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Driving - Should You Hybrid? |
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By: Kyle Busch - Monday, September 18, 2006
Given the recent surge in gas prices, gas/electric vehicles "hybrids" have become all the rage. Those perceptive Japanese (Toyota and Honda) always seem to bring vehicles to the market at just the right time. This time, however, Ford also comes to the party with a hybrid SUV.
The hybrids include Toyota's Prius and Camry, Honda's Insight and Accord, and Ford's Escape. Given the great consumer demand for these vehicles, should you also wait in line with the crowd and get one?
These vehicle offer great gas mileage and very low exhaust emissions.Great gas mileage is about 52-55 mpg on the highway for the Prius and the Insight, and about 40-42 mpg for the Escape. Exhaust emissions consist of very low or even no pollution during certain driving conditions or when these vehicles are at rest.
Some of the basic features of a hybrid vehicle include an electric motor that assists a small internal combustion engine. A gasoline engine consumes the majority of fuel when accelerating a vehicle from a dead stop. The engine also consumes fuel when idling at traffic lights, stop signs, or in lines of traffic.
By Contrast, a hybrid's electric motor assists the gasoline engine when accelerating from a standing start. When the driver brakes, electricity is generated to recharge the battery used to power the electric motor. Furthermore, the engine shuts down when the driver uses the brakes or when the vehicle is stopped. Then, when the driver touches the accelerator, the gasoline engine comes to life and a computer seamlessly combines contributions from both the engine and the motor to maximize fuel efficiency and drivability. All the workings of the two systems are undetected by the driver.
These technological marvels have consumers waiting in line to buy hybrid vehicles. What do hybrid vehicles cost in relation to what they will save in fuel?
At introduction, hybrids cost about $5,000 above a regular gasoline vehicle. At present, the Prius and the Insight cost about $3,000 extra and the Escape is about $5,000 extra.
Now add in the supply vs. demand factor.The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price "MSRP" for the Prius is about $19,000, however, some consumers are paying about $30,000 for the car.
Will the consumer who prevails in obtaining a hybrid vehicle ever recoup the extra $10,000 plus he or she spent to buy the car? Most likely not! Even if the cost is an extra $3,000, at some point, the consumer might need to repair components related to the "traditional" gasoline engine, components related to the electric motor, or components from the charging system? Thus, the owner is responsible for all the components of a regular car plus the components of an additional electric motor system.
It seems that Toyota, Honda, and Ford are using this opportunity to conduct "real world" testing on the electrical systems of hybrid vehicles. The real breakthrough will be when these manufacturers offer a completely electric vehicle that eliminates pollution, provides less noise, and eliminates systems (such as fuel, exhaust, ignition, etc.) that require repair and/or replacement.
When the cost of electric vehicles are less expensive to buy, operate, and maintain than a comparable sized gasoline engine vehicle, its purchase price will indeed be justified.
Kyle Busch is the author of the book “Drive the Best for the Price …,”
and his car has been driven over 437,000 miles. His auto web site:
www.drivethebestbook.com accepts all car questions.
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