Posted on 01/10/2015 9:32:02 AM PST by LogicDesigner
Plug-in electric car sales for calendar year 2014 rose above the 100,000 level, the third annual increase in full-year sales in the U.S. since modern electric cars first went on sale in December 2010.
The highest-selling electric car in the world, the Nissan Leaf, set a new U.S. record for plug-in sales of a single vehicle in one year, logging 30,200 deliveries during 2014.
That compares to a 2013 total of 22,610, and less than 10,000 units in each of its first two years on sale.
The balance of 70,000-plus was made up of sales of no fewer than 20 other cars with plugs.
(We also note that Hyundai leased 54 of its hydrogen-powered Tucson Fuel Cell crossover utility vehicles. Honda delivered 2 FCX Clarity fuel-cell vehicles as well this year, against 10 leased in 2013.)
The bulk of them, however, remain quite low-volume, selling 250 or fewer units per month.
Only a small number of plug-in electric cars routinely racks up U.S. sales of 1,000 or more units a month.
The others include the Chevrolet Volt and the Tesla Model S. More recently, the BMW i3 sales hit that level for three months last year.
(Excerpt) Read more at greencarreports.com ...
Like I keep saying range is irrelevant. Recharge time is the key factor.
In 2004 my flight from Philadelphia to Orlando was cancelled between the time I left home and the time I got to the airport due to Hurricane Charlie. I had reservations for breakfast the next morning in Cinderella Castle and the airline told me I would not be able to get a flight for at least 3 days.
I rented a minivan at the airport and drove through the hurricane and arrived at disney at 11:50 PM after 16.5 hours so my 4 year old daughter would not miss her breakfast with the princesses.
When they make an electric car that would have made that trip I’ll consider buying one.
My diesel Jetta Sportwagen gets an honest combined 40mpg. I can drive 580 miles on a tank. It accelerates like a banshee and tops out at a computer regulated 133 mph. (I’ve never had it over 80 as I bought it for its miserly fuel consumption and carrying capacity. I have a 2003 Marauder if I’m feeling sexually challenged.)
That only applies in states with the absolute highest percentage of electricity generated from coal: Illinois, Ohio, North Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming. These states tend to not buy many electric cars anyway. Read this article for a more in-depth explanation:
New Study Doesn't Say ‘Electric Cars Aren't Green’ (Headlines To The Contrary)
The Tesla S in that article is kind of odd looking. But the coal smoke gray paint color is nice.
I drove my sister’s Tesla and concur it is stunningly fast. One drawback is there is not a lot of headspace in the back (but lots of leg space for all seats).
They are thinking about buying an extra one, although not the same model.
I like the Jetta Sporwagen and have looked at them before. They were on my list last time I bought and would have, had I found one optioned out like I wanted in a color combo that I liked. Found the other car on the list optioned out in a good color combo first, though. 2007 Subaru Legacy GT Limited wagon. Love the car. Gas mileage is OK considering the AWD and turbo, mid-upper 20’s highway, low 20’s around town. Premium gas, though.
The appeal of that Avalon is diesel-like mileage on regular unleaded, in a big comfortable car with a leather interior, nothing penalty box about it but Corolla economy. I like the things, have even grown accustomed to the front end, that “mouth” grille was a little off-putting at first but the rest of the vehicle is so nice that I’ve gotten over it. The interior is knockout, love the dash. Reminds me somehow of those early to mid-sixties Chryslers that had such well-designed and detailed dashboards and interiors. Would have to get the all-black interior though, for some reason I can’t get into the two-tone dash even if the contrast portion is leather.
“The hybrid/EV market is here to stay.”
Maybe. EV’s “work” for the moment because there is not wide adoption. If everyone had one, there would be fist fights at “fast” charging stations and plug-in stations at malls and workplaces
when the compromises/technical developments made to EV vehicles to increase range get adopted by a similar conventionally powered vehicle, you’ll end up with a good increment of increased performance for them, too.
That would make an EV have less cachet so it isn’t going to happen soon.
And of those, only 99,999 burst into flames! :)
“The appeal of that Avalon is diesel-like mileage on regular unleaded, in a big comfortable car with a leather interior, nothing penalty box about it but Corolla economy.”
I must have missed something, we went from the Subaru to an Avalon. Do they get 40 mpg? I’d be interested as the Jetta is a bit confining. BTW, if you do get one you’ll want the 6 speed DSG transmission, which is awesome. It shifts exactly like I would if I had a clutch, but you’d wear yourself out self-shifting a diesel car. With the 6 speed it performs as well as most V8’s I’ve driven. I couldn’t live with 20 mpg, which is what my Marauder got before they put alcohol in the gas. At $4/gallon it cost me $15 to drive into town and back.
If you lived in the central valley areas of Calif. you would see the benefit. My Leaf is a great car that is helping to better the air quality. I’m not an econut. Just don’t like breathing dirty air.
Don’t forget that batteries lose storage capacity with each recharge.
An Avalon hybrid has been available since 2013. They’re rated 40 mpg city, 39 highway on regular unleaded. Nice cars, have ridden in them and have taken a liking. The last car I bought was the Subaru GT wagon, I was considering the Jetta Sportwagen TDI at the time as well.
You just need to schedule your recharging around California’s Summer-time “Rolling Blackouts.”
98% comes from coal, oil, nat gas or nuclear. How is environment being saved? Transferring exhaust gases from city to the nearby power plant is solving the problem?
All EV owners will get a sticker shock when batteries need replacing. I understand disposal of used batteries is a serious problem also.
I have high hopes for the mid-range Model 3 Tesla, the concept cars shown look very good, shooting for $35K starting price. We’ll see.
I recently test drove a Lincoln MKZ Hybrid...
http://www.lincoln.com/cars/mkz/hybrid/
It’s a mid-sized car with luxury options powered by a “2.0L ATKINSON-CYCLE ENGINE” combined with a 1.4 kWh lithium-ion battery which “can travel up to 85 miles per hour in all-electric mode” [sic]. The battery is recharged by the braking system as I understand - it is not a “plug-in”. This power system is not well explained in the specs at the website. IMO the car is under-powered after driving it. For someone who wants a comfortable commuter car in a metro area in a mild climate, it may be a satisfactory choice - gas mileage ratings are claimed 39c/41h/40c, base priced at $35,190.
I’m betting most of these cars are sold to corps as test cars and there is a huge kick back. I have yet to see one on the road here in upstate NY...and I’m in a relatively wealthy area.
As pointed out, recharge time is down to 1 hour.
Just as Obama is putting the coal plants out of business.
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