The HybridCars.com monthly sales dashboard is a collaboration of HybridCars.com and Baum Associates, a Michigan-based market research firm focusing on automotive issues including the hybrid and electric vehicle market.

While the overall passenger vehicle market experienced exceptional results, shares of hybrid and electric vehicles maintained their pace from recent months – albeit in the case of hybrids and diesels this was below those levels achieved earlier in the year.

Plug-in hybrids declined somewhat from October, while battery electrics performed ahead of the overall market. Hybrid sales fell somewhat short of the growth in the overall market, while diesel sales enjoyed stronger growth.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles as a share of the total market were at 0.28 percent, in-line with recent months, although trailing the result for year-to-date.

The Chevrolet Volt remains the category leader, but sales have been down due to a suspension of production which ended in mid-November. Publicity surrounding the next generation Volt (which debuts late next year) may reduce sales as some consumers wait for a more capable product. The Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid has been joined by the Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid. Volumes of the Prius Plug in remain at modest levels as compared to earlier this year. The Ford C-Max Energi and Fusion Energi are also below higher levels achieved this summer.

SEE ALSO: October 2014 Dashboard

Battery electrics continue to perform well with new products such as the BMW i3 (some of which include a range extending engine), Mercedes B-Class, Kia Soul, and the VW e-Golf. The Leaf has been remarkably consistent over the last several months, with the Model S (sales are estimated) growing in the face of stronger production after investment in the production line this past summer. The share of the total market remains in line with the last two months which represent an all-time high.

Hybrid vehicle volumes continued to trail the overall market trend, as compared to October 2014, November 2013 and year-to-date. Hybrid volumes were in line with the last two months, although these volumes are below the stronger results achieved mid-year. Low fuel prices were no doubt a major reason for this result. The Prius Liftback remains a modest performer, which is unlikely to change until the model is updated next year. The results are similar for the Prius c and v, although their sales are performing somewhat better than the Liftback. The Infiniti Q50 Hybrid performed well, as did the Lexus CT200h and Toyota Highlander. Ford’s C-Max and Fusion hybrids both declined as compared to last year, with the Fusion doing well as compared to last month.

Diesel volume is continuing at the lower levels of recent months, with a share of 0.73 percent which trails year-to-date figures. As always, the Jetta and Passat (the category leaders) determine the status of the category and they remain at levels below that of previous periods. The Golf diesel is also performing modestly, even though the vehicle is now produced in Mexico rather than being imported from Europe. Diesels from Audi and BMW are available across the model line and have performed well this year, although current results are not as strong as the year as a whole.

