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

Vehicle Technologies Program

Fact #431: July 3, 2006
Would You Buy a Hybrid Vehicle?

In a June 2006 survey, 42% of respondents said they would purchase a hybrid vehicle that improved fuel economy by 40% (HEV) and another 26% would buy a plug-in hybrid that you recharge the battery in your own garage (PHEV).

New Vehicle Purchase Preference
Graph showing survey results of respondents when asked if they would purchase a hybrid or a plug-in hybrid vehicle. For more detailed information, see the table below.

Supporting Information


2006 Question: Assuming that gasoline prices remain in the range of $2.50 to $3.00 per gallon, for your next new vehicle purchase, would you….
  Share of Respondents, 2006
Pay an additional $2,000 to buy a hybrid version of your vehicle that improved your miles per gallon (mpg) by 40% 42%
Pay an additional $4,000 to buy a plug-in hybrid version that could travel up to 20 miles per day on its battery only, which would be recharded by the wall socket with electricity at the cost of less than $1 per gallon gasoline equivalent, and would improve your miles per gallon by 40% 26%
Neither/would not purchase a hybrid vehicle 27%
Don't know 5%

Source: Opinion Research Corporation International for NREL, Study # 715238, June 8, 2006, N=1,007.


2005 Question: Assuming that prices for regular gasoline $2.50 per gallon, for your next new vehicles purchase, would you….
  Share of Respondents, 2005
Pay an additional $2,500 to buy a hybrid version of your vehicle that reduced your gasoline use by 30% 36%
Pay an additional $4,000 to buy a plug-in hybrid version of your vehicle that could reduce your gasoline use by 45% if you traveled about 20 miles per day on its battery only 26%
Neither 43%
Don't know 4%

Source: Opinion Research Corporation International for NREL, Study # 714209, May 20, 2005, N=1012.

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