I'm doing a speech on hybrid cars (for speech class) but all research points to not buying a hybrid card?

Question

I'm doing a persuasive speech to influence people to buy hybrid cars (it's for college speech class). I'm focusing on the financial benefits (i.e. savings on gas) but reports from consumer protection and Newsweek indicate that the savings on gas with a hybrid are not enough to consider buying one.

The research says that after maintanence costs, insurance, the extra premium to buy hybrids, and so forth that the savings on gas do not add up. It only says that you should buy if you are environmentally conscious and that's not what I'm focuing my speech on.

HELP.

Need sources and articles that say otherwise. Didn't the price of hybrids fall??

Answer 1

It's true, if you run a cost/benefit analysis on buying a hybrid car, it makes no economic sense. Their appeal is emotional.
The best you could do is argue for it by citing future costs...how high would the price of gas have to be to make it economical? Will gas even be available? Can we expect the premium for these cars to decrease as they become more readily available? Will repair costs go down as mechanics get more familiar with them? If you can show that the day is coming when factors like these are favorable, you can then posit that the time to get in on the ground floor, so to speak, is now. If you wait for the crisis to be at hand...it's too late.
Right now the price for hybrids is high because they make so few. Shortages are driven by limited production, not unlimited demand. At some point, as gas prices climb, and operating costs shrink, the demand for these cars will climb past the point that the factories can keep up, even if they run 24/7. When that happens, owning a hybrid will become very profitable.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Sorry, but I think that research that you've found is correct. At this point, the projected gas saving won't make up for the added costs. That could change if gas prices shoot up more. So if everybody continues to use gasoline, then there will be less of it and gas prices will continue to rise.

In some places, the government will give the consumer a rebate for purchasing fuel-efficient vehicles such as hybrids. In places such as those, it might make more economic sense.

The best comparison will be comparing a Civic to a Civic hybrid, ie like for like. If you compare different models or classes, there are too many other variables.

Answer 4

you're able to additionally could desire to mine the steel ores and get oil to offer plastics and capability for the generating. the only way an electric powered motor vehicle is 'eco-friendly', is despite if that's charged off renewable capability aspects, which contain image voltaic, wind and so on. lower back wind generators and image voltaic panels could desire to be prepare someplace. Wind generators are an undemanding layout, metalwork fabrication, yet image voltaic panels contain silica, dug from the earth. the factor is, that once you made the image voltaic panels or wind turbine, they do no longer consume oil, gas or coal to offer skill.In that way that's helping the ecosystem. For a hybrid motor vehicle to be quite 'eco-friendly', you ought to use bio-fuels produced employing renewable capability or (if a diesel) consume recycled vegetable oils the two as by a immediately vegetable oil conversion or (with a sprint undemanding chemistry) as bio-diesel, that's chemically the comparable simply by fact the oil derived version and could paintings in any diesel engine, new or old, without adjustments, which contain gasoline line/tank heaters. one element to undergo in techniques, is that the battery %. could positioned on out or malfunction till now the tip of its existence, so incorporates chemical components that could desire to prefer transporting to be recycled. My determination could be a typical diesel motor vehicle. In organic MPG words, they are not a ways off what a hybrid can return, without issues approximately battery packs no longer lasting as long as they could desire to or merely failing.In maximum hybrids, if the hybrid battery %. is flat, you won't be able to start up the vehicle!

Answer 5

I've never seen anyone do a cost-benefit analysis for a v4 vs v6 vs diesel engine, so why do one for a hybrid drivetrain? Most cost analysis articles neglect trade-in value which the fuel-economy tuned hybrids (like the Prius) or difficult to get/in demand hybrids do very well in maintaining. (in some areas, used Prius are still selling for near new prices for availability and rising gasoline prices!). Don't forget to include any federal and state tax incentives in your calculation (Consumer Reports forgot, and had to issue a retraction that hybrids are cheaper to own/operate than their gasoline cousins). Edmunds.com still doesn't take into account the true depreciation value (as seen by manually looking for a Prius trade-in value) when calculating their TCO, but they still say that hybrids will pay for themselves even when using their lower than actual trade-in amounts:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/08/22/bc.autos.hybrids.reut/index.html

