http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/hybrid-cars-still-seen-distant/story.aspx?guid={24DEC4D6-ACA1-4FDD-A0B6-6C38AD5F2E6C}
Quote:
. . .
Godwin also works as manager for automobile issues at Daimler AG's external affairs office in Brussels.
. . .
some of the more popular hybrid models currently on the market - such as the Toyota Camry Hybrid or the Ford Escape Hybrid - currently sell at a premium of about $3,000 to $4,000 to comparable non-hybrid models.
. . .
Daimler earlier this year announced plans to bring two hybrid vehicles, the Mercedes ML 450 Hybrid and the S 400 Hybrid, on the market in 2009. A year later, the carmaker plans to bring additional hybrid versions of its E and S class to the European market.
Yet, those models all are seen as "premium products" that are less price-sensitive, Godwin admits.
. . .
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The title,"
Hybrid cars still seen distant from economic break-even," triggered my Google alert and then the rest of the article was full of these curious bits. One one hand, he claims hybrids don't work economicly but ends by mentioning two high-end hybrids that definitely won't ever achieve "economic break-even."
I love the irony that down-scale hybrids apparently need to meet some "economic break-even" by this author that doesn't apply to up-scale hybrids.
Bob Wilson