Consumers are ready to buy plug-in hybrids, according to the CEO of the country's largest dealer networks. AutoNation has thrown its support behind plug-in hybrids by joining the Plug-In Partners, a group of municipalities that will buy plug-in hybrids when they are available.
The group has more than 60 cities waving their open wallets at auto makers, and getting a company that controls more than 300 dealerships to testify provides clear evidence that cars that can run on electricity for up to 50 miles will be a hit with consumers.
Car companies that currently produce hybrids have been reluctant to sell plug-ins because they don't want to confuse consumers who are still getting used to the idea that cars with electric motors don't need to be plugged in. But with electric cars gaining interest and reducing our gasoline usage being top-of-mind with many consumers, holding back now no longer makes sense. The battery technology still needs work, but given the dollars being thrown at lithium ion technology, a breakthrough could come at any moment.
My bet is on Toyota being the first large automaker with a plug-in hybrid, and given enough production volume, plug-in hybrids could outpace their predecessors in sales within a few years. Plug-ins may canabalize some of the current hybrid market, however.
