Hybrid electric vehicles in the United States

Historical trend of U.S. cumulative HEV sales from 1999 to 2014.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The fleet of hybrid electric vehicles in the United States, with over 4 million units sold through April 2016, is the second largest in the world after Japan (over 5 million). American sales of hybrid electric vehicles represent about 36% of the more than 11 million hybrid sold worldwide through April 2016.^[6] Since their inception in 1999, a total of 4,058,258 hybrid electric automobiles and sport utility vehicles have been sold in the country through May 2016.^[6] Sales of hybrid vehicles in the U.S. began to decline following the financial crisis of 2007–08, and after a short recovery, began to decline again in 2014 due to low gasoline prices.^[5][6] Hybrid sales in the American market achieved its highest market share ever in 2013, capturing 3.19% of new car sales that year, and dropped below 2% by April 2016.^[4][6][7]

The top selling hybrid electric vehicle in the country is the conventional Toyota Prius, which has sold 1,643,000 units since 2000 through April 2016, representing a 40.8% market share of all hybrids sold in the U.S. since 1999.^[6] Cumulative sales of the Prius nameplate totaled 1,932,805 units delivered through April 2016, representing a 48.0% market share of total hybrid sales in the U.S.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7][8]} As of April 2016, the conventional Prius is followed by the Toyota Camry Hybrid, with 345,640 units sold since 2006, the Honda Civic Hybrid, with cumulative sales of 234,610 vehicles since 2002, the Ford Fusion Hybrid with 166,341 units since 2009, and the Toyota Prius c with 165,075 units since 2012.^[6]

California has been the state leading hybrid sales in the U.S. with 55,553 vehicles sold in 2009,^[9] 74,932 in 2008,^[10] and 91,417 in 2007.^[11] In 2009 it was followed by New York (15,438) and Florida (14,949).^[9] In terms of new hybrids sold per capita, the District of Columbia was the leader in 2009 with 3.79 hybrids per 1000 residents, followed by California (1.54) and Washington (1.53).^[9] The top 5 U. S. metropolitan area markets for sales of hybrid electric vehicles in 2009 were Los Angeles (26,677), New York (21,193), San Francisco (15,799), Washington, D.C. (11,595), and Chicago (8,990).^[9] From January to July 2013, the three cities with the highest electric drive car registrations, including hybrids, all-electric cars and plug-in hybrids, were all located in California: Atherton (19.4%) and Los Altos (16.1%) in the Silicon Valley, followed by Santa Monica (15.0%), located in Los Angeles County.^[12][13]

Purchases from the Obama administration occurring for 25% of Ford and General Motors hybrid-electric vehicles sold between January 2009 and late 2010. During this period hybrids accounted for about 10% of the 145,473 vehicles bought by the U.S. General Services Administration.^[14]

Markets and sales

HEV market share of new car sales in the U.S. between 1999 and 2017.^{[1][2][3][4][5][8][15]}

American sales of hybrid electric vehicles represent about 36% of the more than 11 million hybrids sold worldwide through April 2016.^[6] Since 1999, cumulative hybrid car sales in the American market passed the 2 million mark in May 2011,^[16] the 3 million milestone in October 2013,^[17] and 4 million in April 2016, allowing the U.S. to rank as the world's second largest hybrid market after Japan (over 5 million).^[6] Sales of hybrid vehicles in the U.S. began to decline following the financial crisis of 2007–08, and after a short recovery, began to decline again in 2014 due to low gasoline prices.^[5][6] Hybrid sales in the American market achieved its highest market share ever in 2013, capturing 3.19% of new car sales that year. At the end of 2015 the hybrid take rate had fallen to 2.21%, and dropped to 1.85% for hybrid sales between January and April 2016.^[6][7]

A total of 4,058,258 hybrid electric automobiles and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) have been sold in the country through May 2016, led by the Toyota Prius, which passed the 1 million mark in April 2011,^[18] and has sold 1,643,000 units since 2000 through April 2016, representing a 40.8% market share of all hybrids sold in the U.S. since their inception in 1999.^[6] The Toyota Prius family is the market leader with 1,932,805 units sold through April 2016, representing a 48.0% market share of total hybrid sales in the U.S.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7][8]} Out of the 9.0145 million hybrids sold worldwide by Toyota Motor Company through April 2016, the United States accounted for 44.7% of TMC global hybrid sales.^[6][19]

The Toyota Prius is the top selling hybrid car in the U.S., with more than 1.6 million units sold since 2000.^[6][19]

Sales of Prius family vehicles in California represented 26% of all Prius purchases in the U.S. during 2012. With 60,688 units sold during this year, the Prius became the best selling nameplate in California, ahead of the previous leader, the Honda Civic (57,124 units) and the third ranked, the Toyota Camry (50,250 units).^[20] Again in 2013, the Prius nameplate was the best selling vehicle in California with 69,728 units sold in the state, ahead of the Honda Civic (66,982) and the Honda Accord (63,194).^[21][22] Nationwide, the best selling vehicle in 2013 was the Ford F-Series pickup, which has been the best selling vehicle for more than three decades.^[23]

