What's the point of making hybrid cars that are so overpriced that they may be out of reach to to own?

Question

They have made something that helps the economy but, folks can't afford them, what's the point? Why didn't they just mass produce and sell them at a cheaper rate so everyone can afford them? At this rate, it'll take years for the prices to go down and that many more years for them to even have any affect on our ecosystem. Do you not think we need them now? And many car makers don't even have them? I mean jeez, it's like they are Mercedes or something! And some car makers have yet to even make a Hyrbird.

Answer 1

I don't know what you're talking about. I bought a new Toyota Prius for $22,000 (see the link). Now, I can't tell what you mean by overpriced, because you didn't give a range of what an inexpensive car is. As you can see, $22,000 is no where near a Mercedes.

Hybrids are mass produced. Toyota has sold over 1 million hybrids, with the overwhelming majority being the Prius. And Honda has sold a few hundred thousand Civic hybrids.

We do need them now, but manufacturers will only build more of them when there is more of a demand.

BTW...to all those people who constantly hype the diesel HIGHWAY fuel economy (I wish you would provide manufacturer data to support it), please understand that 79.2% of all people in the U.S. live in urban areas. That means the CITY fuel economy is the more important number. Stop and go traffic is h**l on fuel economy, unless you're driving a Prius (I get 55 mpg in the city).

Answer 2

Hybrids are more expensive than similar non-hybrids because they cost more to build.  It's not like the automakers are artificially inflating the price, in fact it's been said that Toyota has lost money (at least initially) in making and selling the Prius.

The Prius base model costs about $22,000, which is not extravagant for a new car.  You are correct that the more hybrids are mass-produced, the more their price will decrease.  But first people have to buy the current hybrids to make it worth the automakers' while to build more.  In the meantime many hybrids are affordable when you consider the savings on gas and maintenance and such.

Answer 3

all because of world political n economical factors. we already have people invent such car using minimal parts such as Vehicle operated by air,water,solar energy, bio fuel from palm,corn.  

Just that political n economical reasons stop this tech from expanding to make it available to us. what happened if drastically we stop using petrol n diesel? thousands will unemployed at least . this is just part of it. if it took part there must be certain plan or other revenue for such countries to maintain its economic growth.

i also mention such tech  use minimal parts so somehow it will also affect vendors n sub cons of  car manufacturer. Government cant afford to loose money unless it can be pass to peoples as for companies also cant afford to loose their money with all sky high research so they pass to consumers.

everyone want to save planet earth however we are too materialistic to loose some of what we have now.Its  very convenience just drive to petrol pump and pour the energy in minutes rather than charge car for hours.

Answer 4

Many hybrid cars are priced where they are not practical. Economically practical hybrids AT THIS TIME include the Camry, the Prius, and possibly the Civic.  If the price of gas increases to $4 or $5 (a very real possibility), many more hybrids will be economically practical.  Wait several years and hybrids will be economically viable.  The price of gas will go up as the price of hybrids comes down.

Remember that auto manufacturers are not in business to do good things for society, they are in business to provide products that people will buy and to make a profit.  If doing good things for society will make money for the stockholders, then that's what they will do.

Answer 5

Well, peak oil is getting closer( when we will get the most oil we ever will, and after that our oil output is down hill) and a hybrid would probably pay off because gas is just going to get more expensive.

Answer 6

I think you answered your own Q ! yes they are expensive and your right if they wanted to they could stop producing regular cars but the economy would plummit, no more gas, no more jobs , stock will fall and so on. By the time it does happen it will probally be to late !

Answer 7

the biggest price raiser is the batteries they use, they lithium ion, like the ones found in mobiles. Yes its true that the price is still high, but you must appreciate that a lot of research has been put in the development of such cars. Physically a hybrid has to be quite large, like a saloon car at least to accommodate the engine, the big battery and the electric motors.

as a costumer you have lower fuel consumptions, eg a good hatchback with diesel engine can give you 50 miles per gallon, while a big hybrid can give more than 75miles per gallon. Some countries offer tax exemptions or duty discounts for hybrid owner.

