Daily Archives: December 4, 2012


Looks like my prediction on the number of plug-in vehicles sold this year will be… 3

Looks like my prediction on the number of plug-in vehicles sold this year will be about right

Way back in January we had some discussion here https://plus.google.com/u/0/114133424228405038490/posts/gsqgiPQqsdM  about how many plug-in vehicles would be sold in the US in 2012. +Anton Wahlman was projecting sales of about 130,000 units. My estimates were considerably more conservative at no more than half that number. 

So far with 11 months down, the tally stands at just 43,193 not including the Fisker Karma and Tesla Model S (they don't report sales) and if the November number carries over, we'd be at about 55,000 for the year. 

While my total was closer than the Anton's, my distribution was a bit off. Here's what I called in January.

Nissan Leaf – 20,000
Chevy Volt – 20,000
Fisker Karma – 5,000
Toyota Prius PHEV – 10,000
Mitsubishi i – 2,000
Tesla Model S – 5,000
Ford Focus Electric – <1,000
Ford C-Max Energi – <1,000
Ford Fusion Energi – <1,000

As of November 30, the totals stand at

Nissan Leaf – 8,330
Chevy Volt – 20,828
Fisker Karma – 1,500 (est)
Toyota Prius PHEV – 11,389
Toyota Rav4 EV – 140
Mitsubishi i – 511
Tesla Model S – 1,500 (est)
Ford Focus Electric – <518
Ford C-Max Energi – <1,403
Ford Fusion Energi – 0 (this one isn't coming until January '13)
Honda Fit EV – 74

It turns out that sales of the Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi i, Fisker and Tesla  were all significantly lower than I expected. The Volt, Prius and C-Max Energi have all done a bit better than projected. 

I'm guessing 2013 will probably finally top 100,000 and probably fall somewhere short of 150,000 with the addition of the Chevy Spark EV, a less expensive, longer range Leaf, availability of the Fusion and Honda Accord PHEV, and a full year of the Model S and C-Max Energi. I suspect Fisker will be hard pressed to match this year's total with the problems at battery supplier A123. 

The plug-in market will remain a niche for some time to come. 

November alt-fuel sales stay solid with higher Ford C-Max, Nissan Leaf demand
November’s US alternative-fuel vehicle sales remained steady relative to recent months as strong sales for Ford’s C-Max hybrids and the all-electric

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Sounds like the next generation of Maseratis will have some hot powerplants 1

Sounds like the next generation of Maseratis will have some hot powerplants

I've been a fan of the current Quattroporte and Gran Turismo for ages and I'm looking forward to see how the new ones turn out.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/30/in-the-autoblog-garage-2008-maserati-granturismo-w-video/

Revealed: 2013 Maserati Quattroporte to Offer 404-HP 3.0L V-6, 523-HP 3.8L V-8 – WOT on Motor Trend
We’ve got the first official specifications on the 2013 Maserati Quattroporte. Get the info right here on Motor Trend!

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