ABG: A decade on, survey suggests buyers still don't understand hybrid cars

Don't be discouraged. What ABG doesn't say is that many people are interested in hybrids despite the fact that they don't understand them. You don't need to understand something to buy it... I don't understand how my iPhone works, but I bought it and it works. There's plenty of good information available for people who really want to buy - or at least consider - a hybrid.

And The Electric Me hit it on the head... people don't buy something unless they A) want it or B) need it. You can show people all the benefits of a hybrid, but they still might not want it. Fine, there's no arguing with them. Someday (oh like right now) they may find that they need it anyway. That often is what puts them over the hump.

Doug Coleman
Prius Product Manager
Toyota Motor Sales, USA

 

Trebling gas taxes would be a good start: it would make up for 20 years of inflation and neglect of transport infrastructure, and focus more attention on fuel economy.

 

It would find its way into SS and medicare.

 

Perhaps a small portion should find it into medicare. After all polluting cars have health down sides. But, now is not the time to raise gas taxes, and a slow phase in is better than a shock. Perfect opportunity to raise gas taxes in 2009.

 

I understand a full hybrid car, Prius - you get 2x the average fuel economy over midsize sedan with little penalty and at same cost. There is no 'hybrid premium' with Prius.

 

Its a mix of these companies not marketing/advertising the product where its easy to understand or appealing to these people.

The other part is most car buyers/drivers have absolutely no automotive knowledge and don't care. To them they just want transportation that fits a budget.

To this day I've been asked "how do you recharge it" and "where do you plug it in". Then most are not even aware Lexus GS/RX had hybrids.

Amazingly when I sit down and explain how happy we are and how it works I've noticed family and friends buy a hybrid! So they need to do a better job explaining how it works.

Another thing is sadly hybrid is a "dirty word" to people who just like to bash the vehicles and people that buy them.

 

Budget also includes operating cost(s), and the higher that fuel costs go, the more "important" that budget element becomes. A co-worker's daughter has a Prius, and she almost talked him into buying one to replace his wife's aging VW bug. In stead of the Prius, they bought a fully loaded (non-hybrid) Camry. He said for the money, he couldn't get all the options he wanted on the Prius, that he ultimately got on the Camry. That was 6 or 7 months ago. Now that regular gas is $4.09 and rising (in So Cal) ... he's dreading the Camry decision over the Prius.

As richard schumacher said just 5 posts up, jack up gas tax & see how fast folks flock to the Prius. It'll never happen though. Ford's congressional lobby would drop their election campaign support faster than you can say, F-150. Heck ... all manufacturers make a boat load of money on their "much simpler to build" land barges. ALL auto manufacturer's lobbyists would be working over time to oust such anti land barge legislation. Sadly, only "naturally occurring" fuel spikes, like the end of cheep oil, will bring about the transportation change.

 

$3.55 gallon gas and 15,000/year the Prius is about $81/month cheaper than the Camry in gas and even with the now-mild hybrid premium it's still cheaper to own over any kind of ownership duration now. That's almost $1k/year in gas saved. Buys a lot of options. I wonder how many people, when looking at buying a car, actually break down the cost of gas. Probably few. Sick, really, how terribly awful people are at math and understanding what I consider essential household finances.

 

Great post hill. I figure people didn't hedge against gas prices and think "hey they might continue to creep up". I agree that it seems people's budgets are done (in regards to a cars MPG) on current fuel prices and not future ones.

Case in post my family had a 99 RX 300 AWD that served them well but was getting older. After getting an HS loaner (35 MPG) and driving it around they fell in love with it (I know weird but some people do like it ). THough they lost the utility getting 18 MPG was no longer something they wanted though cost/price is not the issue.

Well the other day one commented they look like a genius b/c some people questioned the purchase last fall but today it seems like a great move Double the MPG.

On another note there seems to be a lot of misconceptions on used Prius models. They are among the most reliable cars around and people love to throw out "oh the battery will die and cost you thousands".

Really. lol