There's a point i dont understand about hybrid, if they built as an Eco friendly car, why are they equiped with electric windows an air-conditioning?? also to reduce friction they use low friction tyres( which you can skid more), It looks like people prefer having a button to raise their window than brake safely

Answer 8

It takes time for these things to happen.  After the first car was invented in the late 1800s, it took almost 50 years for the average American to be able to afford one (the model T).

Answer 9

Every new technology is going to be expensive until it becomes more mainstream. There are lots of people who are environmentally-conscious and who do have the money. Let them start the ball rolling. I know that they did make electric cars, which are better than hybrids, some years ago in California but that was all stopped by the oil companies. The car manufacturers were somehow bullied I think into recalling all thier electric vehicles and stating that they were just not efficient. I think that Japan is now producing electric cars.

Answer 10

I THINK THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT  WOULDNT SUPPORT INVENTORS WITH CHEAPER RATE... JUST LIKE IN THE PHILIPPINES, A CERTAIN FILIPINO INVENTOR INVENT A CAR THAT CAN BE FUELED UP BY WATER......IT WAS SHOWN TO THE PUBLIC THAT IT WORKS BUT  STILL THE GOVERNMENT DIDNT SUPPORT IT THEY HAD THEIR ALLIBY .........BUT FOR ALL OF US LETS FACE IT ITS BECAUSE THEY WONT BE ABLE TO GET  TAX  FROM OILS THAT WE PURCHASE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES AND IT WOULD KEEP THEM FROM CORRUPTING ,,,,,,,

            THEY ALL HAVE THIER OWN INTENTIONS SOMETIMES I THINK THESE  PEOPLE ARE PLAYING WITH US......

Answer 11

The point is to get the worlds cleanest car into our country.    It runs on compressed air and should be out this year.  It's cheaper than any hybrid cars.

" After fourteen years of research and development, Guy Negre has developed an engine that could become one of the biggest technological advances of this century. Its application to Compressed Air Technology(CAT) vehicles gives them significant economical and environmental advantages. With the incorporation of bi-energy (compressed air + fuel) the CAT Vehicles have increased their driving range to close to 2000 km with zero pollution in cities and considerably reduced pollution outside urban areas.

   The application of the MDI engine in other areas, outside the automotive sector, opens a multitude of possibilities in nautical fields, co-generation, auxiliary engines, electric generators groups, etc. Compressed air is a new viable form of power that allows the accumulation and transport of energy. MDI is very close to initiating the production of a series of engines and vehicles. The company is financed by the sale of manufacturing licenses and patents all over the world."

Answer 12

I have a 98 Honda and it gets better mileage than most of the hybrid's.

Answer 13

Very good question... one that I would like to hear a legitimate answer to !  it is a matter of greed...the auto makers want to squeeze the last bit that they can from the fossil-fuel Earth killing models, before switching focus to "greener" alternatives ... they are motivated by the almighty dollar ... not by the moral obligation of saving the planets atmosphere... when everyone gets on the same page and demands reform of the polluting auto industry by buying and creating a demand for "green" transportation ... then they will switch focus !    saddly there are idiots that refuse to believe that there is any problem at all and create a forum for doubt and debate...when Washington is underwater THEN they will say " Oh we might have been wrong"   pisses me off that they are so arrogant at MY  (and your)  expense !

Answer 14

people buy hybrid cars, although they are more expensive, when the saving on gas make it worthwhile, or they do it in a declarative mode, to show they are going green.

the extra cost of hybrid cars is the batteries, and the price of batteries is going down all the time, with cheaper components and mass production effecting this reduction.

The accepted estimate is that it will take 5-7 years, until hybrid cars will drop their costs to make such cars the preferred option to buy