27 Responses

1. Because it costs a lot.

2. Because Al Gore lost the election.

3. I don’t think that is within the government’s realm to dictate what kind of cars we have to drive. The hybrid was $2000 more than our Honda Civic which still gets over 40mpg. It would have taken us over 5yrs to recoup that amount of money in gas savings. While I am all for cutting down on gas consumption, I also cannot afford to pay that much more. I suspect many people are in the same situation.

4. Hybrid technology is only the beginning of a better tomorrow. In the interest of free market enterprise, the government can mandate lower emissions, but restricting the type of engine to only hybrid/plug in would prevent a better technology from having a chance. Besides, I’m a much bigger fan of biodiesel. Biodiesel is BOSS!

5. The answer is simple. Not all Americans can afford the hybrid cars. At the estimated cost only one of every 10,000 would be able to afford them. Another consideration is those with money could careless. They will continue to drive their big gas guzzling cars, for its a sign of worth and money to them. Another consideration that would make allot of sense is, if and I use that word lightly, the government would spend 2-3 billion dollars on its people (us), many would purchase the cars. Lets face it the only thing the government is interested in is its own pocket linings. The government would not make as must in taxes from us. What the heck, lets spend another 4,5,6, billion on the war effort instead of bring or men and women home and giving that money to the American public to better our country.

6. Why don’t I let you pick your own car and I’ll pick mine?

   Thanks.

7. Personally I think it is because they can make so much more money by sticking with the technology we already have. It is cheaper for car companies to distribute cars that run on gas than it is to remodel everything with an electric engine.

8. I think you call that a dictatorship.The gov’t. can offer incentives or mandate lower emissions, but cannot tell free enterprise businesses how to build cars. And I’m sure the gasoline lobby is behind that too. Exxon, Mobil and others contribute hugely to everybody’s re-election campaign just like the pharmaceutical companies do. Are our legislators bought by big business? You bet!

9. two words here
   oil lobbyists

10. Lots of reasons — you’ve probably read most of them by now. One could hope that alternative fuel vehicles would be phased in so they would be more available to anyone who wants them while not forcing anyone to choose them. One could also hope that the car companies wouldn’t add a premium to the price. One could hope…

11. Because they are more exspensive than gas powered, plus the maintenance is higher and the parts for hybrids are more exspensive, and since there is still sum gas left, ppl are not gonna change their cars until it does go away. Its just not practical yet.

12. Because it would be very unpopular. Many people don’t believe in that kind of stuff. A lot of people, myself included, can’t afford to change cars. Plus, what on earth would you do with all of the old vehicles? Now, THAT would be a big environmental issue itself.

13. I was wondering the same thing!!!!! It just doesn’t make sense why somebody wouldn’t make a car Hybrid, Electric, etc…

14. I don’t know about you, but where I live the electricity rates are high. With the hybrid vehicles you have to remember that not everyone lives in a city. People who travel on nothing but highways really don’t get much benefit from a hybrid vehicle.

15. because this is a democracy not a dictatorship. The government can only do what the people vote for and support because it is made up of elected officials. People might think its a terrific idea but if it not something practical that everyone can do,have or afford then the government can’t make people go along with it. The government has tried to mandate the increase of fuel efficiency but when that cause manufactures to raise the price of cars consumers/voters can’t afford it.

16. Exxon Mobil will do everything in their power to stall fuel efficiency.
    Plug in? Where does the majority of that energy come from? Coal, oil, gas, trash, and nuclear plants. I know some people out there will say solar power, wind power, and hydroelectric is a big part of it as well, but the reality of it is electric vehicles are not the answer to saving our environment since a polluting source of energy is needed to charge these vehicles..
    What happens to the fuel cells when they can no longer be recharged?

17. Because our present government is too busy cashing in on a war that is finally being exposed as a sham– to those of us paying attention. Did you see “Who killed the Electric Car”? A very good film, considering it didn’t get political. I’m with you, we should ask more questions of those who are in office to protect us (from ourselves).

18. The reason why the government is so hesitant to make the earth greener is because our beloved President of the United States is in the oil business. He is being a hypocrite because he tells us we should not depend on foreign oil, and I am almost sure that he has something (either directly or indirectly) to do with the gas prices now. So now the sales of Hybrids is going to go through the roof, and the sales will be so great, the car manufacturing companies will not be able to keep up with the demand.

