"Two-Thirds Of Hybrid Buyers Don’t Buy Another One"

[ghosthunter]

Two-Thirds Of Hybrid Buyers Don’t Buy Another One

Most hybrid buyers — almost two-thirds — don't end up buying another hybrid, according to a recent study R.L. Polk. Yet more evidence that hybrids are more about marketing hype than hyper-miling for the masses.

The study says that the loyalty rate for hybrids since 2008 — people who went on to purchase a new car after purchasing a hybrid who have gone on to buy another hybrid — has ranged between 26.4% in the second quarter of 2010 and 41.8% in the second quarter of 2009. The rate for the fourth quarter of 2011 was 40.1% while the total for 2011 was 35.0%.

And if you pull out owners of the Toyota Prius the repurchase rate plummets even further — to 22%.

While the Polk study does say that hybrids not only attract new buyers to a brand, it also may help to retain those customers, according to Polk personnel interviewed by Automotive News.

While that may be true, it doesn't appear that they want a hybrid. Which may be why the dual-drivetrain vehicles still account for less than 3% of all U.S. auto sales last year — 2.4% last year, down from a peak of 2.9% in 2008.

So, it would seem like hybrids are still more about mass marketing that mass miles per gallon.

SOURCE: Two-Thirds Of Hybrid Buyers Don't Buy Another One

[jhnkvn]

I've sat inside a hybrid Lexus before.. and all I can say is that "is the damn engine even on?". That's how eerie silent it is.

The 2/3 rate might apply on some countries, however I doubt that the Philippines have that same rate given how heavily taxed our hybrids are.

[ghosthunter]

I've sat inside a hybrid Lexus before.. and all I can say is that "is the damn engine even on?". That's how eerie silent it is.

The 2/3 rate might apply on some countries, however I doubt that the Philippines have that same rate given how heavily taxed our hybrids are.

The bill that removed the taxes on electric and hybrid cars has been passed... so expect hybrid cars to be slightly cheaper in the near future. The link: "PHL bill for e-vehicle incentives gets House nod"

[renzo_d10]

The bill that removed the taxes on electric and hybrid cars has been passed... so expect hybrid cars to be slightly cheaper in the near future. The link: "PHL bill for e-vehicle incentives gets House nod"

So are we seeing a Prius C that's just a little over 1M ?

[ghosthunter]

So are we seeing a Prius C that's just a little over 1M ?

I would expect it to be closer to around P1.2M or P1.3M from it's current 1.5M price tag.

[cripple_rooster]

The overall cost of a hybrid car doesn't seem to justify. Just for commuting, even a Chevrolet Spark or a Toyota Yaris can be as effective as a Chevy Volt or a Toyota Prius.

The main marketing appeal for the hybrid buyers is the supposed lower footprint, but they're not really as "green" as a smaller car such as a Chevrolet Aveo/Sonic...

[niky]

The green-ness only comes if you're using them for at least 500,000 to 1,000,000 kilometers, all else being equal (taxes, registration, etcetera).

[cripple_rooster]

The green-ness only comes if you're using them for at least 500,000 to 1,000,000 kilometers, all else being equal (taxes, registration, etcetera).

Anyway, IF the owners really ride that much, when the vehicle needs the battery (and maybe also the electric motor) to be replaced it still has a bigger carbon footprint due to the mining, manufacturing and logistics involved. And the difference between the cost of a hybrid and an average compact car covers the higher fuel expenses.

[niky]

Anyway, IF the owners really ride that much, when the vehicle needs the battery (and maybe also the electric motor) to be replaced it still has a bigger carbon footprint due to the mining, manufacturing and logistics involved. And the difference between the cost of a hybrid and an average compact car covers the higher fuel expenses.

Battery replacement isn't as bad as originally feared. There are vendors who sell reconditioned batteries. Unlike Honda hybrids, Prii have batteries that last a long time in the right circumstances. And remember... batteries can be recycled. What requires heavy mining nowadays is the rare earths used in engines, and you can even get around that.

