Gas prices remain high, which means Americans are constantly looking for ways to spend less at the pump. You might think high gas prices would send consumers straight to fully electric vehicles, but nope, that clearly hasn’t been the case.
The most important powertrain in America right now is the hybrid.
Data shows that Americans are increasingly opting for hybrids. According to JD Power, hybrid market share is expected to grow to 18.2 percent in August alone, up 35.5 percent year over year. That’s as the broader EV market shrinks.
Photo by: Hyundai
For many consumers, hybrids are appealing for a simple reason: you can still fill up at the gas station. No charging required. And with the electric motors reducing the engine’s workload, you use considerably less gas, which means added efficiency without any major lifestyle changes.
And hybrid is no longer a dirty word; the industry has changed a lot since the dawn of the Toyota Prius nearly 30 years ago. What was the world’s first mass-produced hybrid vehicle became a poster child for boring. These days, it’s a sleek hatchback that’s actually pretty fun to drive. That goes for other hybrids, too.
The new Honda Prelude is a stylish 200-horsepower hybrid coupe. Many modern SUVs and trucks, like the Kia Telluride and Toyota Tundra, are hybrids too. Even some hardcore performance cars are hybrids; the Lamborghini Revuelto pairs a 6.5-liter V12 engine with three electric motors for a whopping 1,001 horsepower.
Okay, sure—no one is buying the Revuelto to save a few bucks at the pump. But it represents what’s possible.
And hybrid is no longer a dirty word; the industry has changed a lot since the dawn of the Toyota Prius nearly 30 years ago.
If there’s one clear indication of the industry’s hybrid future, it’s what automakers have already announced. Honda said in March that it aims to launch 15 models with its new hybrid powertrain by 2030, with most going on sale in the United States.
Hyundai recently announced it will introduce 10 hybrid models in North America by 2030. It wants the powertrain type to account for half of its sales in the region by the end of the decade. Hyundai’s hybrid sales were up 35 percent last month, with the company hitting one million hybrid sales in North America.
That said, EVs aren’t totally dead and gone.
If there’s one clear indication of the industry’s hybrid future, it’s what automakers have already announced.
Many automakers still have plans to roll out fully electric models over the next few years alongside more hybrid options. Cheaper EVs, too, with brands like Hyundai, Kia, and Rivian promising new entry-level models in the next few years.
For now, though, EVs remain down, with sales dropping 41.5 percent in July compared to one year ago. Charging also remains a challenge, especially for people who live in apartments. Long-distance drives also require more planning, and things like cold weather and driving habits can drastically affect the range. To some, the drawbacks simply aren’t worth it.
For many Americans, though, good enough at almost everything is, well, good enough—and that’s a hybrid. They may not be the cheapest option in every situation, but they occupy an attractive middle ground between efficiency and price that many buyers are willing to accept.
Photo by: Kia
Hybrids are certainly not a panacea for high prices, and one day consumers might go fully electric if gas prices get even higher. Or they might even go back to gas if a miracle happens.
But for what Americans want today, hybrids are clearly the top dog.
