Discussion: Why do we not have hybrid minivans in the US?

Sources: Toyota Japan, Honda USA

We recently came to a point in our lives where it just made sense to go out and shop for a new minivan. We have never bought a new vehicle before and were not sure what to expect. In fact, a 10 year old car for us was a "new" car.

Everyone has different needs at different times in life and there's usually a vehicle that fits just about any of those needs across a wide spectrum. One of the first thoughts I had was to look into a hybrid gas/electric vehicle. I mean, hybrid technology has been around for the better part of a decade now, surely this technology would have found it's way into the minivan category. Much to my surprise, however, this is simply not an option in the US at this point.

This raises some questions:
1. Is the technology not there yet to make this feasible?
2. Is the market not asking for it?
3. Are there political reasons as to why this has not occurred?

There is no doubt (at least in my mind), that the EV is here to say and will likely become mainstream. So there has to be some explanation as to why we have not seen the hybrid/electric minivan reach the market.

I then heard from a good friend of mine who was in the same situation as me recently (we both have a wife, three kids, and one on the way) and recounted a much similar story. He then sent me these links:

http://www.alphard.com.hk/index_en.html#hybrid
http://www.toyota.com/esq/pdf/hwt-vehicle-cards.pdf

So, they do exist...in Japan...apparently, and for almost 13 years! Where has the US been?

Let's take a quick look at the specs of the 2014 Toyota Estima which I think is catering more toward the budget-minded according to Toyota.
- Price: $34,190 (¥3,918,437)
- Fuel Economy: 40-42 MPG (17-18 KM/L)

I need to do more research, but there's got to be a perfectly reasonable explanation for this. I mean, this is roughly how much we spent on the 2015 Honda Odyssey EX which specs like this.
- Price: $32,275
- Fuel Economy: 19-28 MPG

If I had the option between the two vehicles mentioned above, I would have chosen the 2014 Toyota Estima for sure, simply due to the savings in fuel.

I want to hear all of your thoughts and what you may know about the state of hybrid/electric minivans in the US (or lack thereof) and if you would buy one if you had the chance. Sound off below!

REVIEW: iPhone 5S / 5 Case Ultra Hybrid

Let me start off by saying I had never heard of SpiGen before I bought this case, and like you, was looking at the reviews to decide if this was the case for me.

I have been through many iPhone cases in my day and can never seem to be content with every point listed above. I have been searching for a long time for a case that would meet these requirements without compromises.

Form and Function
I'm going clump these to together here because they are usually mutually exclusive, but not the case here (no pun intended). I wanted to be able to show off the iPhone's original beauty while still being able to keep it reasonably protected. While it's not bullet-proof, the SpiGen has a clear and thick TPU on the back that shows off it's original beauty while keeping it away from the elements, scratches, and smudges. It covers the key components and performs wells. The outside band is a nice TPU that covers the power and volume buttons. I must admit, it feels nice and natural and keep those protected. SpiGen hit a home-run here with maintaining what I feel is the best balance between looks and durability. I can also add I have dropped it about three times and the case has done it's job perfectly.

Look and Feel
The thicker TPU feels great in the hand, not too grippy but not a bar of soap either. It maintains the original thin feel of the iPhone and adds minimal bulk. This way key for my search of the perfect iPhone case and SpiGen nailed it here.

Clear back to show iPhones natural beauty while still having excellent protection.

Function
I am able to access all buttons and functions of the hardware without a hitch, I must add though that my studio headphone have a larger audio plug mount and the TPU around the headphone jack is just a tad small for it. With that said, all my other earphones, including the Apple ones, have no problem.

Value
These cost a fraction of other cases you can buy in the store or online. Simply put, SpiGen offers up the best vlaue and bang for your buck.

Conclusion
Is it the most durable case out there? No. Is it the most colorful or is it going to turn lots of heads? Not really. But what is is, it's my perfect iPhone case that gives me the minimalist look without compromising the key durability functions while maintaining a thin profile. I have already recommended friends and family use this case as well and they have loved it too.

I will likely buy more SpiGen products in the future as their products have been stellar quality and will likely become a favorite in the future for other users such as myself.

Hope this review helps. Let me know if you have any questions.