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

Vehicle Technologies Program

Fact #511: March 24, 2008
Hybrid and Flex-fuel Vehicles Increase while Diesels Experience a Decline

Gasoline powered vehicles accounted for 88.5 percent of vehicle sales in 2007 - down from 92.2 percent in 2005. The sale of flex-fuel vehicles has nearly doubled from 2005 to 2007 to 6 percent of total vehicle sales. Sales of hybrids have also increased from 1.4 to 2.6 percent. Diesels however, experienced a slight decline in 2007 bringing their total sales figures close to that of hybrid vehicles.

Sales of Hybrid, Flex-fuel and Diesel Vehicles, 2005 - 2007
Graph showing the sales of gasoline, diesel, hybrid, and flex-fuel vehicles for the years 2005-2007. There were increases in the percentage of sales of flex-fuel and hybrid vehicles and a decline in the sales of gasoline and diesel vehicles. For more detailed information, see the table below.

Note: No vehicles above 8,500 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) are included.

Supporting Information

Vehicle Sales by Fuel Type
Fuel Type 2005 2006 2007
Diesel 3.2% 3.2% 2.9%
Flex-fuel 3.2% 5.0% 6.0%
Gasoline 92.2% 89.9% 88.5%
Hybrid 1.4% 1.9% 2.6%

Source: Automotive News, January 14, 2008, p. 42.

 

Return to 2008 Facts of the Week