Supply of hybrids runs out of gas as demand soars

0 Comments | USA TODAY, June, 2008 | by Chris Woodyard

Even as car buyers stampede for vehicles with better fuel mileage, there are fewer hybrids, the gas-stingiest, to go around.

While sales of conventional small cars soared last month, sales of the most popular gas-electric hybrids were flat or down because dealers had fewer left. There was plenty of demand, but hybrid assembly plants are running as fast as they can, and some are short of components, particularly batteries.

"Not only are they out of cars and out of inventory, but the capacity they have for the hybrid components was locked in a year ago," before $4-a-gallon gas, says George Peterson, president of consultants AutoPacific.

Examples of missed sales:

*Prius. Sales of America's most popular hybrid fell 37%, while the compact...