November 2014 Hybrid Car Sales Numbers

Hybrids sold in the U.S. (November 2014): 31,109
Hybrid Take-Rate: 2.40%

U.S. Hybrid sales for November 2014

MfrModel 11-14 Sales vs. 10-14 vs. 11-13 CY 2014 CY 14 vs 13 CY 2013 Current Month US ShareToyotaPrius Liftback 8,038 9.7%-18.0% 113,977 -15.8% 135,291 25.84%ToyotaPrius C 2,975 -6.8%-0.9% 37,731 -3.7% 39,169 9.56%ToyotaPrius V 2,493 -0.8%11.9% 28,478 -13.4% 32,879 8.01%FordFusion Hybrid 2,323 7.3%-16.1% 33,033 -4.3% 34,502 7.47%ToyotaCamry Hybrid 2,220 2.7%-25.9% 37,067 -11.2% 41,722 7.14%LexusCT200h 1,322 14.2%31.9% 16,065 20.9% 13,284 4.25%FordC-Max Hybrid 1,296 -1.7%-11.1% 17,859 -33.5% 26,855 4.17%ToyotaAvalon Hybrid 1,212 -8.9%-20.9% 15,894 6.0% 14,988 3.90%LexusES Hybrid 1,194 1.0%-14.3% 13,437 -9.6% 14,856 3.84%KiaOptima Hybrid 1,101 -25.8%-10.7% 12,477 -3.5% 12,929 3.54%HondaAccord Hybrid 1,094 -3.2%-100.0% 12,744 2204.5% 553 3.52%LexusRX 400 / 450 h 788 8.2%-28.7% 8,421 -17.1% 10,154 2.53%HyundaiSonata 781 -33.9%-58.1% 20,155 2.6% 19,640 2.51%BuickLacsosse Hybrid 772 9.7%79.5% 6,655 -0.5% 6,686 2.48%SubaruXV Crosstrek Hybrid 575 -6.8%N/A 7,499 N/A — 1.85%LincolnMKZ 569 -14.0%-33.2% 9,290 38.3% 6,715 1.83%HondaCivic Hybrid 432 9.4%-58.1% 4,594 -34.4% 7,007 1.39%ToyotaHighlander Hybrid 425 30.0%28.0% 3,193 -33.5% 4,798 1.37%InfinitiQ50 Hybrid 422 42.6%257.6% 3,070 1321.3% 216 1.36%HondaInsight 278 25.2%-30.8% 3,654 -16.7% 4,384 0.89%HondaCR-Z 188 -8.3%-36.3% 3,338 -19.9% 4,166 0.60%NissanPathfinder Hybrid* 187 12.7%N/A 2,276 N/A — 0.60%InfinitiQX60 Hybrid* 146 28.1%-51.7% 1,510 400.0% 302 0.47%VolkswagenJetta Hybrid 68 -29.9%-82.7% 1,882 -64.5% 5,295 0.22%BuickRegal Hybrid 46 15.0%-75.4% 640 -77.1% 2,800 0.15%AcuraRLX Hybrid 37 2.8%N/A 104 N/A — 0.12%ChevroletImpala Hybrid 23 -28.1%43.8% 472 2147.6% 21 0.07%InfinitiQ70 Hybrid 17 30.8%-48.5% 160 -63.8% 442 0.05%AudiQ5 Hybrid 16 -33.3%-57.9% 272 -66.5% 811 0.05%ChevroletMalibu Hybrid 14 -17.6%-96.7% 1,003 -92.6% 13,513 0.05%AcuraILX Hybrid 10 -33.3%-77.3% 370 -73.9% 1,417 0.03%PorscheCayenne Hybrid 10 -44.4%-82.8% 650 16.1% 560 0.03%LexusGS 450h 9 350.0%-64.0% 172 -64.0% 478 0.03%MercedesE400H 5 0.0%-75.0% 149 -43.1% 262 0.02%BMW ActiveHybrid 3 (335ih) 4 100.0%-92.9% 142 -82.6% 818 0.01%BMW ActiveHybrid 5 (535ih) 4 33.3%-91.5% 106 -77.4% 468 0.01%ChevroletSilverado Hybrid 3 200.0%-25.0% 24 -75.8% 99 0.01%BMW 7-Series ActiveHybrid 2 -50.0%-33.3% 43 65.4% 26 0.01%Cadillac Escalade Hybrid 2 -33.3%-84.6% 40 -89.0% 365 0.01%ChevroletTahoe Hybrid 2 N/A-92.9% 64 -81.4% 345 0.01%GMC Yukon Hybrid 2 0.0%-80.0% 30 -88.8% 269 0.01%GMC Sierra Hybrid 1 N/A-66.7% 5 -92.2% 64 0.00%LexusLS 600h 1 -50.0%-80.0% 61 -44.0% 109 0.00%MercedesS400HV Hybrid 1 N/A-66.7% 6 -90.3% 62 0.00%VolkswagenTouareg Hybrid 1 0.0%0.0% 28 -75.9% 116 0.00%LexusHS 250h — N/AN/A — -100.0% 5 0.00%Mercedes ML450H — N/AN/A 10 -9.1% 11 0.00%NissanAltima Hybrid — N/AN/A — N/A — 0.00%PorschePanamera S Hybrid — N/A-100.0% — -100.0% 117 0.00%Total Hybrid 31,109 0.7%-13.8% 418,850 -8.9% 459,569 100.00%Total Auto Sales 1,293,877 1.6%4.5% 14,936,682 5.3% 14,178,351 Overall Hybrid Take Rate2.40%2.80%3.24%*Estimated

