Break even point for hybrids

TOMS1SS · 03-14-2011, 08:16 PM

Small article pertaining to the break even points on gas for many hybrids vs. MSRP markup. Now if your looking to make an "eco" statement or if you think the Volt is "fanfreakintastic" this probably won't matter to you.

http://www.freep.com/article/2011031...433/1014/rss13

The Stig · 03-14-2011, 08:32 PM

I believe the numbers from a a year or two ago was that you would have to own a prius for 5 years before you'd start bettering the environment.

TOMS1SS · 03-14-2011, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stieger

I believe the numbers from a a year or two ago was that you would have to own a prius for 5 years before you'd start bettering the environment.

I have a 2011 Fiesta I bought brand new for $16,500 this year. So far through 5,500 miles I'm averaging 41.2 MPG or in other words near hybrid levels. A base Prius if I recall correctly starts at $22,000 before you get to options. I can't speak for everyone but I rather pocket the $5,500 I have by not having a hybrid.

The Stig · 03-14-2011, 09:07 PM

No I completely agree with you, I was referencing the environmental impact. As in the carbon footprint from the battery factory, transporting the batteries, the battery waste, etc it would take someone 5 years of driving their prius to make up for it.

TOMS1SS · 03-14-2011, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stieger

No I completely agree with you, I was referencing the environmental impact. As in the carbon footprint from the battery factory, transporting the batteries, the battery waste, etc it would take someone 5 years of driving their prius to make up for it.

Ahhh...yes how I forget the dirty little secret that is the modern battery.

Too bad everyone bailed on hydrogen, that had a nice little "dirty" secret in the separation process....

Dion_1969 · 03-14-2011, 10:54 PM

People buy cars for all kinds of reasons. Most that buy a hybrid are doing so to decrease the environmental impact of driving a car not to save money. They could buy a scooter and get 70MPG if that was the case. Before anyone starts on the story about the environmental impact of the Prius that story has been debunked and not my point. People buy cars to make a statement about themselves.

Scrappy Doo · 03-15-2011, 01:31 PM

The mrs drives about 22,000 miles a year. We are in the process of shopping for a replacement for her 2009 Jetta Wolfsburg turbo. With Her driving habits, the Jetta gets 29-31 mpg highway, with an epa estimated mpg of 22 city/ 29 highway.

I have done some math based on fuel economy, miles driven, and the cost of fuel. A prius (Epa est. 51 city/ 48 highway) would save about $1400 a year in her fuel costs over her current jetta. A nissan sentra sr (epa est 27 city/ 34 highway) would save around $650 a year over her current Jetta.

There is a $8,500 price difference between the Prius that she would drive and the Sentra that she would drive.

So here comes the math: Prius saves $1,400 a year / Sentra saves $650 a year

The Sentra would cost her $750 more a year to drive than the Prius. (Fuel costs only)

However, to make up the $8,500 dollar more expensive Prius, that means 12 years of ownership just to break even with the Sentra. (12 years x 22,000 miles a year = 240,xxx miles)

Disclaimer: This analysis is based on the cost of fuel being the $3.55 a gallon here. if gas goes higher, then the difference between the prius and sentra would narrow.

BlissStreet · 03-15-2011, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scrappy Doo

Disclaimer: This analysis is based on the cost of fuel being the $3.55 a gallon here. if gas goes higher, then the difference between the prius and sentra would narrow.

Which is why petrol prices need to be over $4/US Gallon for a long time before we see people make a mental shift on their own. Closer to $5/US Gallon would be better, IMO. By bringing all fuel prices in line with global ones would push people into making the same purchasing decisions we see in places like Europe and Asia; where people prefer efficient cars, inter/intracity transport and smarter choices in home heating.

But until that happens, it's silly to think people will change their habits.

