Hybrid sales up 82 percent in one year.
By on Dec 7th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Hybrid sales up 82 percent in one year.
Sales of hybrid cars rose 82 percent from Nov. 2006 to Nov. 2007, with sales of the Toyota Prius up 109 percent. Since General Motors does not report its hybrid sales sepearately, the total figure of hybrids sold is likely even higher. Climate Progress attributes to sales increase to the rise of gasoline prices.
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…because “mainstream” america is “conservative”, right, righties??
sounds to me like the people of the USA are pretty progressive - and looking for meaningful ways to act on it.
December 7th, 2007 at 8:28 pmYES!!
Fantastic news. Green is win-win-win from a economic, environmental and geopolitical standpoint.
If we are smart - “we” meaning the collective of our politicians, innovators and business leaders - 30 years from now we will be selling Green tech to China and India.
Mind you, I am not saying we ARE smart.
Cue dumb insult from RHF….
December 7th, 2007 at 8:43 pmI’m an 82%’er. Proud owner of an ‘08 Escape Hybrid and ‘08 Civic Hybrid.
December 7th, 2007 at 8:54 pmYES!!
Fantastic news. Green is win-win-win from a economic, environmental and geopolitical standpoint.
If we are smart - “we†meaning the collective of our politicians, innovators and business leaders - 30 years from now we will be selling Green tech to China and India. Comment by Keltoi at Night — December 7, 2007 @ 8:43 pm
Well we ARE SMART, but unfortunately the REPUBLICANS tend to block DEMOCRACY and SUBSIDIZE their CRONIES like EXXON! That slows innovation, investment and tilts the deck away from us achieving this. Yet, ‘tarded little girls like you continue to VOTE AGAINST your own self interest, because you’re too stupid to recognize that’s what you’re doing.
Mind you, I am not saying we ARE smart.
Cue dumb insult from RHF….
Comment by Keltoi at Night — December 7, 2007 @ 8:43 pm
Well DUMB POSTS usually deserve a response that someone as STUPID as YOU ARE will understand.
Hey, if you can BECOME SMARTER my posts to you will reflect what you say.
The problem is, you’re an idiot, and your posts reflect that. The only thing halfway intelligent you’ve said on this blog is that we need to get our crap together if we want to be on the green edge of saving our planet - trouble is that ‘tards like you keep supporting politicians that make sure that won’t happen! See YOU are a part of the problem!
December 7th, 2007 at 9:08 pmBut But we need huge SUV’s to keep the price of fuel high to support the oil executives 400 million dollar bonus!
December 7th, 2007 at 9:12 pmComment by republicans hate facts — December 7, 2007 @ 9:08 pm
Perfect! Good job.
December 7th, 2007 at 9:12 pmI’m in…I love our Camry Hybrid. You know General Motors would be the leading car manufacturer again if the would reintroduce the electric cars. I guess they don’t mind being second to Toyota. 40mpg with the Camry folks.
December 7th, 2007 at 9:12 pmComment by republicans hate facts — December 7, 2007 @ 9:08 pm
Perfect! Good job.
Comment by Keltoi at Night — December 7, 2007 @ 9:12 pm
Well, to be fair, your detachment from reality and consistent dishonest and stupid posts are like shooting fish in a barrel.. Thanks for making it SO EASY.
December 7th, 2007 at 9:17 pmMoonbats!
Trying to preserve the earth for their children!
I don’t have any children, so I smoke cigars, drive an SUV and spray Febreze on my fat ass.
-Pus Limpballs
December 7th, 2007 at 9:17 pmPerfect! Good job.
Comment by Keltoi at Night — December 7, 2007 @ 9:12 pm
Maybe you’d care to share with the class how HUNDREDS of MILLIONS of dollars in Fossil Fuel subsidies each year is HELPING or HURTING the goal for the US to make money from Green tech?
Maybe if you can explain why that’s the case, and why you still vote Republican (or not Democrat) and how you have ANY justification to even post on this topic in light of your votes?
Maybe if you can also explain how you can justify being a libertarian and subsidizing the industries that are all in the GOP hip pocket?
December 7th, 2007 at 9:20 pm… 30 years from now we will be selling Green tech to China and India.
