To the editor: Seemingly satisfied by the spectacular however nonetheless ambiguous electrical car successes in America and worldwide, visitor contributor Mike Murphy lists varied options for points that hinder his nice expectations for an imminent electrical, clear automotive future in California (“California can repair Trump’s EV mistake,” July 17). However statistics from the U.S. Vitality Data Administration, based mostly on knowledge gathered from 2023 by way of the second quarter of 2024, distinguish between all-electric and hybrid car gross sales within the U.S, a revealing distinction that will curb enthusiasm like Murphy’s.
Of the 18.7% of electrical or semi-electric automobiles offered within the U.S. in the course of the tracked time interval, 7.1% have been battery electrical automobiles, however a better p.c, 9.6%, have been hybrids (with solely 2% plug-in hybrids within the combine). Crucially important, nonetheless, is that BEV market share largely stagnated at 2023 ranges whereas hybrid gross sales skyrocketed 30.7% yr over yr.
The implication for the brief to mid time period might sign a shift in shopper habits away from buying high-priced all-electric automobiles to a predominant choice for purchasing the smart hybrid automotive, affording gasoline effectivity at 50-plus miles to the gallon.
Jim Valentine, Woodland Hills