19. For the record, since people here are confusing the two – plug-in hybrids are not the same as the hybrids on the road now – being able to drive further on electricity alone is far cheaper than using gasoline – this is the appeal of plug-in cars.
    *
    I would love to see more plug-in hybrids and electric cars on the roads. But the government will never mandate this. I would be happy just to see them simply get out of the way, and reduce the regulatory burden on small car manufacturers, so that more competition could flourish.
    *
    Example: here are some Chinese electric and plug-in hybrids that this distributor would love to export to the United States, but can’t because it costs millions to comply with US regulations:
    *
    http://fevehicle.com/services.html
    *
    Note that prices start at just $6500! Imagine the heart attack that US auto and oil companies would have if these were for sale here!
    *
    Check out that link. It proves it can be done, and done cheaply.
    —

20. Why do you think the government has a right to tell me what kind of car I should drive.

21. It is AMERICA, thats why. America allows freedom of choice. However, i completely agree with you! In addition, your point on performance, a gas engine will never pput out the same torque an electric engine can. The Peak RPM for max torque in an electric engine is right off the start but a gas engine is not. So theoretically we could have that much power to the ground in less time than it would take a gas engine to get there. It just needs a shove in the correct direction instead of just sitting and waiting until the fossil fuels run out! Necessity is the mother of all inventions.

22. The answer to that is simple. Money. The government realises that most average Americans can not afford
    to purchase an expensive hybrid vehicle. Most Americans can not afford to purchase any new vehicle.
    A small, economy model …say a 2007 Ford Focus or a
    2007 Honda Civic (the non hybrid kinds) cost around $16,000
    for the basic model (no options).
    Those 2 cars above are the least expensive 2007 models around here.
    The 2007 Lexus 450H sells for over $60,000 around here.
    If a person has an absolutely perfect credit score (most Americans don’t), you can get the least expensive new cars for about $1000 .00 down to cover tax, title, and license plus
    $300.00 a month for 6 years.
    Good credit, you’ll have to pay about $2000.00 down and around $400.00 a month.
    Fair credit., you’ll have to pay $5000.00 down and $750.00
    a month.
    Bad credit. You will be required to pay the full price in cash,
    usually because no bank will finance you.
    A lot of Americans have bad credit. I don’t know anyone that doesn’t. There are a lot of reasons for that.
    The biggest one is lack of affordable health insurance.
    It is offered through my husband workplace. However it is not affordable. For a family plan it is around $100.00 a week.
    His take home is only about $450.00 a week. We couldn’t
    make rent and pay heath insurance too.
    If the government wants to supply me with a free new hybrid car, we’ll be more than happy to drive one….because that is the only way we’ll ever be able to get one.

23. I think it’s best that we live in a country that supports free market, which allows the consumer to choose what to buy. Once there is a demand for such a product, the demand will be filled. In my opinion the future for green cars is 100% electric vehicles. In 2008 an SUV called the ZAP-X will be produced which is an SUV running completely off batteries. Many other electric vehicles have failed for obvious reasons, they have been goofy, slow, with no range. However this SUV will have a top speed of 155mph with a range of 350 miles, and it only takes 10 minutes to charge. Did I mention it has over 600 horse power. The only downside is it will sell for $60,000, although in the near future prices will fall, and a greater diversity of electric vehicles will be available.

24. The oil lobbyist pay them off. Most Americans cant afford a new car? Why is it that the auto sector is the biggest consumer section.

25. cause they are in bed with the oil companies
    there is only so much oil left, so they know they need to squeeze every cent they can out of us, cause they are not gonna be doin it forever, and thet time is coming soon.

    the government wants us to be addicted to oil, they killed the electric car, literally.

    we totally have the technology, we have had it for a while, but the above applies to that too. Money

26. That’s communism. They can’t tell us what cars to drive. Also, it gives Toyota a leg up, since they can now license their hybrid synergy drive to other companies. Plus, many people can’t afford them. I mostly agree with ehwhatsup, however, as he says “Because Al Gore lost in the election”. Maybe it’s because our government just doesn’t care.

27. Cost of the batteries, plain and simple. Plus electric energy is not 100% clean either. Most electricity comes from coal, so it’s hard to mandate anything that just shifts the pollution, and winds up costing more.