The Detroit News reports:
While the hybrid market is growing, in 2012 it comprises just 2.46 percent of the overall market. Electric vehicle sales represent less than 1 percent, according to industry watcher Edmunds.com.
There's more:
Electric vehicles are still a hard sell for the average consumer. The price tag is high, and the lower fuel costs don't immediately make up the difference. Charging stations are available but not on every corner, and most take hours, instead of minutes. Even the best-laid plans can leave some motorists doing just about anything to hold their battery's charge, particularly in cold weather.
Just ask Paul Beeker, 40, who lives in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood. He had his Nissan Leaf for only a month before he traded it in for a Chevy Volt. He'd paid $38,000 for the Leaf and managed to get $37,000 back at the Chevy dealer.
In the cold(ish) Chicago weather, he was getting about 60 miles range on a charge. To get home on some trips with their two small children, he and his wife were forced to drive with the heat off and at lower speeds to conserve battery power.
Just think, progressives call this progressive!