November 2014 Plug-in Hybrid Car Sales Numbers

Plug-in Hybrids sold in the U.S. (November 2014): 3,609
Plug-in Hybrid Take-Rate: 0.28%

U.S. Plug-in Hybrid sales for November 2014

November 2014 Battery Electric Car Sales Numbers

Battery Electrics sold in the U.S. (November 2014): 6,176
Battery Electric Take-Rate: 0.48%

U.S. Battery Electric sales for November 2014

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November 2014 Compressed Natural Gas Car Sales Numbers

Compressed Natural Gass sold in the U.S. (November 2014): 52
Compressed Natural Gas Take-Rate: 0.00%

November 2014 Diesel Car Sales Numbers

Diesels sold in the U.S. (November 2014): 9492
Diesel Take-Rate: 0.73%

U.S. Diesel sales for November 2014

There are some facts about distracted driving that many people probably intuit but might not know are borne out by research.

First of all, distracted driving is now the number one cause of teen driving deaths.

And next, distracted driving is implicated in as many as 6,000 road deaths each year in the U.S.

Lastly, most of us (90% of adults) say texting — receiving one or sending one — while driving is unacceptable. Yet secretly, 30% of us admit we do either the one or the other or both.

© Groove by Katasi

One man, a former rocket scientist named Scott Tibbitts, has made it his mission in the last six years to try to find a reliable way to cut down distracted driving. Tibbitts was supposed to have a meeting with Dave Sueper in 2008. When he got to Sueper’s company on the scheduled meeting date, he was told that Sueper had just been killed when a teenager t-boned his car after running a red light while distracted.

Eventually Tibbitts found a solution he thought had promise, and he calls it Groove. Groove works with all cellular phones, not just smart phones. A controller installed in a Groove car wirelessly notifies phone service carrier networks once the car begins to move faster than five miles per hour, interrupting texting and other social media updates (as programmed by the phone subscriber) to the phone.
© Thomas Dwyer
Once started up, the interruption continues as long as the car engine remains on. Groove also includes a rewards system that gives points and prizes for drivers that keep their focus (rather than interacting with their phones) during trips.

ATT has a somewhat similar app-based system called DriveMode, thought DriveMode kicks in at 15 mph and can be turned off (though it can also notify parents, for example, if teen users disable the app).

As Forbes recently reported, Americans are habituated — practically speaking, addicted — to looking at their phone when it rings or buzzes. The problem is clearly dangerous to drivers but also to pedestrians and cyclists — in fact our whole transportation system is endangered by the constant distractions of ever-present screens.

But of course, admitting we have a problem is only a first step, and not an easy one for us to take, societally. Groove ran an Indiegogo campaign last month that failed miserably. The technology is available, but getting support from carriers (who are worried about legal implications) and from the public may not be seamless.

Groove’s parent company Katasi hopes to have a product ready for release in 2015. The company’s CEO Tibbitts told Katie Couric that he expects the controller to cost about $30 and the service itself to be about $8 per month.

The Mercedes-Benz S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID’s environmental credentials have been confirmed by the German TÜV Süd technical inspection authority.

Mercedes-Benz’ first plug-in hybrid has been awarded the Environmental Certificate in accordance with ISO standard TR 14062. Mercedes said the award is based on a comprehensive life-cycle assessment of the S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID, documenting every detail of relevance for the environment.

This means that all three hybrid S-Class models now have environmental certificates. Mercedes explained these document the models’ environmental performance from development through to recycling, across the entire lifecycle, and the performance is certified to internationally recognized standards by independent experts.

SEE ALSO: Mercedes-Benz Starts Production On S 500 Plug-In Hybrid

Regarding CO2 emissions, the certificate of the S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID states over the entire life cycle, comprising manufacture, use over 300,000 kilometers(186,411 miles) and recycling, clear advantages result compared with the S 500. External charging with the European electricity mix can cut CO2 emissions by some 43 percent (35 tons). Through the use of renewably generated hydroelectricity a 56 percent reduction (46 ton) is possible.

