2015; Plug-Ins & Electric Cars, the fastest growing segment
 

Despite cheap gas, Plug-ins and electric cars were the hottest, 2015, USA car segment; growing 30%, but still just 0.8% of the total car market.

Autoline Daily News:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIypU4Uz5gw

At peak popularity, hybrids were around 3% of new sales, and diesels at 1%. If plug in sales growth continues, they should surpass the diesels next year.

I believe its the biggest growing sector here too, 1.3% of market share, with around 85,000 so called "plug in" cars registered now, up from 3500 in 2013.

It took 13 years for the nearly 100% horse-to-automobile conversion. It would be interesting to see if today's ICE-to-EV conversion patterns the same early horse-to-automobile adoption curve.

Interestingly, this article contradicts the 13 year conversion claim...

"Then along came the combustion engine. But it took the automobile and tractor nearly 50 years to dislodge the horse from farms, public transport and wagon delivery systems throughout North America."

"Robert Thurston, a U.S. steam engine expert, opined in 1894, no less, that horses are not only "self-feeding, self-controlling, self-maintaining and self-reproducing, but they are far more economical in the energy they are able to develop from a given weight of fuel material, than any other existing form of motor."

https://thetyee.ca/News/2013/03/06/H...ung-Big-Shift/

Wonder how that timeline compares to expansion of paved roads. The Model T also didn't arrive until 1908, which meant most cars until then were luxury items.

Plug in cars have only been currently available for 6 years, and 200+ mile BEVs are starting to come down from the luxury segment.

BOTH excellent points!

Pure electric car registrations are up 73% V's January last year in the UK. Big increase.

WOW! Anxious to see how the GM Bolt does, once they ramp up production to distribute to more USA states, and when Tesla's Model 3 comes online.

The Bolt was third in plug in sales for January, which tends to be a low month for the segment without the pressure of tax season. This is also without full national availability, and likely fully loaded models.

Monthly Plug-In Sales Scorecard

What's the difference 'tween an EV and a plug-in?

A plug in refers to any car that has plug in capability, such as some hybrids (Mitsubishi Outlander, Prius Prime etc) and pure electric cars which are always plug in.

Plug in covers PHEV and BEV. Basically anything that can charge from the grid.

EV could include fuel cell cars that are fueled by hydrogen or any other fuel. It can also include a BEV that runs on primary batteries alone, but i don't see such coming to market.

So, reading between the lines, are you saying that some hybrids do NOT have a plug-in option?

It appears the term plug-in is used to include pure EVs as well as plug-in hybrids.

Most hybrids from the last 20 years don't have plug in capability Doug, the batteries have been charged via the engine and/or regen braking, it's only the last few years that some hybrids, ones that are capable of driving on battery power alone (pure EV mode) have had the plug in option added.

Now that you mention the difference, I never noticed a Prius was a non-plugin.

Apparently the UK took the number one spot in EU registrations of plug ins in 2016.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C5CSE19WEAICKPA.jpg

Nice. It will ONLY get better, too.

Paul, you would probably know the answer to something like this... Is marijuana legal in the UK?

I just saw the movie APEX: The Story of the Hypercar. Well worth seeing for sports car lovers.

I mention this because many of these manufacturers create runs that are counted in the hundreds of vehicles per year, so if you sold 100 x $1.5M hypercars last year, and this year you sell 125, that's a stellar 25% growth!

And I mention this, because:

1. When people talks about "the fastest growing" this or that product segment (like EVs), they're usually talking about small numbers that can show remarkable "growth" just by selling more small numbers, and...
2. They're likely ignoring even smaller segments that are displaying even more impressive "growth", like the stratospherically priced hypercar market.

Which brings me back to the movie, APEX: The Story of the Hypercar. Available on the iTunes store or Vimeo. Loved it :-)

With off-the-shelf Teslas clocking 2.1 second, 0-60mph times, Super Cars are becoming irrelevant. Especially, when it costs less to trailer a Veyron and fly by private jet to a destination then to simply drive the Veyron that distance.

When I was 17, working in a factory, one of my same-age co-workers told me the reason Ferraris handle so great is because of the tires. He really believed that. In my mind, I pictured a VW Beetle with Ferrari tires, still being just a VW Beetle, though with better tires -- wallowing around corners, swaying around pylons.

The same applies to reducing an entire car down to 0-60 mph times. Or horsepower. Or RPM. If that's where your mind is at, then by all means, save a ton of dough and get the best 0-60 mph times at the lowest price tag, and you're the winner!

Personally, I'd choose a Porsche 911 Carrera 4 convertible, with a meagre 370 hp and 0-62 mph (0-100 kph) times of 4.5 sec. I guess I'm a sucker in your eyes. I'm okay with that. I'm also okay with you loving Teslas. To me, a car is much more than 0-60 mph times. But that's just me.

EV's and ICE cars shouldn't really be compared, they look and feel like similar products, but the electric motor isn't an engine, so will have many benefits over an ICE. They're about 300% more energy efficient, have less moving parts so are far more reliable, are quick and easy to rebuild and install, cheap to manufacture and that's before you even talk about max torque at 0 RPM, zero emissions, quietness etc. Not bad for something the size of the bucket you use to wash your car.

Tesla as a car maker aren't that great as you know, early days, poor build quality, reliability issues, they've lots to learn. But I'm sure if the same drive train were available in an Audi, or Porsche, you would admire the EV more ;)

For me, handling is more important than 0 - 60 mph times or top speed. How often are you in a hurry to go from 0 to 60? Or, 150+ mph?

But every corner you turn in a good handling car is always a pleasure.

A Miata hits the sweet spot for me. If you've never driven a Miata, for weekend kicks go to a dealer and test drive one. They have automatics, if manual transmissions aren't your thing. If you do, let us know whatcha think!

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Miatas but unfortunately I don't fit in them. I actually look over the windshield and can't put my feet on the pedals. :mad: They really look like an affordable fun car.

The reviews claim the new model is tall people friendly, Matt. Ya might wanna try one on for size. Although, my buying brand new car days are past me. I'd wait 'til 3 year old, used ones start showing up.

That would be sweet if they did make the seating area roomier. Maybe one day I'll have to stop by a dealer and check a new one out. The last one I sat in was a 2001? at the auto show in Chicago. I'd love to get a fun car but my finances aren't such that I can buy a toy like that let alone a new one. For now my Ranger will have to do.

Hmmm. Now we know why "Fiancee" looks so much like "finance", Matt. Yep. You missed your window, buddy. Your next window to buy toys will be AFTER the kids graduate college, IF you're lucky.

When's the big day, Matt? Perhaps you can marry into a fun car. What does she drive?

Last time I checked it was a Class B here, only legal if you get it medically subscribed from a Doctor, otherwise it's a hefty fine for personal use. Never used it myself, alcohol is my poison, been smashing the bars quite a bit recently too! :lol:

Care needs to be taken when talking percentages, but plug ins are growing faster than the hybrid segment did in the US, and it is growing despite cheap fuel here. We'll have to wait and see if they break the 3% of new vehicle sales ceiling that hybrids have hit though.

Single and loving it. :p