[Phlyer]

Gas-electric hybrid works great.

Not so much. Ultimately, the fuel used to get somewhere is a function of the total work to be performed, and a heavier car (meaning one with a lot of weight in batteries and electric motors) will take more total energy (fuel) than a lighter car.

The only exception to that is if you waste a lot of fuel in non-productive segments - such as low-speed, slow-acceleration, start-and-stop driving. If your primary driving is on congested city streets, then a hybrid might be competitive on total fuel used - though never on cost.

One way they make the hybrids seem competitive is by decreasing performance. As an example, a Prius weighs 1/3 more than an Echo (both by Toyota), but the combined gas/electric power of the Prius is 98 hp. vs. 108 hp. for the Echo. If you put a 70hp engine in an Echo, it would get better gas mileage than a Prius and still have a higher power-to-weight.

If the EPA really wanted to help the citizenry (which they obviously do not) then they would create a third category of mileage - highway, city, and congested city. On the third (but only the third) hybrids would be competitive. If that is a driver's primary situation, then they should buy a hybrid and I'm glad they have the choice. But forcing it - through subsidies - on the rest of us is not good economics, it's not good environmental policy, it's not good energy policy, and - ultimately - it's not fair.

[trisham]

Interesting. Thanks!

[diogenes ghost]

"Gas-electric hybrid works great....not so much"

It depends on what your criteria for 'works great' is.

By my criteria, it is phenomenal.

Porsche 918

McClaren P1

[volunbeer]

Nice analysis.

I am curious - using the math of this article, what would the comparable costs be for the Toyota Prius and the Honda high mileage Civic?