“Plug-in hybrids offer our customers the best of both worlds; in the city they can drive in all-electric mode, while on long journeys they benefit from the combustion engine’s range. In addition, hybridization not only makes the combustion engine lighter, it also brings with it a special type of dynamic performance – making driving an absolute pleasure,” said Professor Dr Herbert Kohler, Chief Environmental Officer at Daimler AG. “The new S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID is the spearhead of our hybrid strategy. It offers the power and performance of a V8, but runs on as little fuel as a compact model – and it is able to cover more than 30 km with zero emissions. The upshot is a unique combination of luxury, driving pleasure and environmental compatibility.”

Mercedes-Benz added it analyses the environmental compatibility of its models throughout their entire life cycle – from production, through their long years of service, to recycling at the end of their lives. The company adds this analysis goes far beyond the legal requirements. The Environmental Certificate and supplementary information are made available to the public as part of the “Life Cycle” documentation series, which can be accessed on the company’s website.

Porsche’s 919 Hybrid won its first ever race in the final event of the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship.

This last race of the season was held in São Paulo, Brazil, and the winning 919 Hybrid, wearing number 14, was driven by the trio of Romain Dumas (France), Neel Jani (Switzerland) and Marc Lieb (Germany).

At the same time as the Porsche team achieved the biggest success of the car’s debut season, it stated it had its greatest shock when Mark Webber was involved in an accident in the sister car with less than half an hour to go before the end of the six-hour race.

Mark Webber, the Australian, who shares the LMP1 race car with Timo Bernhard (Germany) and Brendon Hartley (New Zealand), crashed heavily into the barriers at the fast last turn of the track, while he was in sixth position. The initial information the team received from the medical centre at the track was that he was not badly injured. However, he has been transferred to a hospital in São Paulo for further checks. The race finished behind the safety car with Neel Jani at the wheel of the winning car.

SEE ALSO: Porsche 919 Hybrid Steering Wheel A Computer By Itself

Porsche Team said the race went as such for the winning 919 Hybrid: Lieb started from second, but lost one place to a Toyota on the first lap. After various attempts to get the position back, after 37 laps he handed over the car, which was still lying in third, to Jani. The Swiss continued to attack the Toyota, they swapped places, but when Jani handed over to Dumas after 76 laps the car was still third. Dumas only got by when the Toyota had contact with another car on lap 88.

On lap 105 Dumas had to pit early because of a right rear puncture. Lieb got behind the wheel again and took the lead after 119 laps when the sister car suffered problems. Lieb pitted after 144 laps to hand the car back to Dumas. After 183 laps Jani took over with the car lying second. At his final pit stop after 222 laps he stayed in the car and took the risk not to change tires to save time. The risk paid off.

Here are the results of the season in terms of points:

Race result 6 hours of São Paulo (Brazil):

1. Dumas/Jani/Lieb (F/CH/D), Porsche 919 Hybrid, 249 Laps

2. Davidson/Buemi (GB/CH), Toyota TS040 Hybrid, – 0,170 s

3. Di Grassi/Duval/Kristensen (BRA/F/DK), Audi R18 e-tron quattro, – 1 Lap

4. Wurz/Sarrazin/Conway (A/F/GB), Toyota TS040 Hybrid, – 1 Lap

5. Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer (CH/D/F), Audi R18 e-tron quattro, – 1 Lap

LMP1 Drivers’ standings:

1. Davidson/Buemi (GB/CH), Toyota, 166 (World Champion)

2. Lotterer/Tréluyer/Fässler (D/F/CH), Audi, 127

3. Dumas/Jani/Lieb (F/CH/D), Porsche, 117

4. Di Grassi/Kristensen (BRA/DK), Audi, 117

5. Wurz/Sarrazin (A/F), Toyota, 116

6. Lapierre (F), Toyota, 96

7. Duval (F), Audi, 81

8. Nakajima (J), Toyota, 71

9. Bernhard/Hartley/Webber (D/NZ/AUS), Porsche, 64,5

Manufacturers’ standings:

1. Toyota, 289 (World Champion)

2. Audi, 244

3. Porsche, 193