Just bought a Rav4 Prime (plug in hybrid) for my wife. The Rav4 Hybrid probably saves about $2,300 in fuel costs per 100,000 miles @ $3.20/gallon over the ICE model which just barely justifies the price difference. The plug in saves an additional $2,000 @ $0.13/kWH (my current rate), assuming at 60-40 mix of electric/hybrid driving. The $9,000 rebate ($1,500 Massachusetts DOT, $7,500 Federal Tax Credit) makes it “free money” as far as I am concerned. I would never vote for a politician who advocated these rebates, but if I have to pay for them, I might as well benefit.
I can’t tell you how please Mrs. POF and I are to subsidize your purchase!
Get back to us this winter and let us know how it performs in the Mass. winter.
If you could have arranged for free solar panels, you’d be all set — not kidding.
that also assumes the more complicated hybrid has the same, or lower cost of ownership per mile.
one out of warranty battery failure will wipe out all the gas savings.