Hybrids do cost less in the long term than their conventional counterparts. (Intellichoice used a 5 year ownership comparison in 2006) See: http://www.intellichoice.com/press/Hybrid-Survey-2006
http://www.intellichoice.com/carBuying101/HypeOverHybrids

While Consumer Reports in 2006 only found the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid would pay off within the same 5 year frame. The Honda Accord Hybrid, the Ford Escape Hybrid, the Lexus RX400h, and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid were also studied.
(I'll note that there was a mathematical error in the initial publication of Consumer Reports' hybrid vehicle cost analysis, which a retraction was published later... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11637968/ )
Since this publication, many more hybrid models have become available, so I can't use this to say about hybrids "in general."


The problem is that not all hybrids are created equal. There are different hybrid technologies, depending on manufacturer. Even among the same manufacturer, you can find one model tuned for performance (power and acceleration) with only a slight fuel efficiency improvement, compared to another for fuel efficiency and emissions. (See the Honda Accord Hybrid vs. Honda Civic Hybrid, or the Lexus models compared to their sister Toyota models...)

There is more to vehicle ownership besides initial purchase cost and the amount of gasoline used - there is also the costs to maintain and insure it, and also depreciation costs.

Maintenance on hybrids tend to be the same, or even less, than the regular model. Insurance depends on your provider, but some (like Travelers) offer discounts for hybrids, otherwise about the same as a comparably-equipped/priced vehicle. Depreciation depends on model, but usually is pretty low on hybrids.

However, the societal costs for emissions are not usually included. The hybrids tend to be at worst an ULEV, with many an AT-PZEV. Some are only sold in CA-emissions states. (Compare that to the often suggested VW TDIs, which cannot be sold new in CA-emission states because of their poor emissions.) In the US, hybrid models tend to be the best in fuel economy in their respective classes, using the same testing procedure to compare all cars (for BOTH highway and city driving!): http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/best/bestworstNF.shtml

Do be sure to check out the April issue of Consumer Reports if you are interested in reliability statistics (several hybrids are in their best bets).

If you would like an idea of the "hybrid premium" (cost of the hybrid version over the price of the comparable (in options and power) non-hybrid version, take a look at the official numbers from the state of Colorado, since the "premium" is used for state income tax credit purposes: http://www.revenue.state.co.us/fyi/html/income09.html
(Remember that the hybrid models tend to also include standard features that are normally only in the more expensive/loaded trim lines of the base model, so adjust your comparison prices accordingly, like CO does...)

Answer 6

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Answer 7

Hi,

this is a simple question that does not have a simple answer. As you can tell from some of your research, there is also a lot of misinformation out there.

But if you'd like to get something nice and caffeinated and settle in for a full answer with real information, stay with me and I'll total up the cost to own, total maintenance and answer the battery myth.

We'll use the Prius for our comparisons, since it is the number one hybrid (in sales and in quality) on the road and it is now ten years old.

Also, we'll limit our comparisons to full hybrids (vehicles that can move using electricity only without the gas engine running) and not partial or mild hybrids like the Saturn Vue Green Line or the Honda Accord Hybrid (that must have the gas engine running for the vehicle to move). Mild or partial hybrids are essentially electrically boosted gas engines and, while better than nothing, do not do much to lessen gas usage.

The Prius actually costs less to own and less to operate than a non-hybrid vehicle- of an equal size and quality.

The cost of operation of a Prius is about .08 cents per mile per 100,000 miles of operation. That number includes gas, tires, regular maintenance, new air filters, coolant flushes, etc. I don't add in insurance, bank interest, or the cost of the vehicle itself, because all of those can vary based on your situation. Add them to the .08 cents per mile amount.

So at .08 cents per mile, about 300 miles for work and driving on the weekends, and with gas at $3.00 per gallon, the Prius will run you about $96.00 a month to gas up and maintain (obviously add in the monthly note on the Prius and insurance).

One of the enduring myths is that a vehicle like the Prius is equal to a Yaris, Corolla, Fit, standard Civic, or any of the other small cars out there that get very good mileage.

The Prius is actually equal to the Camry or Accord in terms of build quality, size, and features, and even comes with more standard equipment, at the entry level, than either of those vehicles at their entry level.

