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With oil currently at $35 a barrel on weak economic demand, does anybody know how hybrid sales are doing?

Besides the environmental reasoning, it must be hard to pay the hybrid premium when gas is under $2 a barrel. I think right now you're better off with a fuel efficient 4 banger. What do you guys think?

I definitely think so. Americans seem to have short term memory when it comes to our gas usage and being punished for it.

No doubt we have a short term memory, but I do get the sense that the public believes another price hike is inevitable. Perhaps that will fade in time...Even with higher gas prices, with the cost of hybrid, a compact car can still make more sense. It would be interesting to see a percentage breakdown of why people buy hybrids: fuel economy vs. style, vs. green etc.

Don't forget about utility! Though cars like SUVs have seen a sharp decline in sale, trucks and other similar "work" vehicles are still selling strong. American's need these haulers to do the things that continue to build America. The average person may be more inclined to buy an SUV now despite gas costs (thinking they can just sell it when gas gets expensive), but there is a still a minority who are watching their wallet's future a little closer.

The figure I saw the other day... 13 million new cars are sold each year but only 300k hybrids are sold out of that batch. Either they're not making enough or the demand really isn't there yet.

Hopefully soon, there won't be a premium on the hybrids.

I hope someone from the car industry reads this. Make good looking hybrids and the masses will purchase!!!! I currently drive a Prius and everyday I get in the vehicle and think this is the ugliest car on the market. Beyond my insecurities a Hybrid vehicles fits my personal ideals and budget. I currently have 50,000 miles on the car and I have not had one problem to date, not once have I had to bring my Toyota Prius in for service or any type of malfunction other than a regular oil change. Without hesitation I would recommend the Pirus to anyone. If you can afford to pay a slight premium for a car purchase a Hybrid it will not only change you it will change the auto industry. Creating a demand for an alternative is the best way to influence those folks in Detroit to change their stubborn ways. The Prius is not slow I have had it up to (hold your hats) 95 mph and it rode like a dream with power to spare. If you think a Hybrid is too slow and not powerful enough please test drive one you will be pleasantly surprised.

I was really disappointed when the production version of the Volt came out. Not that I was holding my breath that Volt was THE answer, but that the prototype looked so dramatic compared to the "aerodynamic" production version that looks pretty much like every other Hybrid out on the market.

I really hope people can take on the exciting aspects of Tesla but make it appeal to the masses.

Did someone ask for a good looking hybrid:



I think my major issue with the Prius and similar hybrids is that the MPG is no different than the CRX, Old Civic HX/VXs or similarly "old school" subcompact cars. Sure, the weight and extra safety devices are there, but in my opinion as an engineer, we've sat in parity for the past 20 years. Until cars like the Karma and similar electric-only-for-X-miles come to market, we're really not seeing the gas savings we could. The Tesla is another obvious big name electric only as is the Mini E(lectric).

The current gas prices are certainly affecting the potential sale of my 2007 Toyota Camry hybrid. In the last several months, demand has plummeted and the price has gone down by $4,000 or $5,000. Ouch!

That's the excellent thing about cars like the Honda Fit, Mini Cooper and similar great mileage cars that have other features (performance, space, etc.). They keep their residues despite the "great gas mileage" benefit drop.

I wonder what the future of fuel will be though. Will gasoline always be part of the equation? What about when we have flying cars?

In the same way Horses became a hobby and persistent part of American's lives, the gasoline based car will always be a part of the equation. Be it bio-diesel for oil burners or ethanol for regular petrol cars, hybrid cars will allow the enthusiast to spend Monday through Friday driving an electric car for the commute (spending very little money on charges and minimalizing pollution) and spend the weekends zipping along in their Mustang Boss. It's the best of both worlds!

Flying cars could be cool, but the amount of safety and reliability and training required of flying is going to be well above that of the average person. I feel it will cost prohibitive for a very, very long time and user prohibitive for even longer.

Not to sidetrack this conversation TOO much - but I do think society is training ourselves towards being able to manage flying cars. Yeah, back in the days when all we had to do is hunt and farm, multitasking may seem crazy. However, everyone now is doing a number of things at the same time and I think over time, people will get used to paying attention to 3 axises vs. 2 when operating a vehicle.

Besides, as we build smarter vehicles that comes with some self-guidance, maybe operating it won't be as hard once it actually gets here.

Can someone please bring this conversation down to earth? (sorry, couldn't resist)

People are proving every day they are completely unable to concentrate enough to drive cars, let alone flying cars. Until there's a ridiculous amount of automation and self-guidance, I wouldn't trust the average person to fly a plane unless they go through the current pilot training program (which takes hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars). In any case...

The fuels of the future will be similar to the fuels of today. Gasoline and diesel will remain. New fuels will be hydrogen and synthetic bio-fuels to replace organic fuels, should we run short.

BTW, the newest Lexus HS 250H hybrid car has technology that helps you stay in your lane. Something about the combination of in cabin camera that looks for your face and exterior camera that checks to see if you're in the lane.

I wonder why of all cars they've chose to bring it to the hybrid... maybe there's not enough cool stuff with it being a hybrid alone.

What I don't get is the new Malibu hybrid. If I remember correctly, the Hybrid version of the car gets 1 MPG better than the regular Chevrolet Malibu. Seems rather pointless.

Especially considering the additional harsh chemicals it's required to make these cars (the batteries, the capacitors, etc). Then again, GM hasn't been known to make the best decisions in the past...