Comment by Keltoi at Night
thirty years AGO, conservation and alternative energy solutions were taking hold of the public mindset… then it all just went away…
… to japan… to germany… elsewhere…
December 7th, 2007 at 9:37 pmand now we know the results…
…
30 years from now we will be selling Green tech to China and India. Comment by Keltoi at Night
Were going to start selling them more bicycles? =)
December 7th, 2007 at 9:48 pm.
And keeping the MPG’s under 40 for US manufacturers helps US big Auto how?
.
December 7th, 2007 at 9:52 pmGreat news… In the next year my family will need a new car, and it WILL be a hybrid!
December 7th, 2007 at 9:53 pmCue dumb insult from RHF….
Comment by Keltoi at Night — December 7, 2007 @ 8:43 pm
naaah… let me do it…
F-UUUUUUU, you smarmy little sh*t in short pants.
December 7th, 2007 at 9:59 pmI wish I could afford a hybrid…
December 7th, 2007 at 10:02 pmComment by Left Coast Mike — December 7, 2007 @ 9:12 pm
December 7th, 2007 at 10:02 pmSince most of my trips in the Prius are very short, 4 miles, I only get about 41.5 MPG on a regular basis, but on he open road, I do about 58 MPG. I made it from Saint Augustinre, Fl to Fair Lawn, NJ on about 17 gallons. The Avalon used 42.
Zooey,
December 7th, 2007 at 10:05 pmThe Prius is about in reach when you consider the gas savings. About $30 per month and that is pre-tax money, for the average guy or gal that equals about $50 per month.
13 - you ought to be able to figure that one out on your own.
hint: r&d is very expensive for manufacturers
December 7th, 2007 at 10:07 pmAnd this was done WITHOUT raising CAFE standards.
Apparently, we don’t need no stinkin’ CAFE increases.
Car manufacturers will meet demand with more supply.
Amazing how the free market works when the government just leaves it alone.
December 7th, 2007 at 10:27 pmComment by WaltTheMan— December 7, 2007 @ 10:05 pm
December 7th, 2007 at 10:31 pmWe commute 14 miles a day round trip, a tank usually lasts a month. My best mileage was on the freeway in rush hour traffic (Seattle), 68mpg but I totally drained the battery. I am sold on the technology!!
#20 blink, blink, WHUH?????
Enron is how the free market works when the government leaves it alone.
The vast majority of those cars wouldn’t exist were it not for the Japanese manufacturers.
Apparently, we could all be driving cars with WAAAYYYY better mileage, were it not for the weak and puny CAFE standards we have.
And if you don’t think our manufacturers need some incentive, then why do imports outsell them every year for the last, jesus, I don’t even know how many years now??
December 7th, 2007 at 10:33 pmnow, to follow up muck’s shocking credulity, exley’s going to pop in and assert the sales figures are due to dubbie’s ‘06 SOTU address, i suppose.
friday night laughs are the best kind
December 7th, 2007 at 10:36 pmAnd this was done WITHOUT raising CAFE standards.
Apparently, we don’t need no stinkin’ CAFE increases.
Car manufacturers will meet demand with more supply.
Amazing how the free market works when the government just leaves it alone.
Comment by muckdog — December 7, 2007 @ 10:27 pm
Yeah, it just took a war, and 2 trillion in government waste to raise the price of war to compensate for the 200 BILLION a year in subsidies the Fossil Fuel industry receives a year to stifle competition and innovation.
Amazing how Republicans REFUSE to let the free market work, yet eventually they SCREW THEMSELVES with their efforts to subsidize (as the big Iraqi OIL GRAB)…
Poor little ‘tarded b!!!ch there dog… It SUCKS being you!
December 7th, 2007 at 10:38 pmComment by Left Coast Mike — December 7, 2007 @ 10:31 pm
December 7th, 2007 at 10:47 pmI would guess that you run on ‘B’. I’m im Florida and that precludes that from April til November. The problem is the AC. In NJ, my son gets about 25 MPG on the same Avalon.
Comment by WaltTheMan — December 7, 2007 @ 10:47 pm
I only run it on B when going downhill to charge the battery. I have the AC on auto but living in Washington you rarely get it to kick in. I also own an ES330 which is similar to the Avalon, It does fine on the freeway, 30mpg but in town only 20+/-.
Anyway, I love the Toyota products and won’t go back to a US product until they make an electric.
Zooey, I have seen used Prius’ here for very reasonable prices, $12,000 check out the car ads.
