Prius Plug-in Hybrid Update

Darn, fooled by those darn emoticons!

 

I have come to the conclusion that most of America does not really give a damn about EVs, Hybrids, saving gas, clean air, ect,etc Just recently when the price of gas went below $2/ gal people were selling their EV / Hybrid, to buy a big truck. Now these people were part of our choir. So much for loyalty. I don't think America will really get serious about saving gasoline until we run out, I am sorry to say. Keep in mind that we are still a small minority, especially the PIP OWNERS. I CANT GET TOO ENTHUSED ABOUT A NEW PIP until one is actually out.

 

Unfortunately when it comes to these things, it looks like low gasoline prices are here to stay for a good while.

On the other hand, the governments of Russia, Venezuela, and Iran et al. would also prefer a world of much higher gasoline prices.

 

really? here to stay?
Looks like someone needs to check out the So Cal scene .... where some of the highest concentrations of motorists & prices are going on before presuming we all got it so nice.
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Take a look at the last year or Brent and WTI crude prices and where they headed further today.

Yes, CA is either State #1 or #2 when it comes to highest gasoline prices, but with one of the highest median State incomes, unfortunately most laugh off $3-4/gallon gasoline. At least that's what most vehicles here on the roads tell us.

 

I came to this conclusion years ago, when hybrid market share seemed to plateau between 3%-4%.
Although, I would say they "don't give a damn". I would say they have more immediate, and higher priorities.
This is why other efficient vehicles that have a broader appeal are needed.
I'm hoping the next gen Prius and PiP can reach a wider audience.

 

My next-door neighbor works for Toyota USA, and commented that the Prius Plug-In sales were so poor that he'd not be surprised to not see a 2017 model. Not sure how well informed he is about decisions from the mothership.

 

I believe it!

Plug in Prius is like $7k or $8k more than the standard Prius. A substantial premium for only 11 miles of EV driving.

That said, hoping for the plug in price to drop so I can pick one up! Otherwise, I may just settle for a Prius standard.

Keep us posted as what your neighbor updates you with regarding Prius sales or if the manufacture incentives will be increasing on August 4th.

Thanks


iPhone ?

 

actually, after tax credits, the pip is about $4,000. more than the lift back, and gets closer to 15 miles of ev.

 

seeing that prius team said it's coming, not very well i guess.

in actuality, the pip sold very well considering the 15 state roll out.

 

And the limited supply quota...

 

USA and some States are favoring Plug_ins with mandates and incentives. So the Plug_in future is probably going to depend on continuation of gov't incentives, and the oft stated expansion to other CARB states (happening?).

OTOH Hybrids in USA: good luck, no incentives. I've been saying for some years that car taxes on hybrids eg; Virginia are a dis-incentive for hybrids. I do feel excepting West Coast gaso price reduction is probably the new reality.

By the way, Inside EV's says we know PiP production stopped in June...but I wonder if we really *know* that? Since the orig announcement on this thread OP, green stickers in CA were expanded. So any hope of maintaining PiP's in show rooms would be gone. The other thing Inside EV's said was PiP2 will revive sales...but I am skeptical...in my thinking Volt2 only survives due to expanded CA HOV stickers...

In 2 weeks we know USA %Plug_ins and %hybrids sold in CA for first half 2015. It was 60% first quarter for plug-ns and 29% for hybrids.

 

Given that PriusTeam is the US Prius marketing team, I would expect them to have rather authoritative information about product rollouts. That's their job.

 

They stay quiet most of the time, observing our speculations. But when the time approaches to share rollout detail, they are very much the source that knows.

 

prius team said that even though production halted, there would be plenty of pips until the new model arrived. so what do we really 'know'? only what they tell us. i think you can say the same for any alt fuel vehicle, if you take cali out of the equation, it's a game changer.

 

The last censes shows very skewed results in CA. Between the billionaires, hundred millionaires, and ol fashion millionairs, it drags the poor slobs eking out a family existence on less than $40 for many. Wiki shows CA per capita income around $29k .... and median household income at $61k. So then you couple that with uber high housing (own or rent) and you are totally hosed ... if you're aveage.

It Takes Nearly $100,000 a Year in Income to Rent an Average L.A. House | L.A. Weekly

just sayin' ... not much laughing off $4 gas for the poor average slob.
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Ya, rent is high!!!

Was looking to move just a few blocks from where I am now, but a freaking "single" (no bedroom, just a single) is $2,000 per month!

Right now I am in a 2 bedroom and pay $1,500 (which is considered super cheap and I am suppose to be lucky the manager forgets or neglected to raise the rent every year).

My neighbor pays $1,800!!!!


Across the street from me there is a house for sale for $500k and my apartment has more square footage the that tiny tiny house that doesn't even have a garage!!!!

When I first moved where I was now, there was a house for about $200,000 which I thought was hight at the time. Today it is almost $600k for a 1 bedroom house that needs maintenance and we are not even in full recovery of the real estate market yet!

Unfreaking believable!!!!






iPhone ?

 

if you want to live in paradise, you have to buy a ticket.

 

"Paradise"