Are Hybrid cars really cheaper overall? Just started seeing some articles that suggest they are more expensive
Anyone have any thoughts?
Answers:
They have a high break-even point - as they cost more to buy, you need to make a lot of savings to offset the additional cost.
Also, hybrids are only more efficient in certain conditions. They are no more efficent, and in many cases less efficient (because they're carrying additional weight in batteries, motors, control systems, etc.) when cruising. Their advantage is in town traffic, where they use no fuel when coasting, recover energy during braking for use in acceleration, and don't use any fuel when stationary.
If you do a lot of long-distance driving a diesel engine will be more efficient than a petrol-electric hybrid. In stop-start city driving, the reverse may be true.
There may be other indirect advantages to hybrids, such as not having to pay London's Congestion Charge (although this is due to change), which have a value that you need to also take account of.
Therefore it depends on the type of driving you do, and where you do it, as well as how many miles you cover, whether a hybrid is cheaper.
They are more expensive.
On average they are $6,000 more for the vehicle. You save 30% on fuel bill. Gas is $3 per gallon so you save $1 per gallon. Average vehicle is say 20 gallon tank. So each fill up you save $20. To off set just the $6,000 extra you spent to buy the car.you will need to buy 300 tanks of gas to break even. 300 tanks of gas (on average car gets 25 per gallon, 20 gallon tank = 500) and you get 500 per tank, you need to drive that vehicle to 150,000 miles to just break even.
Now take into consideration you are running a smaller gas engine, runs higher rpm meaning it will wear out sooner. Plus take into effect you now have a electric motor up there as well with no history of how long it will last. Plus what are the maintenance costs on this vehicle over a normal one? No normal garage mechanic can work on it but only the dealership. Parts will be more since there are less of the vehicles on the road to off set new part production costs.
Then take into count any insurance increase due to having more to repair if in an accident.
Hybrid and E-85 is not the way as it just causes more issues to solve. The only true way to go for future fuel for the good of man, weather, the planet and to have an endless supply on this planet or any planet we explore..hydrogen.
They are not cheap for a long run, I'm not sure but I know batteries installed on Hybrid cars suppose to replace every 4 to 5 years and they are really expensive.
Hybrid cars have a very high break-even point where the extra cost to buy the car becomes offset by the savings due to better gas mileage. Often, this period is measured in years, and thus it just doesn't pay to buy a hybrid for most people.
If you just want to be different and/or want to make a contribution to saving the planet's resources, that's one thing. However, if you're doing it for the money, the math doesn't justify it.
Don't forget specialized drive trains and engines means a specialist when it comes to repairs. And we all know how cheap a specialist is right? NOT!
Hybrids cost more because: Like a Toyota Prius, they have two engines. Which makes the price go up from the start. They will save you alot of money in fuel, but their list price is alot as well. This is because of their twin engine and complicated engines.
Generally speaking, it will take you about 6 years to recover the cost difference between a standard car and a hybrid based on increased efficiency. Hybrids really don't have any mileage advantage over standard gas engines on the highway, only around town. So if you drive a lot of highway miles you're better off with a regular gas engine.
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