructure, there is an increased opportunity for things to go wrong.
and with all that infrastructure, there is an increased opportunity for things to go wrong.
In theory, yes, but in practice, not so much. Cars like the Volt are actually much more reliable and less troublesome than their conventional brethren. And Prius' have turned out to be plenty reliable.
So with the cost of batteries going down and more power, why arent car makers going hybrid across the line? You would think with solar in the south, you have lot of hood and roof space for electric cars or charging the batteries.
The cost may be going down but it's still an added cost not just of the batteries but all the other hardware that goes into marrying redundant power sources together, plus added weight, reduced interior and/or trunk capacity, plus consumers are generally satisfied that conventional ICE motors are providing noticeably better fuel economy than a few years ago. Top it all off with gas prices being relatively cheap for the moment and it's not so easy to make a business case for hybridizing an entire lineup versus just offering a hybrid option or two targeted specifically at the fuel-economy-conscious or the environmentally conscious.
In theory, yes, but in practice, not so much. Cars like the Volt are actually much more reliable and less troublesome than their conventional brethren. And Prius' have turned out to be plenty reliable.
I don't think they are talking about the car reliability, I would assume they are talking about the power delivery(power grid).
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