Electric Vehicle Forums

http://www.businessweek.com/globalbi...ge_top+stories

Quote:

One by one, German carmakers are genuflecting before the hybrid god. The latest is Volkswagen (VOWG.DE). Like BMW (BMWG.DE) and Daimler (DAI), the company initially resisted the hybrid trend, reasoning that similar gains in fuel consumption and emissions were possible at lower cost simply by optimizing traditional gasoline and diesel engines. Unfortunately for VW and the other German companies, the Toyota (TM) Prius converted all-important U.S. buyers to the hybrid doctrine. If Volkswagen wants to boost its share of the U.S. market, it needs hybrids, too.
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Unlike the S-Class, which uses its electric motor only to assist the gasoline engine, the Toureg is a full hybrid that can run solely on electric power at low speeds, though only for a mile and a half or so. The Touareg's electric motor also provides an acceleration boost when needed, for example to pass a truck on the highway.
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This article like many before continues to shows the hubris of European car makers. They really can't believe that hybrids: (1) work, (2) can be afforded, and (3) are anything but a fad. Yet time and time again, they have their butts handed to them on the track at the fuel station. But there is one fact, one 'green fact' they can't deny:
http://hiwaay.net/%7Ebzwilson/prius/hyb_sales_020.jpg
The 'green' the Europeans have begun to notice is the Prius has reached sales quantities that put it in the top 10 pool of gas vehicles. They also realize that but for the battery shortage of 2008, the Prius numbers would have been in the top 10. So the Europeans may still want believe the Prius success is 'marketing' but that doesn't matter. They can't ignore the fact that Toyota is bringing another model into the top 10 and that means a demotion for the others. Then they notice the mileage and can't even come close.

Bob Wilson