Dashboard vs Give Up Hybrid vs Oil Inventory

Scanning the news and checking on hybrid sales, the dashboard report, revealed some interesting things are going on. Now I remain concerned about low hybrid sales and the announcements of new models . . . I would prefer to see more demand but summer is ending and you don't need a weatherman to tell which way the wind blows.

First the 'bad news:'
Is it time to give up on hybrid cars? The Green Piece | TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk

Ok, here is an article reflecting my concern about sales. But the Camry hybrid has effective competition with the Ford Fusion hybrid as we find in the Dashboard report.
August 2010 Dashboard: Hybrids Down, Clean Diesels Up | Hybrid Cars

Now the Dashboard report identifies the effect of 'Cash for Clunkers' but the ratio of sales for August 2010 for the larger sedan hybrids does not look good for the Camry . . . time for a refresh. But we've also seen unusually low fuel prices over the summer. Then I read this story about oil pipelines and $78/barrel oil:

Oil steady near 1-month highs on expected U.S. stock drop | Reuters

This evening I noticed gas prices had gone up a nickel from just last week. As we all know, higher gas prices lead to higher hybrid sales.

I would like to see strong hybrid sales in September and October but we won't see these numbers for a while. This will be an interesting month since the 'cash for clunkers' excuse will be gone (not that the early sales slump made sense.)

Bob Wilson

 

Sorry to resurrect an older thread but I was looking over the August, Dashboard report and something caught my eye:

It wasn't the percent gain as much as the absolute number, 328 units sold.

I was aware that GM had closed out the BAS which is what I thought the Silverado was. Small, these are interesting numbers and nearly a doubling. More importantly, the specifications and price:

Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid - Review | Hybrid Cars

This is curious and makes me wonder what is going on?

BTW, here is my take on their numbers:

$3,000 - estimated price increase
$2,200 - tax credit (if you can get it)
- - - - -
$800 - first year addition cost (in theory)

$1,856 - annual EPA fuel cost estimate for hybrid 2WD
$2,399 - for non-hybrid 2WD
- - - - -
$543 - first year fuel savings

1 1/2 year to break-even total cost
​

This is the shortest 'break-even' time interval I've ever seen for a hybrid.

When I tried to find out about test driving a two-mode when they first came out, I learned you had to buy one and then you could test drive it on the way home. Perhaps they have decided the best way to sell these hybrids is to have some on the lots.

Bob Wilson