Carbon footprints (not that I believe in going hybrid for reasons of such) can be estimated by cost. If something costs more, then the extraction of natural resources, processing and transport of its components cost more in terms of energy. If you can break-even, then the energy cost and possible carbon emissions are similar. If you can actually save, then they are lower.

That's why you look at lifetime usage. In which case, a hybrid makes sense, but the payback time is very, very long... longer than most people are willing to wait.

[ghosthunter]

That's why you look at lifetime usage. In which case, a hybrid makes sense, but the payback time is very, very long... longer than most people are willing to wait.

The payback period is still impractical unless you're driving the hybrid car to the moon and back. A hybrid car can only justify itself when the car has gone astronomical distances... but just to accomplish that same distance, you would probably have replaced every single moving part of the car at least twice over.

[niky]

The payback period is still impractical unless you're driving the hybrid car to the moon and back. A hybrid car can only justify itself when the car has gone astronomical distances... but just to accomplish that same distance, you would probably have replaced every single moving part of the car at least twice over.

Not that long. Versus a brand new regular car of the same capacity... perhaps 500,000 kilometers with no tax breaks. Been a while since I recalculated those figures...

[macstar1]

My best friend, now in the US, drives a hybrid camry and it has all the bells and whistles of a high end camry, plus 40 to 50mpg easy.

Nakaka dalawang hybrid camry na siya since 2008.
Pareho ng trim at color white, Mas maliit na nga lang ang battery sa likod ng 2010 model. Yung 2008 model kasi, parang malaking battery na nilagyan ng gulong.

Pero lease lang ... Ayaw nyang bumili dahil problema pa raw yung battery balang araw. So nag lease siya ng 2008, then soli at lease ng bago 2010.

Pero pag lease kasi, mileage ang binabayaran mo, at may rebate pag di mo nasagad ang mileage when lease expires. So pag long drive na tipong LA to Vegas, yung Toyota Highlander nya ang gamit namin.

[cripple_rooster]

Hybrids in the U.S. just sell because there aren't too many light diesel vehicles available back there. Some diesel cars such as the current Opel Astra 1.3CDTi can get better fuel-efficiency than a Prius with a lower cost.

[macstar1]

Hybrids in the U.S. just sell because there aren't too many light diesel vehicles available back there. Some diesel cars such as the current Opel Astra 1.3CDTi can get better fuel-efficiency than a Prius with a lower cost.

Aside from that, until 2010, hybrid vehicles are allowed to use diamond lanes kahit isa lang ang pasahero... Diamond lanes refer to priority car pool lanes. Pag trapik, puwedeng dumaan dito yung may 2 or more passengers ... Pero pag hybrid, puwede kahit 1 passenger lang.

But as of 2011, di na rin puwede sa diamond lanes ang single passenger na hybrid.
So unti unting nawawalan ng appeal yung hybrid ...
Ang siste, may mga upscale brand na gaya ng Lexus, na nago-offer pa rin ng hybrid, not to save on fuel but to add more power ... Ang lakas kasi ng batak pag hybrid.

[cripple_rooster]

Aside from that, until 2010, hybrid vehicles are allowed to use diamond lanes kahit isa lang ang pasahero... Diamond lanes refer to priority car pool lanes. Pag trapik, puwedeng dumaan dito yung may 2 or more passengers ... Pero pag hybrid, puwede kahit 1 passenger lang.

But as of 2011, di na rin puwede sa diamond lanes ang single passenger na hybrid.
So unti unting nawawalan ng appeal yung hybrid ...
Ang siste, may mga upscale brand na gaya ng Lexus, na nago-offer pa rin ng hybrid, not to save on fuel but to add more power ... Ang lakas kasi ng batak pag hybrid.

No wonder the Chevy Volt is officially classified as an "extended-range electric vehicle", in order to still be allowed in the carpool lanes.

[xthine]

I guess I belong to the 1/3