Hybrid Owners Aren’t As Smug As They’re Painted

by Iain Murray on July 13, 2009 · 10 comments

in Economy, Energy, Environment, Global Warming, Zeitgeist

Very interesting, but of course unscientific*, poll of hybrid vehicle owners over at HybridCarBlog. It turns out that very few hybrid owners bought their hybrid because of global warming fears:

So far, there have been more than 28,000 responses to the poll and the results are a little surprising. 37 percent of respondents picked foreign oil dependency, 29 percent cool technology, 27 percent car pool lane access, but only 7 percent picked global warming.

Certainly, everyone I know in Northern Virginia who bought a hybrid did so because of the (no longer available) HOV lane access, but I am a little surprised and gratified to see that over 50 percent of hybrid purchasers made their decision based on personal rather than political considerations.

More importantly, however, as the post author notes, this suggests that car companies are missing a huge marketing bonanza by concentrating so heavily on save-the-planet considerations in their advertising campaigns. If we really want to see hybrid technology develop and become more affordable, the auto makers need to wise up to this. Of course, with the major American automakers (apart from Ford) now substantially owned by politicians and their allies, the chances of this happening are slight.

*So take it with a grain of salt

Tagged as: advertising campaigns, american automakers, auto makers, car companies, cool technology, Ford, global warming, hybrid technology, hybrid vehicle, oil dependency

ladykrystyna July 13, 2009 at 1:31 pm

Actually, I am not a believer in "global warming" or "climate change" and the only reason why we bought our Highlander Hybrid was GAS PRICES and our need for at least a mid-size SUV for personal reasons.

It is nice to hear that many others also purchased for personal reasons.

Ro Po July 13, 2009 at 3:12 pm

I bought a used Prius following a collision of my Dodge Intrepid into a ten point buck [d@1mn deer.] I keep my cars a long time. Toyota builds cars that last a long time. Bought with 71k miles, now has 140k miles.

I didn't buy when gas was two or three plus dollars per gallon.

Observation – When gas prices were so high, I found myself driving on empty highways except during commuter times. Twilight Zone.

daolos July 13, 2009 at 5:27 pm

I bought my prius because toyota was selling it at a loss and I received more care for the money

frank July 13, 2009 at 7:24 pm

well, duh! who spends close to 20-25k for politics? it's definitely a personal, economic decision.

Iain Murray July 14, 2009 at 5:28 am: Well, according to the poll you could say 44% did, but only 7% for the reason touted in the ads. I'm more interested in the fact that the auto manufacturers – foreign and domestic – don't seem to realize this and seem to be preaching to Joan Citizen rather than marketing to Joan Consumer.

Felixcat July 14, 2009 at 3:26 am

The use of HOV lanes by a one person occupant hybrid car is still available in Northern Virginia – was extended until at least 2010.

Iain Murray July 14, 2009 at 5:25 am: Thanks. That's true on the HOV-2 lanes on I-66, but not on the HOV-3 lanes on I-95/395, where I have the misfortune to travel, at least for hybrids purchased after 2006. See here.

Toyota July 22, 2009 at 3:19 pm