The demand for hybrid cars are apparently above supply. I wonder how many current owners just bought them out of ignorance.
I did a small research on it. I used the Civic in regular and hybrid to make comparisons since those two are probably the best models for side by side comparison.
Based on $2.50 per gallon and a 13,000 mile per year of driving, you'll save something like $260 a year. The IRS is offering $2,500 income tax deduction for consumers buying a hybrid car this year, but even after the deduction, the hybrid model cost about $2,500 over a comparable gas counterpart.
After 10 years and 130,000 miles later, owners will come even on the higher initial cost. Even longer when you have to take out $2,500 additional in loans. A hybrid car depends on on-board recharbeable battery packs to hold the power reserve for its electric-drive system. Battery packs don't last forever and by the time you come even on the initial cost, it's probably ready for a battery pack change that brings you right back to $2,500 deficit. Because of expensive maintenance issues unique to hybrid cars, I don't think one ever get ahead economically over the useful life of the vehicle even if gas prices are around $3.
People either buy them out of their wish to promote the environment or they're ignorantly assuming they'll save a considerable amount of money in a few years.
I did a small research on it. I used the Civic in regular and hybrid to make comparisons since those two are probably the best models for side by side comparison.
Based on $2.50 per gallon and a 13,000 mile per year of driving, you'll save something like $260 a year. The IRS is offering $2,500 income tax deduction for consumers buying a hybrid car this year, but even after the deduction, the hybrid model cost about $2,500 over a comparable gas counterpart.
After 10 years and 130,000 miles later, owners will come even on the higher initial cost. Even longer when you have to take out $2,500 additional in loans. A hybrid car depends on on-board recharbeable battery packs to hold the power reserve for its electric-drive system. Battery packs don't last forever and by the time you come even on the initial cost, it's probably ready for a battery pack change that brings you right back to $2,500 deficit. Because of expensive maintenance issues unique to hybrid cars, I don't think one ever get ahead economically over the useful life of the vehicle even if gas prices are around $3.
People either buy them out of their wish to promote the environment or they're ignorantly assuming they'll save a considerable amount of money in a few years.
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