Just one day after we revealed massive growth in sales for alternative fuel vehicles in the UK (see article), we can now reveal the best-selling plug-in hybrid electric vehicle in the USA is…
The Chevrolet Volt (pictured)!
This probably comes as no surprise – the Volt sold an impressive 2,831 units during August, setting a monthly sales record and maintaining its lead in the plug-in vehicle sales sector: its previous record was in March when it sold 2,289 units. The sales in August were a massive 837.4 per cent higher than during the same month last year; and so far in 2012, Volt sales are up 325.5 per cent compared to the same period in 2011.
Its nearest rival remains the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, which sold 1,047 models during the month. Over the course of the year so far, 6,082 versions of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid have been sold – that compares to 13,311 units of the conventional Prius during August alone.
As for battery electric cars – the figures were not so encouraging.
Only 685 models of the Nissan LEAF were sold during August – that’s down 49.7 per cent compared to the 1,362 models it sold in the same month last year. Overall in 2012, the Nissan LEAF has sold 4,228 models – down 31.5 per cent compared to the same period in 2011.
Meanwhile, Ford sold just 34 units of its Focus Electric model (bringing the total for the year to 169); and Honda enjoyed just nine sales of its Fit EV and one sale of the hydrogen powered Honda FCX Clarity.
Paul is a freelance writer with a background in everything from motoring to finance; and holidays to women's undergarments he just writes about them, honestly! He has now sadly crept into his early 30s and seems to have forgotten everything learned at school Still, he's a green car fanatic and isn't that what counts?
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