But to answer the question about breaking even comparing the Prius to another vehicle with better than average mileage that is currently available with or without a hybrid option, we'll use the Civic.

A Civic will maintain 33-34 average if driven well, meaning no hard starts and anticipating what's going to happen with traffic and lights.

A Prius will maintain 51-53 average if driven properly, meaning easing off the accelerator when coming to a stop and accelerating like there is a egg under the accelerator and trying to roll the egg out, not crush it.

I maintain 51-53 with any Prius I drive, not just a daily driver, so I know those numbers are accurate.

So, using a 20mpg difference, with 15,000 miles per year, and gas at $3.00 per gallon, you should expect these numbers:

15000 miles / 33mpg = 455 gallons used @ $3.00 per gallon = $1365.00 for gas each year

15000 miles / 53mpg = 284 gallons used @ $3.00 per gallon = $852.00 for gas each year

A difference of $513.00 per year, or $2565.00 less over five years, the usual new car loan.

As far as the cost to maintain a Prius over 100,000 miles:

- There is no steering belt or steering pump, the system is electronic and uses electric motors. There is no belt to wear and no pump to lose fluid out of (ever hear a car squeal when it goes around a corner? that's the belt or pump going bad) No cost there.

- There is no accelerator cable or cable linkage, once again, it is electronic. So there is no loss of acceleration over time from cable stretch and wear like on a standard vehicle. No cost there.

- The brake pads should never need to be replaced, they are hardly used due to the regenerative braking system. I just found another set of pictures on the net of a Prius with no appreciable wear on the brake pads. The brake pads were measured with calipers and the owner thought to take pictures of the pads when his Prius had 8,000 miles and at 105,000 miles. That's 97,000 miles with no appreciable wear. No cost there.

- You never touch the nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery or the hybrid system, it is self regulating. No cost there.

- The gas engine is not tuned up for 100,000 miles. At 15,000 miles per year, that's about seven years. And even then...

- four spark plugs run $12.00 each, four is $48.00 (the wires aren't replaced and there are no distributors because each cylinder has a direct injection module and they are not replaced)

- coolant is $15.50 a gallon and you need two gallons, or $31.00 (if you live in an extremely hot or cold climate, you might need to change the coolant 2X in 100,000 miles so figure $62.00 there)

- air filters are $18.00 for the engine and $25.00 for the cabin

- inspect the wiring, change the oil (might as well, since you're there) lube, inspect and flush the brake lines, flush the coolant if necessary. It runs about $225.00, which includes parts.

- the sealed, continuously variable transmission fluid is not changed until 90,000 miles, about $140.00

- The OEM (Original Equipment from the Manufacturer) Goodyear Integrity's are about $113.00 each, installed. The originals are low-rolling resistance, specialty tires, just like a truck or sports car. They will last about 35,000 or so. Three sets of OEM tires- over 105,000 miles- will run $339.00 installed.

- Oil and filter changes every 3000 miles and tire rotations every 6000 miles, just like any other vehicle. Oil changes are about $26.00 and tire rotations are about $18.00, or about $884.00 for oil changes and $306.00 for rotations over 100,000 miles

So, over 100,000 miles, for regular service, your Prius should run about $1973, rounded to $2000, or about .02 cents per mile.

We'll go high and say your gas should run you about $6,000 over 100,000 miles, or about .06 cents per mile (100,000 miles / 50 mpg (I get 51.7 mpg currently as an average, city and highway, auto temp w/air and stereo on) = 2000 gallons of gas X $3.00 a gallon = $6,000).

So your Prius will run you about $8000, or .08 cents per mile, to operate over 100,000 miles.

I used 100,000 miles because it is a easy, round number, and most people don't keep their vehicles more than 6 or 7 years. The Prius will last much, much longer than 100,000, and it will perform better at that amount than most vehicles on the road with 100,000 or 150,000 miles.

Any vehicle you are considering should be put to this kind of scrutiny. A vehicle is a major investment and it will cost you money to run properly. Please print this info out and use it to compare any vehicles you are considering by calling the local dealership and asking the parts and service departments what is involved in maintenance over 100,000 miles.

All of my service and parts amounts come from a local Toyota dealership, and do not figure in any kind of promotions, coupons, or discounts. I called on 6/12/07.

