Critics
and Automakers: Underestimate hybrid vehicles at your
peril
Tuesday,
July 17, 2007
If
you believe hybrid critics, Toyota should dump plans for
the third generation Prius
I didn't buy my first computer until the late '90's. Yet,
my interest in computers goes back to the mid '80's, when
I wanted a Commodore 64. But, that is the way of emerging
technologies.
Today, hybrid technology is also an emerging technology,
despite the fact that some mainstream buyers are going
hybrid and the incredible success of the Toyota
Prius - the same vehicle many of these hybrid critics
once called a joke.
Oh, how wrong those critics have been.
As hybrid critics, including some automakers, continue to
question and ridicule hybrids, Toyota just keeps trucking
along with its hybrid technology. In just a little over a
year, Toyota will be launching its third generation of
hybrid technology. In addition, Toyota will be adding a
couple new hybrid-only brands to its lineup of hybrid
vehicles.
The more hybrids Toyota develops, the more the price
difference between hybrids and other vehicles is reduced.
If this happens as gas prices continue to rise, Toyota
might not just have multiple hybrid vehicles on the best
selling vehicles in America list, one of its hybrids might
just become the best selling vehicle in America.
Sure, maybe hybrid interest has dropped for some hybrids,
but it's almost impossible to claim interest has dropped
for Toyota's hybrids. Ultimately, as with my first
computer, the future of hybrids will simply come down to
cost and benefits. The costs of hybrids - at least
Toyota's - are coming down as the benefits of using less
gas, fighting foreign oil dependency and global warming
are going up.
Back in the 80's, declining interest in the Commodore 64
didn't mean the death of computers. It just meant the best
of computer technology moved forward, such as Apple and
Microsoft. Good thing Bill Gates and Steve Jobs didn't
listen to the Commodore 64 and computer critics of the
'80s.
"Why would you want a computer," my mom asked
back in the 80's. Yet, today, even my retired mom owns a
computer. Soon, "Why would you want a hybrid,"
will be as dumb of a question.
|
