[BOOTSTICK]

Hybrid cars are a poor consumer choice. First they do not get the MPG's they tout , more like 20% less. Second a consumer would have to drive the typical hybrid some 20-30 years to make up the outrageous price of these cars{ almost 2 times the typical gasoline mini car}. Third the manufacturers of Hybrids have stated that they have a usable life of 8-10 years, and a battery replacement can be near $6000. making the hybrid a poor option for purchase as opposed to lease, since the trade in value of a hybrid car that has not yet had a battery replacement will be near nothing. No used car dealer would want a used hybrid on his lot that had not had it's battery replaced, since it could never compete with gasoline mini cars that need no $6,000 tune up.

[mcg1969]

Hybrid technology is definitely improving. The new Lexus mid-sized SUV is coming out in both a hybrid and a gasoline version. The hybrid will actually have better peformance than the gasoline version, with higher mileage to boot. Now THAT's a hybrid I would consider. Indeed the torque profile of an electric motor would be great for foul-weather driving.

[Law is not justice but process]

"Second a consumer would have to drive the typical hybrid some 20-30 years to make up the outrageous price of these cars"

Hybrid cars have turned out to be a bit of a humbug. Even if gas were $5 a gallon and the fuel savings of the hybrid car were significant enough to make the car purchase price difference palatable, cars powered by straight electricity, hydrogen, natural gas, propane, or some yet to be developed propulsion system would be cheaper than even the hybrid. We need to go back to the drawing board on hybrids. Maybe they would work better with diesel motors (remember those diesel VW rabbits from the early 80's? No performance at all, but they sure were efficient).

[jayef]

Toyota Prius

Anybody that thinks I'm gonna drop 20 gr to drive this rig has a screw loose.

[stylin19a]

Yes the difference in price in let's say a Toyota Prius vs. Toyoto Echo is almost double....but so is the MPG.

Gas cars don't get the MPG's touted either...so that's a wash.

Your point about buying a used Hybrid is well taken.
In Toyota's case, The original Prius battery has in excess of a 180,000 mile shelf life. In reality, who keeps a car 180,000 miles ?
So far, Toyota hasn't repalced a single battery pack because of wear & tear.

The cost of battery technology has already been reduce 36%since the Prius hit the market. and it will continue to go down.

Trading an Echo for Prius doesn't make much sense, but
trading my 2003 Escape for a Prius, purely based on cost to operate, makes a whole lot of sense.

Since we probably will see $3.00 a gallon before we see $1.50 a gallon, these Hybrid's are starting to look better to me all the time.

Thanx for getting me to thinking

[Chemist_Geek]

First they do not get the MPG's they tout

No vehicle gets the EPA "touted" mileage in actual use, so that's no reason to think that hybrid vehicles are a "poor" choice.

No one's had to replace a Prius battery yet. Even when it's necessary, the Prius pack design is modular so only the weak module will need replacing.

And the $6000 quote is absurd. No one thinks that the cost will be anywhere near even $2000, let alone 6.

In reality, hybrids are better than any other presently available vehicle. They will only be surpassed by hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles, once those reach market.

[The Toad]

One of the reasons the "hybrids" aren't as environmentally friendly as many tout is that the batteries are filled with dangerous acids. Also, hybrids produce more pollution than internal combustion engines in the manufacturing stage of the process... or so I've read.

[LibertarianInExile]

Still, they get better mileage than a gas car. And the more that are made, the lower the price on those parts.

I wonder what the production cost of pollution is for a hybrid vs. normal car. It'd be interesting to see that comparison.

[luckystarmom]

Your facts are wrong.

1)We have a hybrid and get more MPGs that what is stated.

2)The replacement cost for the battery is much less than what you state, and is coming down every year. I think it is now down to about $1000. By the time we actually need one in about 7 years, then I figure the cost will be down to only a few hundred dollars.

3) There is more to a Prius than just the cost of making it. Just like people who buy an expensive Mercedes, people buy Prius' for more than just what it cost. They are a lot of fun to drive. They are quieter than most cars. It drives much better than my mother's very expensive Lexxus.