December 7th, 2007 at 11:01 pmZooey,
December 7th, 2007 at 11:30 pmDo not buy a used Prius more than two years old. The battery warranty is only good for 8 years and they are expensive. In addition to the expense, any Prius prior to 2005 has all of the acceration of a John Deere lawnmower in three foot grass.
But, but, but if we conserve energy the terrorists win.
December 7th, 2007 at 11:40 pm/sarc off
Call me a damn dreamer but my next car I hope will be one of the promised electric Tesla motors sedan… Until then my 26 mpg 9 year old Cougar needs to hold up…
December 7th, 2007 at 11:52 pmCall me a damn dreamer but my next car I hope will be one of the promised electric Tesla motors sedan… Until then my 26 mpg 9 year old Cougar needs to hold up…
Comment by RUCerious — December 7, 2007 @ 11:52 pm
Yes!!! Totally cut Exxon/Mobil out of the equation. Tesla Motors is releasing the Roadster at around $100,000. Then another two incrementally, depending on the initial response. They will be in the $50,000 and $20,000 range respectively. Hybrids are cool, but Lithium Ion technology is the way to go. For larger vehicles, Trains, trucks, etc, the new bacteria-produced hydrogen shows promise. Again, the little buggers don’t need the Petrol Companies to process hydrogen.
December 8th, 2007 at 12:10 amHybrids are cool, but Lithium Ion technology is the way to go. For larger vehicles, Trains, trucks, etc, the new bacteria-produced hydrogen shows promise. Again, the little buggers don’t need the Petrol Companies to process hydrogen.
Comment by Brain From Planet Arous
Hybrids are here now! When the other technologies get to the same point the hybrids are I’ll join you. Unfortunately they are not here yet and will be very expensive for years when the arrive.
December 8th, 2007 at 12:18 amJust saying do what you can NOW.
We bought a 2007 Prius and we LOVE it. We have gotten as much as 52mph on a tank of gas, but usually hover around 48-49 mph.
It is not sluggish, it is the best we can do for now in America.
We did purchase the service warranty, etc. because the electronics are high tech and expensive.
I cannot help but recall that if we had devoted sufficient effort toward fuel efficiency during the gas shortages of the late 70’s, we would be in a much better place today. American mfrs made a few cheap cars that practically self-destructed, the shortage ended, and Detroit advocated bigger, “safer,” and classier cars.
All the while, Toyota was developing the fuel efficient cars we need today. The US is still into Navigators and Hummers.
I blame the mfrs in the US for lack of engineering, ingenuity, and the omnipresent wish to make the most money for shareholders and CEOs without concern for the long term.
Anyone see the flick “WHo Killed the Electric Car?” It’s an eye opener. Maybe one day we will get there.
December 8th, 2007 at 12:51 amI swear US automakers are purposely trying to dog their sales so they declare bankruptcy and can bust the unions.
What else would explain them being so behind the times?
December 8th, 2007 at 3:50 amEnvironmentalists do a fantastic job of creating awareness of the environment, but do we really want them to start making economic decisions for us?
Comment by CaptainMantastic — December 8, 2007 @ 6:53 am
Yes, we do. a well-run government, not a Republican theft-fest, is far more efficient than private company. Social Security is an outstanding example of this. social Security’s “problems”, such as they are, can be tied to republican greed and perfidy. and Big Oil and Big Pharma are not Free market in any way, they are government-funded boondoggles for the rich. there is no Free Market, never has been, and never can be until the morality of the right is aimed at advancing freedom and civilization instead of profits for shareholders. Your first paragraph of #34 is bawed on a lie.
December 8th, 2007 at 7:42 amEnvironmentalists do a fantastic job of creating awareness of the environment, but do we really want them to start making economic decisions for us?
Comment by CaptainMantastic — December 8, 2007 @ 6:53 am
The Right Wing hatred of the government goes back to Labor Unions of the 30s. Before that, workers were completely victimized by Capitalists, child labor and such. There was this effort by Conservatives to tie in everything despised by the Right, homosexuality, hippies, Labor unions, Socialism, Communism, Vegetarians, Environmentalists, Pagans, Government itself, College Professors, Beatniks, Woman’s Libbers, and Ravers. Never mind that the majority of Americans would always take the side of the oppressed. The Right Created this linear equation. If you were one of those people, you were automatically one of the others. Thus, Gays=Communist=Anti-American.
