Hybrid Vs Conventional vehicles?

Question

Obviously electric / petrol hybrids use less fuel than a conventional vehicle.

Is there also a difference in the other running costs, for example maintenance, and which is cheaper?

Are there any other factors I should consider if looking to buy a hybrid?

Are there new technologies about to be commercially released in passenger vehicles which I ought to consider holding off for?

Answer 1

if you live in CA they have fuel cell cars. they are like battery charged. i cant tell you exactly, but i know honda has a civic with the fuel cell. they have fueling stations throughout CA. go to honda.com for more info, ive gone to their website many times.

Answer 2

Hybrid maintenance costs are less, because they rely less on the internal combustion engine (an electric motor doesn't have any moving parts than can break).  They also require less frequent oil changes, and the brake pads last much longer due to the regenerative braking system.

A recent study showed that many hybrids make up the additional extra cost in just a few years.  For example, the Camry hybrid pays off in 1.6 years, the Prius in 3.5 years.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...

One thing to consider is that there will be a lot of advances made in the next few years.  2010 is touted to be 'the year to buy a new car' because so many new technologies will be available then.  The Chevy Volt, plug-in Prius, several fully electric cars, etc.  See the links below for further details.

Answer 3

First response is correct.  But Diesel fuel is expensive, and a good gasoline hybrid can be cheaper to run than a Diesel.  My 2004 Honda gets about 40 mpg.

Answer 4

You will find that the better made hybrids (toyota, and honda) have very good maintenance records, and can need even less maintenance then non-hybrid. For example, their brake pads wear out much slower because most of the breaking energy goes into the generator that recharges the electric batteries.

A few of the manufacturers are getting ready to come out with plug in hybrids. these are cars that can run solely on electric for a distance (around 12-29 miles) and then become hybrid and use the gas engine to recharge their batteries.

Answer 5

Ive heard that if you get a good economy vehicle that gets at least 35 mpg, it is a better value then a hybrid over the life of the car, when comparing maintenance coast.

Answer 6

- the original cost, and maintenance cost of a hybrid will be higher.

- i expect that, with the renewed interest, there will be more efficient cars soon.

- the system that the toyota prius uses seems to be the best, by far.  so good, in fact, that  (A)  nissan pays to use it in the nissan ultima hybrid and  (B)  city mileage is better than highway mileage -- a condition that was unheard of before the prius.

it may well be good to wait a couple years.

i think i saw a honda civic that got 35 mpg on craig's list.

if i was looking, that's where i'd go.

Answer 7

If price is important to you,  You should probably not buy a hybrid.  Someone on TV said you would have to drive a hybrid ten years before it could pay for itself.

Answer 8

Actually, if you do your research, hybrid cars aren't as economical as they could be. It is already proven that the new diesel passenger cars are much more economical than hybrids.