TOP HYBRID STATES The top 15 states for hybrid vehicle registrations in 2004 and the total number of new hybrids registered in each of those states.
1. California, 25,021
2. Virginia, 5,613
3. Washington, 3,441
4. Florida, 3,272
5. Maryland, 3,238
6. New York, 3,123
7. Texas, 2,922
8. Illinois, 2,707
9. Massachusetts, 2,590
10. Pennsylvania, 2,308
11. Oregon, 2,282
12. New Jersey, 2,053
13. Ohio, 1,763
14. North Carolina, 1,715
15. Arizona, 1,672
Source: R. L. Polk & Co.
It's not fair to just look at pure numbers. Some states out-number other states by 4-5 times as many people! It makes more sense to look at a percentage, so that even small states like tiny Delaware have a chance to be on top.
PER CAPITA: (hybrids/population)
(1) Virginia = 0.076% (A Republican state buying environmental cars??? Surprise!)
(2) California = 0.070% (no surprise here)
(3) Maryland = 0.058% (three major cities = Baltimore/Washington/Annapolis = lots of driving & a need to save gas)
I strongly suspect the TOP reason for Maryland & Virginia is their allowing hybrids to use HOV lanes, coupled with the MAJOR traffic in those areas. Their gas prices are just about the national average.
Colorado and W Virginia have *very* generous state credits, yet are not in the top 10. This particularly surprises me in CO, which as far as I know, has a significant enviro aware population.
Now that the Governor of Illinois is proposing a $500 reduction in the state sales tax for hybrids, look for IL to move up that list. Now there's a new law I can really support! It would be an instant rebate, available for cars purchased after July 1.
According to the article,
"About 15,000 hybrids and alternative-fuel cars were among the 300,000 or so new cars bought in Illinois last year, a governor’s spokesman said." That's not too bad- 5% of all new cars in Illinois. Well, it's a start. But we can do better! California, watch out!
I strongly suspect the TOP reason for Maryland & Virginia is their allowing hybrids to use HOV lanes, coupled with the MAJOR traffic in those areas. Their gas prices are just about the national average.
California of course has very expensive gas.
I don't drive on Maryland's HOV lanes (they're not on my typical route), but I'm pretty sure hybrids aren't allowed unless they're actually "highly occupied."
(edited to spell specifically correctly and to add that, for a hybrid to use Virginia's HOV lanes, it has to have a special license plate -- AND that law is currently set to expire on July 1, 2006 -- it could get extended as it has in the past, but it's not guaranteed)
Where is Louisiana?Never seen FEH,HAH,HH-Just Prius
Where is Louisiana,I wonder?I'm in the New Orleans area and have never seen a Escape,Accord,Civic or HH on the road.I saw one RX400 and several Prius,but nothing else-and I actively look at-for-cars.Thanks.Charlie
I strongly suspect the TOP reason for Maryland & Virginia is their allowing hybrids to use HOV lanes, coupled with the MAJOR traffic in those areas. Their gas prices are just about the national average.
California of course has very expensive gas.
MD does not allow single-occupant hybrids in the HOVs. Never. Not 270, not 50.
The largest factor is the overwhelmingly #1 employer in the MD/VA area...Uncle Sam. The GS workforce is highly educated- many GS12s and above have a Masters or higher, and leans pretty solidly to the left... sort of going along with the notion of civil service. Look at MD- solid Democrat, and Northern VA- ditto, at least the (very densely populated) DC burbs. And don't forget the large # of universities between Annapolis-Baltimore-DC-NVa. Similar demographic employees.
On my 33 mile drive in along 50, I routinely see 3-5 Prii, at least that many HCHs, and a few times a week I catch a FEH.
Top Hybrid States
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