Do Hybrid cars save you money?
I bought a Honda Civic Hybrid (45+mpg) in 2002/3 with the idea that it would reduce my carbon footprint and save me money over the years. Initially it was a tough decision, because gas prices were still low ~$1.50/gallon. I calculated that at the higher sticker value of the car $19k (vs $15k non-hybrid) it would take me at least 4 years just to cover the extra cost of the car. But there was a dealer incentive $2k rebate (hybrids weren't moving off the lots fast enough), and a government tax deduction $2k (2 years in a row). So with the extra cost covered by other means, and the being greener incentive, the only other concern was the technology-too new or not ready?
I guess I was more accepting than most of America to embrace a new technology; my uncle had an electric car that kept running out of juice in weird places, so this seemed like the perfect compromise- a gas powered car with an electric motor run off a battery charged by kinetic energy (braking/flywheel etc). To sweeten the deal, California had High Occupancy Vehicle stickers that would allow a qualifying hybrid car in the Carpool lane.
So I plunked down cash and bought the hybrid. Unlike the Prius, the Honda Civic Hybrid looks like a regular car. No space age console and blind spots, just a little indicator that tells you mpg and battery charge levels. That little indicator really helped me learn to be a more fuel efficient driver, (not as crazy as the "hyper-milers") but enough so that there's a noticeable difference in consumption when Gwynie drives the car. It's so quiet running, that at traffic lights passengers always comment on the silence. Within 2 months of buying the car, gas jumped from $1.50 to $2.50 and I was telling myself to start commuting by BART to work. Fast forward through to the most recent high of $5.00/gallon, and I'm congratulating myself on that fateful decision. I should point out that most of my miles are freeway, and I think other people I've talked to get considerably lower mileage around town. I'm just about to take the car in for it's 90k mile service. So you can see that it's been through it's paces several times over. I guess I'm at the point now where I'm examining the choice, weighing the pros and cons.
Here are my initial calculations
total miles driven on my car 90k miles
my average mileage (45mpg)->90k miles/45 mpg=2000 gallons
have calculated cumulative gas costs using
original price of gas $1.50/gallon-> 2000 gallons x $1.50/gallon=$3000
vs most recent high $5.00/gallon-> 2000 gallons x $5.00/gallon=$10,000
Clearly the actual cost lies somewhere in between those 2 values,
assume an average of $3.25/gallon-> 2000 gallons x $3.25/gallon=$6,500
Compared against the (t)rusty 4Runner (now retired to the scrap heap)
average mileage (16 mpg)->90k miles/45 mpg=5625 gallons
cumulative gas costs using
original price of gas $1.50/gallon-> 5625 gallons x $1.50/gallon=$8,437.50
vs most recent high $5.00/gallon-> 5625 gallons x $5.00/gallon=$28,125
assume an average of $3.25/gallon-> 5625 gallons x $3.25/gallon=$18,281.25
Difference in driving costs (not including insurance and registration)
original price of gas $1.50/gallon->$8,437.50-$3,000=$5437.5
vs most recent high $5.00/gallon->$28,125- $10,000=$18,125
assume an average of $3.25/gallon-> $18,281.25-$6,500=$11,781.25
In retrospect I'm happy with my decision, I've reduced my carbon footprint and saved at least $6k and prolly almost $12k given the jump in gas prices. The carpool lane stickers allow me to drive into the city in about 15 minutes vs the 30 minute parking lot that most other people experience. Would I buy another hybrid? I'm holding out for an improvement in technology. I'd like to see a hybrid bio-diesel 4WD station wagon with a freezing tolerant battery (and of course another round of carpool stickers).