| |
Where Are All The Hybrid Cars? By Levi Quinn When hybrid cars first hit the market, they were touted as the vehicle that was going to take us into the future. Finally, every science fiction writer’s dream had come true – a fuel-efficient car. Why, then, isn’t a hybrid car in every driver’s garage? The answer to that is simple, and it has to do with human nature.
You may think that since hybrid cars and other more fuel-efficient models have failed to become omnipresent, something strange is going on. Some people assumed that the technology would be in wide use once it was available because it made sense for the environment. These cars were good for us. Therefore, we would use them, right?
Beets are good for us too, but think about how many people eat fries and cheeseburgers instead of beets. Fast food is more pleasant and it’s more convenient. When you keep this idea in mind, the reason why gasoline-powered vehicles are still so popular begins to make sense.
Manufacturers have a particular infrastructure set up to produce a certain type of vehicle. To change this infrastructure would mean refurbishing factories, which would take a lot of money. In addition, manufacturers aren’t sure that, if they did refurbish their factory, the models they made would sell well. No businessperson in his right mind throws away successful products to rely on something untried in the marketplace.
For another thing, the consumer has a particular way of behaving. He understands gasoline-powered cars. Perhaps he doesn’t want to spend the time researching how to fuel and care for a hybrid car. With every new bit of technology, there is a learning curve. Like the fast-food eater who doesn’t want to take the time to prepare beets and make them tasty, the consumer simply wants to do what is easiest and most convenient, not to mention what is the least expensive.
There is another thing that needs to be taken into consideration as well – why people purchase cars to begin with. Human nature is not always straightforward. People do not purchase cars to get from Point A to Point B. If that were the case, we would all be driving basic-model cars. We don't drive these cars, though, because we purchase cars to gain prestige. There is no prestige to be had from driving a hybrid. There is plenty of prestige to be had from driving a Mustang, however.
There is most likely a place for hybrid automobiles in our future, but change will be slow. Automobile makers will have to be sure the cars will sell. That means people will have to start demanding the hybrid cars already on the market, and they won’t do that until the cars become easy to deal with, cheap and prestigious.
The VIERA from Panasonic - Sponsored Link Ad - Panasonic.com/VIERA Oct 11 2008 9:26PM GMT AIG's gallows humor gives bankers a laugh Globe Investor Oct 11 2008 9:26PM GMT AIG Parties with bailout money Free Dominion Oct 11 2008 9:23PM GMT Insurance-linked securitisation cries out for standardisation International Financing Review Oct 11 2008 9:12PM GMT AIG's gallows humor gives bankers a laugh Globe Investor Oct 11 2008 9:06PM GMT AIG's gallows humor gives bankers a laugh MSN Money Oct 11 2008 8:53PM GMT AIG's gallows humor gives bankers a laugh Exec Digital US Oct 11 2008 8:46PM GMT AIG's gallows humour gives bankers a laugh MSN UK Oct 11 2008 8:43PM GMT AIG's gallows humor gives bankers a laugh Yahoo! Asia Oct 11 2008 8:43PM GMT AIG's gallows humor gives bankers a laugh Washington Post Oct 11 2008 8:37PM GMT AIG's Gallows Humor Gives Bankers a Laugh ABC News Oct 11 2008 8:34PM GMT AIG's gallows humor gives bankers a laugh Reuters Canada Oct 11 2008 8:32PM GMT AIG's gallows humor gives bankers a laugh Yahoo! Canada Oct 11 2008 8:31PM GMT AIG's gallows humor gives bankers a laugh Reuters via MSN Money Oct 11 2008 8:31PM GMT AIG's gallows humor gives bankers a laugh Reuters Oct 11 2008 8:29PM GMT AIG's gallows humor gives bankers a laugh Globe Investor Oct 11 2008 8:28PM GMT AIG's gallows humour gives bankers a laugh International Herald Tribune Oct 11 2008 8:20PM GMT HSBC Insurance Brokers receives Qatar Financial Center license Banking Business Review Oct 11 2008 8:19PM GMT DJ UPDATE:AIG's Frenkel: Time For New Thinking On Fincl Regulation TradingMarkets Oct 11 2008 8:12PM GMT New marketing code for insurance Economictimes Oct 11 2008 8:12PM GMT AIG Insurance Leaders Defend Business, Dismiss Concerns Over Client MigrationLoading... Insurance News Net Oct 11 2008 7:52PM GMT New AIG loan from U.S. Federal Reserve Renews Concerns Over Insurer's HealthLoading... Insurance News Net Oct 11 2008 7:52PM GMT American International Group (AIG) NewsBite - AIG Covered In Lee Allen Report Today Market Intelligence Center Oct 11 2008 7:39PM GMT Health insurance & YOU Rediff.com Oct 11 2008 7:38PM GMT DJ AIG Vice Chairman: Time For New Thinking On Fincl Regulation TradingMarkets Oct 11 2008 7:22PM GMT Falling Re may hike prices Economictimes Oct 11 2008 7:10PM GMT Aegon stocks fall: Dutch insurance company Aegon suffers the greatest losses of the Netherlands stock market fall on Monday.... Expatica Netherlands Oct 11 2008 6:20PM GMT Japan's Yamato Life Insurance files for protection: report Yahoo! Singapore Oct 11 2008 5:05PM GMT Insurance Company Search New York Departement of Insurance Oct 11 2008 4:51PM GMT Captive Insurance Application Forms New York Departement of Insurance Oct 11 2008 4:51PM GMT Selected New York State Private Passenger Automobile Insurance Rating Territories New York Departement of Insurance Oct 11 2008 4:51PM GMT
Hybrid cars aren’t in everyone’s driveways because they don’t satisfy those three core needs that human beings associate with vehicles. Until that happens, hybrids will stay on the periphery of the market. Article Source: http://articlecrazy.com Find the best deal on the auto insurance coverage you need. Visit us today for money-saving tips, information about buying car insurance coverage, and other helpful car insurance advice.
| |