Now, take a look at China. No government oversight or regulations, just corporations running the country. The government there is just to control the population. Is this the model you would like for the USA. A literal police state where protesters against corporate control are beat and arrested? The major difference is this….If corporations did not have so much power and sway over the government, then We The People would be represented. WE could elect individuals who represented our needs. With corporations, we don’t elect board members and CEOs. There is ZERO accountability except “Bottom Line” profit margin. The conclusion is: Corporations should stay out of important aspects of people’s lives; defense, pensions, social security, garbage collecting, schools, and so on.
And remember Mussolini’s definition of Fascism:
Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power
December 8th, 2007 at 8:34 amCaptain, I understand the Conservative Point of View, as I do have some of the same values, believe it or not. Perhaps the function of the Right is what you say, not to rush evolution too much. But, you have to admit, most advanced inventions, art, music, and social changes have been done by Progressives, Liberals, etc.
The hardest thing for Hard Conservatives to do is to live in someone else’s shoes that is not so fortunate. This is the classic “bleeding heart liberal”. However, if Conservatives are Christians (which most are not), then they all must follow Jesus’s teachings and not Rupert Murdoch’s.
It is good to see that you, Captain, have a crack in your armor. The Right’s “Caution”, has been replaced by Fear and Hatred. Myself, I am more of a Mr Spock type character. Whatever makes the most logical sense, I choose. For instance, the left was going after Imus for saying that “Nappy Headed Hos” remark. However, Imus is actually a very compassionate person, and he like another Don Rickles. Rickles was a sweetheart in person, as I know people who know him. But, the so-called left took Sharpton’s side. Logic says that Sharpton is never there when a black person beats or kills white people, or says a disparaging remake. Sharpton does ZERO to help sick children. So, I went against the grain and supported Imus. So it is with politics and social situations. People are too quick to label something “Left or Right” or “Liberal or Conservative”.
Logical or irrational is the only two classes. Hurting people, animals, the environment, and the economy is irrational.
December 8th, 2007 at 9:39 am#33, Neeko,
The unions have finally settled with the big 3 automakers, and it was the Prius and other high mileage vehicles that pushed it. The big 3 and the UAW realized they were going down together, if they didn’t bring their overhead costs in line with the competition. Now, GM can invest in high tech, and compete in the small car market.
December 8th, 2007 at 10:38 amNow, GM can invest in high tech, and compete in the small car market.
they could’ve done that 30+ years ago…
December 8th, 2007 at 10:44 am#35, Lefty Patriot,
Communist / fasicst governments are NOT good governments - read the Book of Isms, 11th Edition, so that you understand. You hope to control all 3 branches of our federal government, so that you can then possess what DeTocqueville called the tyranny of the majority. Your policies, however well intentioned and sincere, are purposely hidden from voters eyes until you can seize control - that should be your first clue as to the infeasibility of your proposals.
What our current field of presidential candidates is missing is a vision of great movement towards a greater America (note to libs: unmanageable federal social programs, including NASA, aren’t applicable). In the past, we have had broad development of infrastructure - dams, canals, railroads, highways, etc., that signaled an intent to improve everyone’s lives, but today we are getting small proposals to tweak existing infrastructure.
If I were running for president, I would propose:
1) Housing industry - reduce 30 year mortgage to 20 years incrementally over 10-20 years and limit the number of homes any individual or couple could own. I would not interfere with the current market correction in housing.
2) Energy - Issue “green” bonds to lend money to states and corporations (along with federal grants) to build hydro-electric dams, install solar panels on homes, convert river and ocean currents to electricity, etc.
3) Transportation - subsidize consumers (including municipalities and travel/shipping corporations) ability to purchase hybrid or zero emissions vehicles, so that the market chooses the best tech, not the government or corporations. When markets have selected clear winners, then draft legislation to move still more buyers to these cleaner vehicles.
I just listed the biggest costs to the American family (and municipalities / corporations, directly/indirectly). Address these first, and many other problems go away.
December 8th, 2007 at 10:57 am#45, katy,
No, not with the previous UAW agreements in place. The Japanese would have finished the big 3 off by now.
Even with the new tech and hybrid approach by the big 3, with the Chinese starting to enter the market (note Chryslers new arrangements with Chery (not Chevy), a Chinese automaker), there is still a serious chance the big 3 will collapse. All their current haste is just a hope / prayer that they will come out ahead.
