Michigan Buying Hybrid and Electric Cars at a Stunted Rate, Reports Edmunds.com

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Car buyers in the state of Michigan aren’t keeping up with the rest of the country in terms of hybrid and electric car purchases, reports Edmunds.com, the premier resource for automotive information.

“As more alt-fuel vehicles come to the market and as prices for these cars become more affordable, we expect a higher percentage of shoppers will at least consider an alternative fuel vehicle the next time they’re buying a new car.”

Edmunds.com’s analysis of Polk’s new car registration data finds that 1.5 percent of all new electric vehicles sold so far in the U.S. this year were registered in Michigan, ranking the state 20^th in the nation. This rate is less than half the state’s share of all new car registrations in the U.S., where Michigan ranks 9th overall at 3.7 percent. The Great Lakes State also buys a lower proportion of the country’s hybrid vehicles (1.8%), ranking 17^th in the nation.

The news comes in what’s shaping up to be the strongest year yet for alternative fuel vehicles nationwide. Edmunds.com found that 3.4 percent of new car registrations this year (through August) were hybrid or electric vehicles, which is a full percentage point higher than the rate of 2.4 percent for all of 2011.

“Mainstream car buyers have been slow to accept hybrid and electric vehicles, but the numbers are trending up, and you can almost hear a sigh of relief from automakers who made big bets on these vehicles,” said Edmunds.com Sr. Analyst Jessica Caldwell. “As more alt-fuel vehicles come to the market and as prices for these cars become more affordable, we expect a higher percentage of shoppers will at least consider an alternative fuel vehicle the next time they’re buying a new car.”

Edmunds.com projects that at least 43 all-new conventional hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery-electric vehicles, diesels and fuel-cell electric vehicles are planned for introduction in the U.S. from now through the 2015 model year. Car buyers can learn specifics on each of these vehicles at http://www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy/whats-coming-alternative-vehicles-2013-15.html.

Thinking of making a switch to a hybrid or electric vehicle? The Hybrid and Electric Center at http://www.edmunds.com/hybrid/ provides comprehensive information on every alternative fuel vehicle on the market at this very moment. And Edmunds.com lays out all the pros and cons of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles at http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/is-a-plug-in-hybrid-or-electric-car-right-for-you.html.

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