Hybrid thoughts

[ghini]

I did some quick math replying to Marthas journal. thought you might find it interesting:

If you go to http://www.fueleconomy.gov you can compare a regular civic with a hybrid civic.

A regular plain-vanilla Civic costs about $13,500 and has an estimated $908 a year in fuel costs. A hybrid civic costs $19,000 and has $658 in fuel costs. Both these are based on driving 15,000 miles a year.

The difference in cost is $5500. The difference in yearly gas costs is $312. At that rate, you would have to drive the Hybrid for 17.5 years before the money you save in gas is greater than they extra money you paid for a hybrid. If you drive less than 15,000 miles a year, then it's even longer. Even if gas prices double, it's still 8.75 years driving the same car. There are a lot of 9 year old Civics on the road. No one is sure if a Hybrid will last that long.

I'm sure in 20 years almost all new cars will be hybrids, or something similar. Right now they are like computers and digital cameras. Give them 3 years or so and there will probably be something new and better.

Comments

hybrid vs. regular car

[snowtiger61.livejournal.com]

You're not buying the hybrid because you think it's going to break-even based on savings due to MPG.

You're buying the hybrid because the quantity of pollutants it spews is *tiny* compared to regular vehicles.

If one doesn't care about what one is breathing, then just buy a regular car.

Re: hybrid vs. regular car

[uglor.livejournal.com]

according to fueleconomy.gov, the Prius puts out 3.5 tons of greenhouse gasses a year, a Corolla puts out 5.4 tons and a Land Cruiser puts out 13 tons.

Hybrids still burn gas, and still put out a lot of crap.