Study: Consumers Opting for Conventional Hybrids, Electric Vehicles Over PHEVs
A recent J.D. Power study showed that consumer interest in plug-in hybrids has been severely lagging behind its conventional hybrid and EV counterparts, according to Green Car Reports.
Though automakers such as Audi and General Motors have been looking to boost production of PHEVs, recent data from J.D. Power has suggested consumers may be more interested in conventional hybrids.
The study looked at total U.S. new-car sales from January through August, of which 1.9% were PHEVs. In contrast, conventional hybrids accounted for 10.7%, and EVs 9.4%.
Though PHEVs aren’t lacking in a number of models to choose from, they typically come with a higher price tag than hybrids and fully-electric vehicles, with the average price for a plug-in hybrid compact SUV being $48,700. For a compact SUV with a conventional hybrid powertrain, it was $37,700; for an all-electric compact SUV, the average price was $36,900.
Additionally, J.D. Power’s U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Ownership Study ranked overall satisfaction with PHEVs at 669 out of 1,000 points, while mass market EVs scored 716 points, and premium EVs 738 points.