As of April 2016, sales of the conventional Prius are followed by the Toyota Camry Hybrid, with 345,640 units sold since 2006, the Honda Civic Hybrid, with cumulative sales of 234,610 vehicles since 2002, the Ford Fusion Hybrid with 166,341 units since 2009, and the Toyota Prius c with 165,075 units since 2012.^[6] Among the hybrids built by American manufacturers, the siblings Lincoln MKZ/Mercury Milan/Fusion Hybrids rank first, with combined sales of 200,899 units since 2009 through 2015, followed by the Ford Escape Hybrid and its sibling the Mercury Mariner Hybrid with combined sales of 130,803 vehicles between 2004 and 2012, when the hybrid lineup was discontinued. Ranking next is the Ford C-Max Hybrid, with 72,330 units sold since 2012 through 2015, and the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid with 38,204 units since 2008.^{[1][2][3][4][5][8]}

2012

A total of 434,498 hybrid electric vehicles were sold during 2012, and the hybrid market share of total new car sales in the country was 3.0%, up from 2.1% in 2011.^[3] The top five selling hybrids during 2012 were the Toyota Prius liftback (147,503), the second generation Camry Hybrid (45,626), Prius v (1,669), Prius c (35,733), and the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid (20,754).^[3] Toyota sold 223,905 Priuses among the various HEV family members in the U.S. in 2012, representing together a market share of 51.5% of all hybrid sold in the country that year.^[3]

2013

During 2013 hybrid sales totaled 495,685 units, up 14.1% from 2012 and representing a market share of 3.19% of new car sales.^[4] The top five selling hybrids during this period were the conventional Prius (145,172), second generation Camry Hybrid (44,448), Prius c (41,979), second generation Fusion Hybrid (37,270), and the Prius v (34,989).^[4] Combined Prius family vehicles reached 222,140 units representing a market share of 44.8%, down from 51.5% in the year 2012,^[3][4] while Ford Motor Company increased its market share of the conventional hybrid market from 7.5% in 2012 to 14.7% in 2013.^[4][24]

Market share of U.S. top 10 selling HEV
models in 2014.^[5]

Ford experienced record sales of its hybrids models in the U.S. during 2013, with 72,795 units sold, almost triple the 2012 total.^[4][25] During the second quarter of 2013 Ford achieved its best hybrid sales quarter ever, up 517% over the same quarter of 2012.^[26] In 2013 Toyota’s hybrid market share in the U.S. declined from 2012 totals due to new competition, particularly from Ford with the arrival of new products such as the C-Max Hybrid and the new styling of the Fusion. Except for the Prius c, sales of the other models of the Prius family and the Camry Hybrid suffered a decline from 2012, while the Fusion Hybrid experienced a 164.3% increased from 2012, and C-Max Hybrid sales climbed 156.6%.^[4]

2014

Hybrid sales totaled 452,152 units, down 8.8% from the previous year. The hybrid market share was 2.75% of new car sales, down from 3.19% in 2013, and the lowest since 2011. The best selling Prius Liftback was down 15.4% from 2013, driving the decline in sales of the segment.^[5] The top five selling hybrids in 2014 were the conventional Prius (122,776), Prius c (40,570), second generation Camry Hybrid (39,515), second generation Fusion Hybrid (35,405), and the Prius v (30,762), all down from the previous year.^[5] Combined Prius family vehicles reached 194,108 units representing a market share of 42.9%, down from 44.8% the previous year.^[4][5] Some of the few models with a significant growth in their year-to-year sales were the second generation Honda Accord, Infinti Q50 Hybrid, Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and the Chevrolet Impala eAssist.^[5]

Economical and environmental performance comparison

2016 Toyota Prius.

2012 Toyota Prius c

2010 Toyota Prius.

2014 Honda Accord.

2012 Honda Civic Hybrid.

2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid

2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE.

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE.

2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid.

2012 Toyota Prius v.

2011 Lexus CT 200h.

2012 Honda Insight.

2013 Lexus ES 300h.

2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid.

2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

See also

• Alternative fuel vehicle
• Comparison of Toyota hybrids
• Electric car
• Flexible-fuel vehicles in the United States
• Green vehicle
• Government incentives for fuel efficient vehicles in the United States
• Hydrogen vehicle
• Plug-in electric vehicle
• Plug-in electric vehicles in California
• Plug-in electric vehicles in the United States
• Plug-in hybrid

References

External links

• 2013 VehicleTechnologies Market Report, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Clean Car Calculator (Institute for Energy Efficiency)
• Clean Cities - 2014 Vehicle Buyer's Guide, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), U.S. Department of Energy, December 2013.
• EPA Green Vehicle Guide
• EPA's hybrids' payback time comparison
• Every 2014 And 2015 Hybrid Car In The U.S.: Ultimate Guide, Green Car Reports, August 2014.
• Hybrid Analysis - Total Cost of Ownership for 2017 model year hybrids, Vincentric, August 2018.
• Light Duty Electric Drive Vehicles Monthly Sales Updates, Argonne National Laboratory
• Model Year 2017 Fuel Economy Guide, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy, July 2018 (see pp. 40-41 for hybrid models).
• Top Ten EPA-Rated Fuel Sippers (2018) - including BEVs and PHEVs
• UCS Hybrid Scorecard (Union of Concerned Scientists)
• U.S. HEV Sales by Model, Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicle Data Center, U.S. Department of Energy