December 8th, 2007 at 11:00 amNow, GM can invest in high tech, and compete in the small car market.
they could’ve done that 30+ years ago…
Comment by katy — December 8, 2007 @ 10:44 am
The first statement could only have been made by someone too young to remember the gas lines of the 70s, and the blown opportunity Detroit had to compete with the Japanese. Plenty of time then to build reliable, fuel-efficient vehicles. But it’s so much easier now to blame the unions, as though the unions were the people responsible for making the decisions.
December 8th, 2007 at 11:04 amZooey, just for you. Coming to the USA next year.
http://www.smartusa.com/
December 8th, 2007 at 11:33 amYou can actually buy Smart Cars now, at least here in Portland. A new dealership has opened up to sell Chinese-built electric cars and a co-worker and I visited them with the thought of getting some utility vehicles. For the time being, the electric “trucks” (wee three-wheelers) have a limited use, because they can only run about 50 miles on a charge and can only go about 35-40 mph, but all you need to run one is a good extension cord and a standard outlet.
They also have electric scooters, that look identical to the Vespas tearing around town, and my favorite, The Zappy. They’re marketing these for industrial use, because they’re a great way to get around in a warehouse or a big parking lot. Unlike the Segway, they are dirt cheap.
December 8th, 2007 at 11:43 amWow! All this car stuff is getting extremely complicated. I sure am glad I don’t drive anymore.
December 8th, 2007 at 11:52 amHendler - do you actually believe there are not Unions overseas??
american provincialism at its best - no idea what’s going on in the rest of the world, but ready to pass judgement on it all in a second.
blame-the-unions-first is the last resort of crooks like Ken Lay - I’m sure he’s proud of you, wherever he’s hiding from justice.
The suits ran Detroit into the ground with their unchecked avarice, arrogance, and lack of genuine regard for their products or customers - no one wielding a wrench or a welder could ever have accomplished that - even in a group.
Hendler - you’re like those blacks who hate blacks - ya got no idea where your real interests lie, so you’re borrowing someone else’s.
December 8th, 2007 at 3:12 pmHendler
I think there is more to it than it solely being the fault of the union. The big three keeps churning out full size trucks and have not responded to the demand for fuel efficient vehicles. They keep harping about the free market but do not respond to its demands.
And I also wonder about the compensation that the CEOs of the big 3 receive. If I remember correctly, American CEOs are making a lot more money than their foreign counterparts.
At my previous job, the folks in lower management received a bonus that was 20 times that of their employees. That is literally an exponential increase.
Instead of everyone getting a fixed percentage of their yearly pay, the percentage gets higher and higher as they climb the ladder. My boss was able to buy a new car (Toyota ha ha) with his bonus.
Now that’s great if you happen to be higher up the ladder, but do you think that our foreign counterparts are doling out the money like we are here?
Its as if the whole purpose of American industry now is to throw all the money up to the CEO and others until they have more money than they’ll ever need. Even if they screw the pooch!
December 8th, 2007 at 4:56 pmBrain from Planet Arous. You show a lot more depth than most.
Live long and prosper.
Comment by CaptainMantastic — December 8, 2007 @ 1:30 pm
Thank you. I just try to see if there is some common ground between the left and right. How can we expect peace in the world when the people of the USA are fighting each other?
December 8th, 2007 at 5:39 pmComment by gummitch — December 8, 2007 @ 11:43 am
But, wouldn’t that be an extremely long extension cord?
December 8th, 2007 at 5:47 pmBut seriously folks, I wanna Ford Reflex. 65mpg and 0-60 in under 7 seconds! Make it affordable. Second choice would be Honda Remix or Chevy Volt.
#54, Neeko,
The REASON that the big 3 produce trucks and SUV’s is that their existing cost structure is driven by union contracts, which have union salaries and benefits (especially retirement costs) significantly higher than their competitors, making it impossible to create a business model in which the big 3 earn a profit selling fuel efficient small cars for the price consumers want. It has NOTHING to do with any executive’s personal views on green tech, and EVERYTHING to do with BUSINESS. An executive at a manufacturing company will produce ANYTHING that will make a profit margin that justifies ongoing investment in whatever technology, green or otherwise.
December 9th, 2007 at 11:08 am