There's no question that Toyota's Prius is a ripping success. And yet it hardly validates hybrid technologies. Honda recently dropped its hybrid Accord. The company's hybrid Civic sells poorly. There are rumors that Ford's hybrid Escape and Mercury Mariner may get axed because sales have been so poor. And Nissan's hybrid Altima isn't even distributed nationally because its prospects are dim. "Forbes'" Jerry Flint believes the problem lies with looks. Hybrid technologies add thousands of dollars to the costs of cars while enhancing fuel mileage only modestly. Retrofitting these technologies to existing car models has little payoff to the buyer. And yet the Prius is a design statement. It tells the world that you care about global warming and national security.
Americans Love Hybrids (for Other Drivers)
There’s no question that Toyota’s Prius is a ripping success. And yet it hardly validates hybrid technologies. Honda recently dropped its hybrid Accord. The company’s hybrid Civic sells poorly. There are rumors that Ford’s hybrid Escape and Mercury Mariner may get axed because sales have been so poor. And Nissan’s hybrid Altima isn’t even distributed […]
