How long will it take for Hybrid cars to dominate the US car market and will they ever?

Answer 1

They may never dominate the US car market. In fact, diesels are more efficient than hybrids. Right now no one really knows what direction the auto of tomorrow is truly going to be. Methane, ethane, hydrogen, electric, gas hybrid, diesel, bio-diesel, diesel hybrid, solar, turbine...all of these are being tried and evaluated. The general consensus is that eventually the move will be towards a hydrogen based car.

I think eventually hydrogen cars will be the car of the future, but there will be a long transition period between now and then where other methods that are cheaper and more easy to produce will be produced until the hydrogen car manufacturing process is refined better.

Answer 2

With gasoline comfortably over $3.00 in many parts of the country (and it's not even summer yet) and Toyota now offering incentives on the Prius, I believe it's right around the corner. When cars like the Prius first came out, they had to cover the costs of developing the technology, now they're just refining it. I think that one would be hard pressed find a non-hybrid petrol vehicle in 20 years from now.

Honda makes the Insight, Civic Hybrid, and Accord Hybrid.
Toyota makes the Prius, Camry Hybrid, and Highlander Hybrid.
Ford makes the Escape Hybrid (also available as the Mercury Mariner Hybrid as well as the Mazda Tribute Hybrid).
Lexus makes the Rx400h and the GS450h.
GM makes the Saturn Vue Green line and the Silverado Hybrid.

Volvo, Porsche, BMW, Chrysler and Nissan ALL have hybrids planning to be launched within the next 2 years.

Answer 3

Well, since I hold onto cars for 15+ years, and my dad's sports car is 28 years old, how about never? New cars are a different matter. However, the answer is not always in mandating hybrid cars - some regular fossil fuel cars have better fuel economy than some hybrids. Hybrid SUVs still get lower gas mileage than my 4 year old Dodge sedan. What is possible is to enforce are higher fuel economy laws for new cars. Whether the car companies do so by increasing fuel economy on their existing models or discontinuing the traditional models for hybrids, we are still dependant on fossil fuels for transportation. Bring on the E85! Bring on the Bio-Diesel! I want to run my car on Burger King's leftover frying oil! That's the answer... domestic fuel sources, including ethanol.

Answer 4

That day will come only when gasoline goes into scarcity and when buying gasoline will make a greater dent in the long run as compared to the expensive hybrid cars. Another time may be when another cheap technology is invented which is safe as well as efficient,like maybe mini nuclear power plants , who knows.But it's for sure that normal cars are gonna be phased out in the next 10-20 years,that is if the governments provide some benefits to the savers.

Answer 5

I don't think it will be long. Maybe 10 years? Toyota is saying that their next generation Prius is going to be "much cheaper". It is going to use a new cheaper to produce and lighter alloy for its chassis which will cut production cost and increase mpg. It won't yet match the price of a similar non-hybrid, but that day isn't far off. Even if it doesn't, they pay back time will be much shorter and more worth while. Further, think if you could get the same car that got twice the mileage, wouldn't most people? Foreign oil is going to shoot themselves in the foot with the exploitation they are doing now.

Answer 6

Probably never. The problem is, the total life cycle cost of hybrid cars is higher than for conventionally fuel ones. That is:

1)Hybrid cars cost more to buy than gasoline or diesel powered cars.

2)The life of the hybrid power systems are less than the engine life for diesel or gasoline powered cars

3)The savings realized due to lower fuel consumption do not equal the additional costs resulting from 1 and 2.

Answer 7

I'd give a good 20 years before we start seeing all major auto companies releasing hybrids, especially here in the States. Until the world starts giving up its addiction to oil, there's a long road to travel (pun intended).

Answer 8

detroit seems to more interested in other energy sources to move our cars in this century... i do think that the hybrids will make a dent with in the next 10 years.

Answer 9

I don't see it ever happening. I believe we'll switch fully to a new energy source before then.