Hi,

Any idea how many Honda hybrids have been sold to date? The Toyota tax credits end this week but I hadn't heard how far Honda is towards the same threshold.

I don't begrudge anyone who took advantage of the tax credit. But once the credit ends, all subsequent sales will puncture the last credible argument of the remaining hybrid skeptics. Within industry and particularly auto sales, seeing Prius still moving off the lots with brisk sales will put an end to the last intellectual defense, that hybrids sell only with government subsidies.

I bought my 03 Prius used, no subsidy of any kind. Even used, it was more expensive than a new Scion xB, the gas alternative. Yet even counting tire replacement, the first year cost came within $60 of break-even.

In two weeks, we'll have owned our 03 Prius for two great years and before he died, my Dad learned and marveled at the mileage. The high efficiency means trips are affordable and fuel is a minor budget impact. The hybrid low vibration and ride quality has made long distance travel fun again.

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

This link has the figures for some of the years; I didn't see figures for pre-2004, but they must be out there on the web somewhere.

http://www.electricdrive.org/evs23/i...icles&topics=7

Through Aug 2007: 21,736
2006: 31,253
2005: 25,864
2004: 25,586

Under the law that Congress passed the 'counting' began on Jan 1 2006. From that date each manufacturer was given 60,000 units which qualified for the full tax credit.

Once that 60,000 unit limit was reached, Honda must be pretty close now, then for the following quarter all the vehicles sold during those 3 months also qualified for the full credit. Then, for the next two quarters the credit was cut by 50%, then for the next two quarters it would be cust by 50% again ( this is where Toyota is now ); then it goes to ZERO ( Toyota on 10-1-07 ).

Using your figures and assuming that Honda reaches its 60K limit during the 4th quarter of 2007. Honda hybrids will still get...
the full credit until 3-31-08
50% credit from 4-1 to 9-30 of 2008
25% credit from 10-1-08 to 3-31-09
Zero credit beginning 4-1-09

Lifetime fuel usage: 2.1 GPC ( 1.99 recent )

I found a book at the library today that lists the sales figures for the earlier years for the Honda Civic hybrid:

2002~ 15,658
2003~ 21,729

Source: "The Essential Hybrid Car Handbook: A Buyer's Guide", by Nick Yost.
(Hey Bob Wilson, you are mentioned in the book on page 8, in a sidebar article about hypermilers, although the author says you reject that label.)

That is correct. Did they include why?

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

Honda hit 60,000 in July 2007. The official quarterly report for June 30, 2007 had them at 58,872. In July they sold another 2,753. These numbers include Accord sales.

Accord sales do not matter. It is 60,000 per model. I can't imagine that the accord was more than 20,000 of that total. But it still means that there should be 1 more quarter of full tax credit.

Not so. It's 60,000 per manufacturer. The three Toyota hybrids as well as Lexus hybrids were all lumped together. for reaching the limit.

Good news and bad news. There are at least 60,000 Honda hybrid owners out there (includes those who bought used ones.) Bad news, the clock is ticking on loss of Federal credits.

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

Well, there's still time on the Altima. I wish they made a hybrid coupe.