[horselover]

If the world is in as much trouble as environmentalists state it is, then why do car manufacturers charge so much for a hybrid vehicle?

Regular blue collar workers can't afford the average vehicle let alone a hybrid one.

So why are they so expensive?

Here is a list of known hybrids in the world:

* Towns Microdot

[edit] 1980s

* 1986 The Twike HEHV designed by a group of Swiss students debuted at the World expo in Vancouver, Canada. It remains in limited production and available in the USA (source: Neiman Marcus Christmas Book 2007, page 89).

* 1986 The Goldwing engine-based Gaselle hybrid gas/electric prototype built by Sarabjit Gandhi drove 8050 km in 16 days as part of the World Energy Autocross.

* 1989 Audi 100 Duo aka or Audi 100 Avant Duo experimental vehicle, a plug-in parallel hybrid based on the Audi 100 Avant quattro. No more than 10 were produced.

[edit] 1990s

* 1991 Audi 100 Duo second generation, now with four-wheel-drive.
* 1996 AC Propulsion tzero (electric vehicle + steering-integrated genset trailer; 80 mile PbA, 300 mile Li-ion(2003) EV-mode)
* 1997 Toyota Prius (Japanese market only)
* 1997 Audi A4 Duo (a concept vehicle)
* 1999 Honda Insight

[edit] 2000s

[edit] 2000

* 2000 Toyota Estima hybrid (Japanese market only)
* 2000 Toyota Prius US market

[edit] 2002

* 2002? Mazda Demio e-4WD (Japanese market only, used for traction assistance)
* 2002 Dyna Diesel Hybrid (Japan only, Diesel Hybrid)
* 2002 Honda Civic Hybrid 2003 model

[edit] 2003

* Renault Kangoo (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle)
* Suzuki Twin
* Toyota Alphard Hybrid
* Toyota Prius (5 seat midsize) 2004 model year, second generation Hybrid Synergy Drive 1,000,000 sold (as of May 15, 2008)

[edit] 2004

* Honda Accord Hybrid 2005 model
* Ford Escape Hybrid 2005 model (released in late summer 2004)

[edit] 2005

* Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra Hybrid 2006 model, Mild hybrid
* Honda Civic Hybrid 2006 model, second generation
* Lexus RX 400h 2006 model year, second generation Hybrid Synergy Drive
* Mercury Mariner hybrid
* Toyota Kluger/Highlander Hybrid 2006 model

[edit] 2006

* Lexus GS 450h 2007 model, second generation Hybrid Synergy Drive
* Saturn Vue Green Line 2007 model, Mild hybrid
* Toyota Camry Hybrid 2007 model, second generation Hybrid Synergy Drive
* Toyota Estima/Previa hybrid minivan, second generation Hybrid Synergy Drive (Japanese market only)

[edit] 2007

* BMW 1 Series small family car, first in the world with standard mild hybrid technology, Auto Start Stop function, Brake Energy Regeneration, electric power steering, electric water pump[3][4]
* Lexus LS600hL 2008 model Luxury car, went on sale in June
* Mazda Tribute hybrid, 2008 model, expected to go on sale July 2007
* Nissan Altima Hybrid (limited sales)
* Saturn Aura Green Line Hybrid (BAS) 2008 model, Mild hybrid
* Toyota Kluger/Highlander Hybrid 2008 model, second generation Hybrid Synergy Drive, will go on sale October 2007[5]

[edit] 2008

* Cadillac Escalade (AHS II) 2009 model
* Chevrolet Malibu (midsize car) Mild hybrid
* Chevrolet Tahoe (AHS II) (SUV, RWD/AWD) 2008 model
* Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid (AHS II) (fullsize pickup) 2009 model
* Dodge Durango (AHS II) (SUV) 2009 model, expected to go on sale Fall 2008
* GMC Sierra Hybrid (AHS II) (fullsize pickup) 2009 model
* GMC Yukon Hybrid (AHS II) (SUV, RWD/AWD) 2008 model
* Roewe 750 (midsize car) First Chinese hybrid car
* Saturn Vue Green Line (AHS II) (SUV, FWD) 2009 model, 45% improvement over non-hybrid version according to GM[6]
* Saturn AURA Green Line Mild hybrid (midsize car) 2008 model
* BYD F3DM Plug-in hybrid


Source: Wikipedia.


An article from June '08 gives a basic idea of how much hybrids cost to purchase.

Is Buying a Hybrid Vehicle Money Well-spent? BCAA Cost Analysis


So why are they so expensive?

Yahoo answers has many replies to that question:

Why do hybrid cars & other gas efficient cars cost way to much for the people who actually need them.? - Yahoo! Answers


So, here's a burning question:

Why can't the auto manufacturers build more hybrids than gas guzzling vehicles? If the technology is used more often, wouldn't the prices come down?

Any other opinions?

[HereToday]

Generally we see prices fall as production becomes more standardized and competition increases. We should give it a good kick start by offering tax incentives and research grants to entrepreneurs and small manufacturers to be innovative. Ever see the movie Tucker? We could use that guy.

[Lyndsey]

It was the same with computers when they first came out. It's the same with organic fruits and veggies. The hopeful thing is organic is much easier to find than it was ten years ago, and it has gone into mainstream grocery stores where it's slightly cheaper than when it was only sold in a marginalized closet of a health food store. Values are changigng, just not quickly enough...

[savinggreen]

There's no question that prices will drop as production increases and market uptake takes time. Part of the problem is also to do with battery cost - they're just really expensive. This is also one of the reasons solar is so expensive.

The other thing we need to remember with hybrids is that they are seriously well-engineered vehicles. Not just in the hybrid system, but also in the computer system; the aerodynamics, regenerative braking, continuously variable transmission...All of these elements will become more common in other models, which will help to drive costs down - but it takes time. I'm not sure a low-end hybrid would work as without these extra features, you probably wouldn't get the power that you would need for a hybrid to be practical.

I definitely agree that the tax incentive approach would help. There are some incentive programs out there, but unfortunately I think the best tax break program out there is still the US tax incentives for small businesses to buy SUVs. Kind of the opposite of what we should have. That one was on the record from the 80s to help support farmers/small construction businesses who needed pickup trucks to get the work done. in the early 2000's George Bush decided that this law needed to be strengthened so he increased the tax break for these vehicles, and also increased who could cash in.

Hopefully Obama's administration will fix that blip and maybe replace it with one that encourages more environmental vehicles.