More than half of consumers who are considering buying a new car say hybrids are a possible purchase even though they are clueless about them, according to J.D. Power and Associates. 
The company surveyed prospective buyers who said that hybrids will cost more than $5,200 above comparable vehicles (about 50% above reality) while they expect hybrids to get 28 more miles per gallon than conventional vehicles. Come on people, where do you get your information, or are you too busy voting repeatedly for your American Idol? J.D. Power should have asked the question a second time after explaining reality.
Nearly 50 percent of people said they would consider a flex fuel vehicle, while just 23 percent of people said they would only buy a gasoline vehicle.
J.D. Power expects the hybrid market share to grow 33 percent this year over last, and hybrids could make up 1 in 20 of light truck sales within 7 years. That seems to be overly conservative to me, as hybrids are more likely to reach that mark by 2010. The diesel market is growing more slowly but is expected to make up 1 out of every 11 vehicles sold by 2013.
J.D. Power also announced its top 30 most environmentally friendly vehicles based on EPA data and consumer perceptions, calling it the Automotive Environmental Index. Giving out awards for fuel efficiency based on consumers is meaningless considering the aforementioned lack of knowledge. Why not just give out a Pulitzer for coolest YouTube video or Nobel award for hippest commercial jingle?
