Are Hybrids Worth It?

Hey Mr. Green,
 
I'm shopping for a used car and am seriously considering a used hybrid, such as a Civic or Prius. Friends have warned me that hybrid batteries wear out and are very expensive to replace. So what is the expected life of a used hybrid battery and what do new hybrid batteries cost? I emailed the same question to the Car Talk guys, but their auto-response said they get 500 emails a day, so they are unlikely to be able to respond.

-- Dale Wright in Tacoma, Washington

I’m honored to fill in for the worthy Car Talk guys, and relish another opportunity to refute those chronic hybrid-dissers who keep busy contriving anti-hybrid arguments. Even if you did have replace the battery, you’d still probably come out money ahead with the hybrid.

The expected battery life, according to Toyota, is at least 100,000 miles or 8 years for the first-generation Prius models. To back this up, the batteries of the first-generation Priuses are covered by warranty for this mileage and time period, and both companies report a very low failure rate even for batteries past their warranty period.

In some states (your neighboring Oregon and California, plus Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont, batteries of second-generation Priuses (2004 to 2008) are covered for 150,000 miles or 10 years. So if you buy a used hybrid, be sure you have the warranty because if the battery croaked before reaching these miles or age, you shouldn't have to pay to replace it. The Honda battery life expectancy and warranties are the same.

Toyota says that its recommended price for a a battery pack for a first-generation Prius is $2,299, while the price or the battery pack for the second-generation cars (2004 to 2008 models) is $2,588. That's the battery price itself; the individual dealer’s markup and charges for labor will of course add to this. So you’re looking at something around $3,000 to $3,500 if the hybrid has exceeded the warranty limits. Honda has similar prices for the Civic.

A lot of money, yes, but, if you drive the Prius sensibly, you should get around 45 miles per gallon. So, that means you get 20 mpg more than the all-too-typical 25. If you drive 10,000 miles per year, you'd save 188 gallons per year, or $564 at $3 per gallon. So in five or six years (or sooner, if gas prices go up drastically, as they occasionally do), your fuel savings would cover the cost of battery replacement.

Of course, I don't recommend that everybody rush out and buy a Prius. It depends on what you can afford and what the car costs. As I've said before, some folks might be better off buying a cheaper car with lower mpg, and investing the extra cash in other energy-saving measures, like insulation, solar panels, a new furnace, and so on.

Comments

[Lee Smith]

Thank you for the interesting article. My question as to environmental impact is - are these cars and batteries really double cargoed to and from Japan, and if so, shouldn't fuel used for that be figured into final consumption?

[sealed lead acid batteries]

Very informative and well written. It'll be interesting to see the developments in the coming years!

[voiture thermique]

Hey, If you are looking to buy used cars, you should be very careful in selecting the right vehicles. There is no hesitation that used vehicles are really cheap cars. they can come with many faults and and also technical problems. For that reason, you have to make sure that you choose the vehicle which is free from faults.You may want to speak with your friends or family to get the best deal. This way can give you basic information on how the car was maintained and taken care of. But keep in mind it's not the only way that you can do.In this generation, it is possible to purchase used cars online. The search engine in the internet will provide you thousands of choices of what you are searching for. This powerful online tool is very helpful since it will save you much time in trying to find really cheap used cars for sale.

[truck rental]

This is amazing! I had no idea these batteries cost so much! But I guess if you drive a lot it is economic to use the batteries and save on the fuel.

[moving company]

Thank you for writing interesting articles. What I think that Battery is not so much expensive to use. It is more economic as well as beneficial as compared to fuel. I am using it from last 10 years and never got any problem .

[Nissan Redding, California]

Thanks for sharing something about hybrid cars. Wow, it really does save you a lot of money. I've been riding with my brother whenever I go to work ever since I finished college. I think it's about time that I drive my own car. Thanks to your suggestion, I might consider buying a hybrid.

[Palm Springs Used Cars]

Nice and thorough explanation. I didn't realize that the battery was so expensive. MPG is better but it would take 4-5 years to recoup. I get tired of driving the same car that long and would prefer to switch it up a bit.

[DB]

First, your math is wrong. A 45mpg vehicle will save 178 gallons, not 188 gallons, over a 25mpg vehicle during a 10,000 mile year.

Second, your 45mpg hybrids should be compared to 35mpg counterparts - they're all sub-compact cars, and every standard sub-compact worth anything gets 35mpg on average. That brings your hybrid gas savings down to 63 gallons per year... X $3.00/gallon = $189/year. It's going to take 18.5 years to pay for that battery (or the hybrid premium at time of vehicle purchase). Bottom line - Hybrids DON'T save money. They COST money.

As for environmental considerations - consider the extra resources required to manufacture and recycle hybrid vehicles. No one is doing Mama Earth a favor there either.

[ferragamo shoes]

the information of this post is very relevant
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[Joseph]

I just did a paper on the diffence between a Hybrid car and a gas powered car. it takes a long time for that hybridyou bought to pay itself off. That is IF your battery dosen't die in that time it takes to pay itself off.

[Ryan]

I think the other factor to consider, at least cost wise, is that hybrids are much more expensive to purchase than a normal car. Factor this in, plus the battery price, and it really isnt worth it.

[timejak]

DB, I think you are a bit on the cynical side. First off true MPG are based on driving habits and the mfg. MPG rating for the car. If you have an aggressive drive then the MPG will be considerably lower than a moderate driver over time. Third the hybrid cars essential teach you how to drive a hybrid. If you observe the electrical power / gas-engine power being applied you can pretty much determine the best methodology for driving a hybrid. I just bought a 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid and the first thing I noticed is that when I'm driving on the interstate I try to drive as efficient as possible based on the hybrid monitoring system. I'm finding with the Camry Hybrid I get an average of city/highway driving around 35 miles per gallon. Also, if you buy a certified car such as the car I purchased there is a warranty for the first year. You can also buy a warranty to cover the hybrid system which includes battery replacement. Gas is expected to exceed over 4 dollars a gallon this summer. I think the more people who move over to hybrids the quicker the cost of owning a hybrid will decrease. We have to start somewhere and buy denouncing the positives of the hybrids have to offer is not fixing the problem but adding to the problem. It is time for us to start paving our own way and recognize that even though there may not be an immediate payback there maybe one in the future if we all join together and start conserving fuel resources. I am not a hippie by any means. I just do not like my paycheck going to oil and gas.

[4rx]

no, these creatures only cause me several problems!