Why haven't we seen more PHEVs?

[Crazy Dazz]

I haven't looked for a while at the US market, but last time I did, PHEVs were still big business. They allow companies to cheat on their CAFE and ZEV requirements. Even when they sell a PHEV without a charging station or even a cord, they can still claim the ridiculously low fuel-consumption. Plus some qualify as ZEVs.

Plus I thought other markets also produced PHEVs.

Hence I would have thought the governments FBT exemption on PHEVs would have seen car-makers rushing to bring them in.

FBT exemption is a return to the "Good Old Days" of "Company Cars" before FBT. Plus they should be very attractive to State and Local governments, who not only want to tout their "Green" credentials, but are also subject to FBT.

If you salary sacrifice for one, not only is it Tax, GST, and FBT free, but so too is all your fuel and servicing. I have been looking at doing this, on and off, since the exemption came in.

Yet PHEVs remain relatively rare, stock is hard to find, and many are just ridiculously expensive.

Last time I check, there were only around 8 or 9 eligible models. And for most of those it's almost impossible to find stock.
The huge premium charged, and the DILIGAF attitude of dealers with stock, really starts to negate the cost advantages.