Hybrids not saving you any money?

[JusFlyinBy]

I thought this was pretty interesting. I saw on our local news how some company (sorry, name slipped my mind) did an actual test on all of the hybrids offered today. What they found out was that just about every car actually got considerably less gas mileage under "normal conditions" then what they were rated.

Not only that, they calculated just how much a Hybrid would actually save you in the long run. They took into consideration how much the car devalues, the initial extra cost payed when purchasing this type of car, the cost of servicing this technology, and the amount they actually do save you at the pump. Its interesting to find out that none of the Hybrids save you money after a 5 year period. Well, I take that back. One car does, and that is the Toyota Prius. You save 85 dollars over a Toyota Camry over 5 years.

Interesting eh? Now im sure they are comparing the Hybrids to gasoline engine cars with better gas mileages then ours, but still. How much more are you pocketing over that 5 year period and is it worth the trade off for HP and ease of maintenance?

If anything good comes of these cars, it will be lowering our dependancy on foreign countries for oil. Oh yea... and that environment thing too... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[HokieBird]

That data would be interesting to look at. I have done some research on hybrids for a school project and it seems like no one is getting their stated milage unless it is driven just perfect. You have develop the proper method of braking to charge the batteries. So, if data is recorded on people who just bought the cars it would probably show lower fuel savings.

Kind of a tangent, but still about hybrids. Why aren't the car companies cranking those things out like crazy. There are huge waiting lists and I don't know if one ever sits on a car lot for longer than it takes the owner to sign the paperwork. Seems to me devoting a good deal of your resources to making them would be well worth it since they can't seem to make them fast enough.

[majeskyb]

Originally posted by HokieBird:


Kind of a tangent, but still about hybrids. Why aren't the car companies cranking those things out like crazy. There are huge waiting lists and I don't know if one ever sits on a car lot for longer than it takes the owner to sign the paperwork. Seems to me devoting a good deal of your resources to making them would be well worth it since they can't seem to make them fast enough.

I don't know about your area, but Toyota here, it seems like they're having trouble selling them. I've yet to see a single one anywhere except at the dealership

[3.4 slow to go]

WHen the hybrid gets totaled, what do they do to teh batteries? Hazardous waste. Also, how long do they actually last & how much to replace them????? How many salesman cain actually answer those questions? [img]graemlins/stickpoke.gif[/img]

[HokieBird]

Originally posted by majeskyb:
I don't know about your area, but Toyota here, it seems like they're having trouble selling them. I've yet to see a single one anywhere except at the dealership

Hmmm. Every where I have gone they said there are waiting lists for them. This was also a while ago when I was researching for school. Did the Government refund on buying hybrids run out? Maybe thats part of the reason they aren't moving there.

[SpeedingFirebird]

Originally posted by 3.4 slow to go:
WHen the hybrid gets totaled, what do they do to teh batteries? Hazardous waste. Also, how long do they actually last & how much to replace them????? How many salesman cain actually answer those questions? [img]graemlins/stickpoke.gif[/img]

This month, car & driver has an article that asks many of these same questions. It's an editorial by Brock Yates (aka, no REAL facts) but a very interesting read.

[3.4 slow to go]

^^^ that's where the Q's came from.

[vanbibber]

you would have to be an electrician to work on those stupid hybrids.

nate raises a good point though. and just imagine how much the parts cost to fix one of those hybrids

[camaro_speedemon]

Hybrids compared to economy cars probably won't save you much. Hybrid compaired to your average 20MPG car, yea, you're saving a huge bit.

Figuring you drive 15k miles a year, 30MPG = $1150 @ 2.30/gallon.
15k @ 20MPG - $1725 in gas. Meaning you save 575/year on gas.

Figure you get 40MPG with a hybrid. Same numbers, $862.5. You save $287 over an econobox, and 862 over your average sedan.... $85 over 5 years my ***. Thats just over $4k savings in gas over 5 years. What kind of special maintenance is needed on those cars anyways?

[kristen]

f the hybrids. i would just get a honda crx that get 42 miles a gallon!

[LD]

3 cyl geo metro
50+ mpg
$500 to $1500

[JusFlyinBy]

Originally posted by camaro_speedemon:
Hybrids compared to economy cars probably won't save you much. Hybrid compaired to your average 20MPG car, yea, you're saving a huge bit.

Figuring you drive 15k miles a year, 30MPG = $1150 @ 2.30/gallon.
15k @ 20MPG - $1725 in gas. Meaning you save 575/year on gas.

Figure you get 40MPG with a hybrid. Same numbers, $862.5. You save $287 over an econobox, and 862 over your average sedan.... $85 over 5 years my ***. Thats just over $4k savings in gas over 5 years. What kind of special maintenance is needed on those cars anyways?

Even giving you the benefit of the doubt here, comparable sedans are anywhere from 3 to 5 grand cheaper right off the bat no?

For a crude example, lets for the hell of it say you only pay 1 grand more for the Hybrid. Thats saying that the Hybrid will devalue almost 3 thousand dollars more than your average sedan over 5 years which I don't think is too unrealistic. Theres 4 grand of "savings" right there.

That doesn't take into effect comparable cars get at least 25 mpg average and the fact that this company found the Hybrids to only pull off 32 mpg average in the city where these cars are supposed to shine. And whats it going to cost you for parts when those components start dying out?

We aren't comparing Hybrids to full size sedans or sports cars here. Obviously you will save then, but no more than if you were to go out and purchase a similarly equipped sedan, and that is the point.

I dunno... thats just what was said and Im sure they know much more about this then either of us, so who are we to say.

[ August 23, 2005, 08:59 AM: Message edited by: JusFlyinBy ]

[HokieBird]

Higher insurance costs are also something to consider when comparing hybrid cars to regular cars.

[JusFlyinBy]

Originally posted by HokieBird:
Higher insurance costs are also something to consider when comparing hybrid cars to regular cars.

Oh yeah, they mentioned that too, I just forgot. Good catch. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[black98V6]

just go buy used motorcycle for 4k get 35+mpg IN TOWN and move on ;)
ok this last part was brought up by yates in the article and honestly I'm not what you would call his biggest fan but it's a valid point.
what about the disposal of the batteries, these things are highly toixic. Nickel Hydride (or ever how it's spelled) is really really really hazardous to us carbon based life forms.