U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

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Fact #417: March 27, 2006
Why Purchase a Hybrid Vehicle?

The website HybridCARS.com conducted a survey in 2005 asking hybrid vehicle owners for the reasons they purchased their cars. Similar questions were asked in late 2002/early 2003 by the Oregon Environmental Council. Respondents were allowed to give more than one reason for their purchase. Both surveys found that saving money on gasoline was most often the reason the buyer purchased a hybrid vehicle, followed by air pollution concerns, the appeal of the technology, and reducing dependence on foreign oil, respectively.

Reasons for Purchasing a Hybrid Vehicle
Graph showing reasons hybrid vehicle owners purchased their cars.

Supporting Information

Reasons for Purchasing a Hybrid Vehicle
  2005 Survey 2003 Survey
Save money on gasoline 74% 89%
Pollute the air less* 71% 77%
Appealing technology 68% 73%
Reduce foreign oil dependence 64% 71%

* The Oregon 2003 survey used the phrase "Emit less climate-changing CO2" instead of "Pollute the air less."
Source: HybridCARS.com Hybrid Drivers Surveys, 2003 Oregon survey, N=596. 2005 HybridCARS.com survey, N=532.

 

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Content Last Updated: 03/03/2008