At the end of last year, the Chinese automaker BYD became the first company to sell plug-in hybrids, a type of vehicle that could dramatically lower fuel consumption by allowing people to commute using electricity alone (an internal combustion engine would still provide power for long trips).
Now supporters of the technology will be hoping that its performance on the market isn’t a harbinger of things to come. It’s been reported that over the eight months since, only 100 of these cars have been sold (via Green Car Congress), far less than an anticipated run of 3,000 to 4,000 vehicles.
In the United States, the first plug-in hybrid will likely come from start-up Fisker Automotive later this year, followed by the much publicized Chevy Volt next year. GM, through its heavy marketing of the Volt, has staked a great deal of its reputation on the car. It’s expected to sell for $40,000-$45,000, and the Fisker vehicle–a luxury sedan–will sell for $87,900. The BYD vehicle hasn’t been able to sell its vehicles even though they’re much cheaper–about $22,000. Of course, we’re talking about different markets.
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