TOMS1SS · 03-15-2011, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlissStreet

Which is why petrol prices need to be over $4/US Gallon for a long time before we see people make a mental shift on their own. Closer to $5/US Gallon would be better, IMO. By bringing all fuel prices in line with global ones would push people into making the same purchasing decisions we see in places like Europe and Asia; where people prefer efficient cars, inter/intracity transport and smarter choices in home heating.

But until that happens, it's silly to think people will change their habits.

Last time when gas went over $4 dollars a gallon and the economy went down the s****er there was a lot of talk at the federal level of fixing the price at $5 dollars a gallon for regular. Honestly I'm kinda surprised this talk died down with the feds giving so many tax credits to EVs and hybrids.

Scrappy Doo · 03-15-2011, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlissStreet

Which is why petrol prices need to be over $4/US Gallon for a long time before we see people make a mental shift on their own. Closer to $5/US Gallon would be better, IMO. By bringing all fuel prices in line with global ones would push people into making the same purchasing decisions we see in places like Europe and Asia; where people prefer efficient cars, inter/intracity transport and smarter choices in home heating.

But until that happens, it's silly to think people will change their habits.

There would be an awful lot of unhappy pickup owners up here....LOL

03-14-2011, 08:16 PM	#1
TOMS1SS Drives: NA Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NA Posts: 12,126 View My Garage	Break even point for hybrids Small article pertaining to the break even points on gas for many hybrids vs. MSRP markup. Now if your looking to make an "eco" statement or if you think the Volt is "fanfreakintastic" this probably won't matter to you. http://www.freep.com/article/2011031...433/1014/rss13 __________________ El funcionario señor de los desiertos de Mojave y Sonora.

03-14-2011, 08:32 PM	#2
The Stig knows 2 facts about ducks Drives: ...and they're both wrong Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The HMS Invincible Posts: 25,072 View My Garage	I believe the numbers from a a year or two ago was that you would have to own a prius for 5 years before you'd start bettering the environment. __________________

03-14-2011, 09:07 PM	#4
The Stig knows 2 facts about ducks Drives: ...and they're both wrong Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The HMS Invincible Posts: 25,072 View My Garage	No I completely agree with you, I was referencing the environmental impact. As in the carbon footprint from the battery factory, transporting the batteries, the battery waste, etc it would take someone 5 years of driving their prius to make up for it. __________________

03-14-2011, 10:54 PM	#6
Dion_1969 Drives: ABM 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Tarpon springs Posts: 215 View My Garage	People buy cars for all kinds of reasons. Most that buy a hybrid are doing so to decrease the environmental impact of driving a car not to save money. They could buy a scooter and get 70MPG if that was the case. Before anyone starts on the story about the environmental impact of the Prius that story has been debunked and not my point. People buy cars to make a statement about themselves. __________________ Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it- George Santayana

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03-15-2011, 01:31 PM	#7
Scrappy Doo Drives: Callaway Rogue Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: W8n 4 Snow, Minnesota Posts: 4,731	The mrs drives about 22,000 miles a year. We are in the process of shopping for a replacement for her 2009 Jetta Wolfsburg turbo. With Her driving habits, the Jetta gets 29-31 mpg highway, with an epa estimated mpg of 22 city/ 29 highway. I have done some math based on fuel economy, miles driven, and the cost of fuel. A prius (Epa est. 51 city/ 48 highway) would save about $1400 a year in her fuel costs over her current jetta. A nissan sentra sr (epa est 27 city/ 34 highway) would save around $650 a year over her current Jetta. There is a $8,500 price difference between the Prius that she would drive and the Sentra that she would drive. So here comes the math: Prius saves $1,400 a year / Sentra saves $650 a year The Sentra would cost her $750 more a year to drive than the Prius. (Fuel costs only) However, to make up the $8,500 dollar more expensive Prius, that means 12 years of ownership just to break even with the Sentra. (12 years x 22,000 miles a year = 240,xxx miles) Disclaimer: This analysis is based on the cost of fuel being the $3.55 a gallon here. if gas goes higher, then the difference between the prius and sentra would narrow.