As far as the energy and materials for the NiMH batteries go:

Our federal government has tested NiMH batteries from the Prius and discovered they still maintain 90% of their capacity after 100,000 miles. They do not lose 10% capacity/storage/efficiency per year, as others have stated. Look up the testing at the DOE website.

Toyota has never had a customer pay to replace a nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery in any of their hybrids ever. That is for Prius, Camry Hybrids or Highlander Hybrids. The Prius have been in the US since 2000, eight years, and in Japan for the last ten years.

There have been NiMH batteries replaced because of accidents or owner damage or neglect (wiring in a big stereo, for example), but no one has ever had to pay otherwise.

BTW, the price for a new NiMH battery for either generation of the Prius is $2985.13, not the $5-10,000.00 that people like to throw around the internet. Call your local Toyota dealer and ask for the parts department.

And the current record is over 360,000 miles on a Prius using the original NiMH battery and hybrid system. Many Prius are used as taxis and also by the State of New York and Colorado as state municipal vehicles racking up 100,000-200,000 miles without issue on a regular basis. Those are not typos, anything else you may have seen is an urban myth.

Speaking for Toyota, there is an 800 number on each nickel metal hydride battery (the one that provides the energy to move the Prius, Camry, or Highlander Hybrids) and that number allows a person to turn in that battery for a $200.00 bounty.

The entire battery, just like almost every bit of those vehicles, is completely recyclable.

The alkaline batteries that people use and throw out are a different type of battery than what is in vehicles like the Prius. The Hybrid Synergy Drive unit that Toyota developed is designed to keep the NiMH battery in a mid-peak charge range, trying not to top-charge it or, of course, completely discharge it.

That enables a NiMH to last fairly indefinitely. Obviously, there will be some breakdown eventually, but one of the great things about the Prius system, for example, is the NiMH battery is composed of 36 individual cells. If one cell goes bad, it can be replaced and the remainder stay. That is what's happened when Toyota has torture tested the Prius in Alaska and Death Valley.

Working with Toyota, I know about their commitments to recycling and the environment (Toyota's web site lists environmental reports dating back many years).

As far as the supposed "environmental impact" of the nickel metal hydride batteries in the Prius, Camry Hybrid and Highlander Hybrid...

The plant in Sudbury where Toyota buys approximately 1.5% of the plant's annual nickel output can be seen using this Google maps address:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&la...

Sudbury, Ontario is called the mining capital of the world for good reason.

The Sudbury plant has been in continuous operation since the rock was blasted to make way for the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1883.

That means that nickel has been mined there for the last 124 years. The Prius has been on the road since 1998. What about all the environmental damage done for the 116 years before the Prius ever came along?

There used to be a great deal of pollution at the Sudbury plant, just like there was at a lot of factory facilities. However, new pollution controls are in place and Sudbury residents themselves will talk about how things are improving dramatically in the area around the plant. Young trees are growing there, even now.

Another thing noted about the area around the plant is the Apollo astronauts trained there. It has been said that the area around the plant was as lifeless a wasteland as the moon. Actually, the astronauts trained there because the rock formations were similar to those on the moon. This area of Ontario was hit by a meteorite which created a basin and caused much of the look of the area. The moonscape feeling is also from the slag heaps from smelter output. Anyone who has ever seen any factory facility knows there is always a large amount of material left over from the original raw materials, be that a nickel plant, a steel smelter, or a dog food producer.

Also the environmental damage is not all due to the nickel plant - there is other industry, and a lot of the trees disappeared due to extensive logging.

Here's a breakdown:

The Sudbury nickel plant produces around 60,000 tons of nickel per year. If Toyota buys 1000 tons/year, that's around 6% of the total output.

I have personally presented a Prius battery to local safety responders and fire department personnel. The entire pack weighs 117.47 pounds, which is the components as well as the actual nickel itself. The nickel weighs about 50 pounds. So that's 50lb per Prius, with 2000 pounds per ton, that's 40 Prius per ton of nickel.

Considering the plant puts out 120,000,000 pounds of nickel each year, each Prius uses about 0.000024 of the annual production of the Sudbury plant.

And that's about it. No surprises and the maintenance is pretty simple. Please let me know if my math is off anywhere, and I'll be glad to make corrections.