Even though electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles are still outliers in the automotive marketplace, 2013 saw a massive increase in sales. The Detroit News reports that the sales of electrics and plug-in hybrid vehicles increased 84 percent to just over 96,000 vehicles according to data from Wards Automotive. Of that total, 47,600 were electric vehicles, representing a 241 percent increase when compared to 2012. The remainder was plug-in hybrids, up 27 percent.

Some of the increase can be attributed to improving battery technology and the massive increase of sales for the Tesla Model S. But what really helped sales of electric and plug-in vehicles was price cuts. Nearly every automaker who sells one has cut the price tag and most have seen increases in sales.

The Detroit News also points out electrics and plug-in vehicles could have hard time this year with gas prices projected to be lower than in past years.

Source: The Detroit News

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

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Not surprising that those green freaks that have been sitting on the bench would jump at the lower prices plus heavy fed subsidies. Even is gas prices stayed steady, I think we will see a fall off in EV sales as you take care of those that want a luxury golf cart and the rest will go for the Hybrid types like a Volt. The rest of the masses will continue to stay the course IMHO.

There are some people out there that don't need the same type of car you do. If it weren't for the need for AWD, my partner would do just fine with a Leaf as his primary vehicle on a day to day basis. My suburban-DC based in-laws are looking at a Leaf for Father/Daughter to share to replace an old Hemi Charger... he works from home 4 days a week and she is going to be a senior in high school. She'll take the Leaf to school 4 days a week and then he can drive his 50 mile round trip to work once a week. Their other car is a Suburban for family duty, but a commuter car that uses no gas is a perfect second car for them.

They would be ok with loosing 80% plus in the first few years of value on a limited range auto? Amazing.

It's a lease, they turn it in when they're done.

Leasing for me is a business option, otherwise I see no reason to pay money and not have anything to show for it at the end. I understand that many who like to drive new autos every couple years love to lease and just move to the next great thing, but for me I am a buyer.

It's also sometimes a good interim step. It's why I leased the Encore instead of buying it.... I'm fairly certain our needs will be different in 24 months.

It's also sometimes a good interim step. It's why I leased the Encore instead of buying it.... I'm fairly certain our needs will be different in 24 months.

Good point, having my son and daughter out of college and on their own, I forget about growing families that could see their needs change in 1-3 years.

It's also sometimes a good interim step. It's why I leased the Encore instead of buying it.... I'm fairly certain our needs will be different in 24 months.

Good point, having my son and daughter out of college and on their own, I forget about growing families that could see their needs change in 1-3 years.

And in such a way, it's a good way to address those interim needs. The in-law's Charger, while reliable, has weird electrical gremlins like power door locks that won't unlock randomly and windshield wipers that stop working. The dad doesn't want the teenage daughter to be stuck somewhere with a car that does those things, but also knows that in two years, the needs will change again when she is away at school.

Leasing a Leaf for 2 years is good solution for them and it avoids a big depreciation penalty. The car will also be under warranty, and most likely reliable for at least the 2 years they have it.

Plus... no longer fueling up a Hemi for a teenage girl to drive.

I was glad to see the US Dep't of Energy hasn't lost their marbles. Fossil fuels are, and will be king for many, many decades to come. YAY!

And so far... the public sides with my view more than the sad, nerdy dreamers. So have your fun, dreamers, it won't change REALITY.

Soooo... with an infrastructure that supposedly already exists (?) why aren't people buying them? I mean, if they are NO DIFFERENT from a real car... then what's the problem?

HMMMMMMMM

241 percent increase when compared to 2012... plug-in hybrids, up 27 percent.

I didn't know Little Feat were on tour.

You don't know the half of it.

AMAZING!