Hybrid break-even points
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Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: PA
Hybrid break-even points
Interesting read, albeit short, but supports my theory that a lot of hybrids take a good amount of years for people to really see a payoff. Of course there are arguments that go the other way as well like the trade-in or resale on a hybrid makes up for it
The longer NYT article is here: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/05/bu...wait.html?_r=1
Savings come slowly for hybrid, electric car owners
Nashville Business Journal by Nevin Batiwalla, Staff Reporter
Date: Thursday, April 5, 2012, 12:09pm CDT
If you're thinking about buying a fuel-efficient hybrid, electric or otherwise eco-friendly vehicle as a way to save money over time, do your homework — or be prepared to wait.
Buyers who choose Nissan's all-electric Leaf ($28,421) over its approximate gas-powered equivalent, Nissan's Versa ($18,640), will likely wait nearly 9 years until they break even, according to a new report by The New York Times that examines the cost of fuel efficiency.
For drivers of the Chevrolet Volt ($31,767), the wait is even longer— 26.6 years.
A few vehicles begin paying off relatively soon after leaving the dealership. Two hybrids— Toyota's Prius ($23,537) and Lincoln's MKZ ($33,887)— as well as Volkswagen's diesel-powered Jetta TDI ($25,242) all take less than two years before they start saving their owners money.
Check out this chart by the Times that breaks down the savings delay for many popular fuel-efficient models.
The high price tag of many fuel-efficient vehicles — including the Nissan Leaf, which will soon be made in Smyrna, Tenn. — is one reason consumers have yet to embrace them with open arms.
Nashville Business Journal by Nevin Batiwalla, Staff Reporter
Date: Thursday, April 5, 2012, 12:09pm CDT
If you're thinking about buying a fuel-efficient hybrid, electric or otherwise eco-friendly vehicle as a way to save money over time, do your homework — or be prepared to wait.
Buyers who choose Nissan's all-electric Leaf ($28,421) over its approximate gas-powered equivalent, Nissan's Versa ($18,640), will likely wait nearly 9 years until they break even, according to a new report by The New York Times that examines the cost of fuel efficiency.
For drivers of the Chevrolet Volt ($31,767), the wait is even longer— 26.6 years.
A few vehicles begin paying off relatively soon after leaving the dealership. Two hybrids— Toyota's Prius ($23,537) and Lincoln's MKZ ($33,887)— as well as Volkswagen's diesel-powered Jetta TDI ($25,242) all take less than two years before they start saving their owners money.
Check out this chart by the Times that breaks down the savings delay for many popular fuel-efficient models.
The high price tag of many fuel-efficient vehicles — including the Nissan Leaf, which will soon be made in Smyrna, Tenn. — is one reason consumers have yet to embrace them with open arms.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: May 2005
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From: IL
We traded in our RX400h for a GLK350. While I love the GLK350, my wife and I agree that we have to go back to hybrid. The mpg difference was not much (25mpg vs 18mpg). However, in the GLK we have to fill up every 6 days, versus every 7 days with the RX-h. Not a big deal, but multiply this by 4 years of ownership and you have gone to the gas station 35 more times with the GLK. That's a lot of gas, but more importantly to me, time is money, and I would prefer to go the gas station as little as possible and spend my time doing something else.
Last edited by GQD_GS4; Apr 6, 2012 at 10:43 AM.
CL Community Team
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Canada
Plus, you are supporting technologies that will gradually help lessen our reliance on fossil fuels which is ultimately an exhaustible resource over the long run. They can only get better and more efficient only if they can keep making more and more of them, and they can't do that without enough support in the market.
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,705
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From: Florida
This maybe true for US but for other markets let's say some very urban Euro cities RX450h makes a big differrence compared to RX350. Huge actually. Savings are instant due to higher gas prices.
But my vote goes to plug-ins. Get Tesla Model S and couple of solar panels for $2.5K-$5K and you are riding for almost nothing. That is if Tesla doesn't crap out on you. I hope all hybrids in future will be plug-in.
But my vote goes to plug-ins. Get Tesla Model S and couple of solar panels for $2.5K-$5K and you are riding for almost nothing. That is if Tesla doesn't crap out on you. I hope all hybrids in future will be plug-in.
The article is for cars that drive 15,000 miles a year.
The cost savings is a lot higher for those who drive a lot more, which are your typical hybrid-buying urbanites who travel from the suburbs to metropolitan areas.
The cost savings is a lot higher for those who drive a lot more, which are your typical hybrid-buying urbanites who travel from the suburbs to metropolitan areas.
CL Community Team
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: San Francisco, CA
of course the article doesnt take into account less maintenance cost as well as resale value. And some of the gas versus electric cars arent even in the same league. For instance the versa is a huge step down from the Leaf. just check out their interiors
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Dysfunctional Veteran
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Van Alstyne, TX
This maybe true for US but for other markets let's say some very urban Euro cities RX450h makes a big differrence compared to RX350. Huge actually. Savings are instant due to higher gas prices.
But my vote goes to plug-ins. Get Tesla Model S and couple of solar panels for $2.5K-$5K and you are riding for almost nothing. That is if Tesla doesn't crap out on you. I hope all hybrids in future will be plug-in.
But my vote goes to plug-ins. Get Tesla Model S and couple of solar panels for $2.5K-$5K and you are riding for almost nothing. That is if Tesla doesn't crap out on you. I hope all hybrids in future will be plug-in.
But he has the space for the conversion equipment, and the time to go collect used veggie oil from McDonald's or wherever.
LOL, I use my V8 a lot...but there are times I wish it was a hybrid, or even a diesel.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: California
1) I can't see how the Jetta diesel could be #1. Even with the better mileage, the cost of diesel here in L.A. is usually 40 cents higher than regular.
2) For those who drive under 10,000 or 5,000 miles per year (me and probably a lot of retired people), these numbers would be off the charts, making a hybrid's assets pretty much a lost cause other than to just be green.
3) Would have been interesting to include the new Pruis C. About the same mileage numbers as the regular Prius, but for around $20,000. Maybe that car would have been campared to a Yaris.
2) For those who drive under 10,000 or 5,000 miles per year (me and probably a lot of retired people), these numbers would be off the charts, making a hybrid's assets pretty much a lost cause other than to just be green.
3) Would have been interesting to include the new Pruis C. About the same mileage numbers as the regular Prius, but for around $20,000. Maybe that car would have been campared to a Yaris.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 8,349
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From: QC/FRANCE
The prices of electricity also vary by city. I wonder what that list would look like, if they used Hydro Quebec prices for electricity and the price of gas in Montreal. I am thinking of getting rid of the Veloster and trying to find a plug-in or all-electric car. Seeing gas is already at like C$1.60/l for premium.
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