Bad news for hybrid manufacturers

Hybrid Car Owners Not Likely To Buy Another Hybrid An anonymous reader writes "A new study has found that people who purchased a hybrid car in the past are not likely to buy a hybrid for their next car purchase. 'Only 35% of hybrid vehicle owners chose to purchase a hybrid again when they returned to the market in 2011, according to auto information company R.L. Polk & Co. If you factor out the super-loyal Toyota Prius buyers, the repurchase rate drops to under 25%.' The study also found Florida drivers to be a bit more loyal to the hybrid segment than elsewhere in the country. 'It's hard to know what's causing the low repurchase rate. One reason is that about 17,000 people purchased electric cars last year, and other data shows that many of those were trading in a hybrid vehicle. Honda has been hounded by high-profile class-action and small claims court lawsuits over fuel economy issues with older models of its Civic hybrid. ... Hybrid vehicles represent just 2.4% of the overall new vehicle market in the U.S., according to Polk, down from a high of 2.9% in 2008.'" Slashdot

I almost hate to say this, but the reason Prius is so successful is because it is a farce. The Prius is just a normal Toyota with some extra bits bolted on the front breaks. The computer keeps you from driving like an asshole most of the time. That is pretty much it. That is why it is successful. The name is what sells the cars. It has become a status symbol. Who cares if it actually does any good? "I'm green and trendy. I drive a Prius." Fuck reality.