Who Buys Hybrid Cars?

"Just What Are The Demographics of the Hybrid Consumer?"

More consumers are considering the advantages of purchasing a hybrid. The number one reason h is due to their smaller, fuel-efficient engines.

..........As prices at the gas pumps soar, people appreciate the benefits of driving an "alternative-fuel" vehicle.

Approximately 88,000 hybrid vehicles were sold in the United States in 2004. This number grew to almost 200,000 in 2005. This is only a small fraction of the 15 million new vehicles sold in the United States each year.

This is because hybrids that run on half gas and half electric power are not advertised as they should be.

Envirommentally Conscious

Many environmentally conscious consumers believe that a car which requires less gasoline is a good investment. The combination of the two powers, electric and gasoline, give hybrid vehicles the same and/or a greater range of fuel efficiency than do traditionally run gas engines.

Many of the hybrids are being sold to university educated consumers who work for major companies like Google. Many of these top companies are offering incentives to their employees to purchase the hybrids.

Hybrid purchasers are usually long term thinkers. They are not turned off by the hybrid's high price. Instead, they are able to factor in the government, insurance, and company incentives, as well as the savings in fuel.

Surveys reveal that the number one reason that consumers buy hybrids is to make a statement. However, most people are making a political statement against the price, in money and blood, which Americans are forced to pay for oil.

This is startling, as most consumer groups believed that the ecologically conscious would have led the pack. In fact, of the five reasons consumers gave, ecological reasons came in #4. Gas prices and tax incentives came in #2 and #3 respectively. 

New Technology

The last reason was that the hybrid owners love new technology. They love to try new advances and inventions. These people love catching a trend before it becomes popular and being instrumental in its acceptance by the general public.

The fact that hybrids have 'twice as many moving parts' and may have higher, long term repair bills, is not dissuading these innovative pioneers.

Smart consumers look for certain traits in their vehicles...

The hybrid can virtually run indefinitely. The faster speed the car travels, the greater kinetic energy it builds up and stores in the battery. Hybrid vehicles are able to store energy in the battery.

This is defined as "regenerative braking." The electric motor works in combination with the brakes to stop the car.

Conserve Energy

Hybrid cars are constructed with an alternate power source. They use batteries and the electric motor. When stopped at an intersection the hybrid vehicle will turn off the gas engine to conserve energy.

Advanced aerodynamics reduces drag. Drag force is reduced in a number of ways in hybrid cars. Most hybrids have smaller front ends. For example, SUV's have large front ends and push a larger area through the air. Drag is also be reduced by placing covers over wheel housings.

The first hybrid cars manufactured were successful in reducing harmful global-warming pollutants in the air by approximately a third to a half. The Toyota Prius achieves a success rate of ninety percent in smog reduction.

The forecast for the future is that more advanced hybrid models will be able to cut emissions even more.

Now learn how to How to Pinch Pennys With Your Car!

Who buys hybrid cars