How big do gas prices own to shift?

How high do gas prices enjoy to go for you to seriously expect about buying a hybrid (gas/electric) sports car?

Im commuting to college a couple days...



Answers:    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? Don't forget to include federal and any state due incentives in your estimate (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 lug into account the true depreciation pro (as seen by manually looking for a Prius trade-in value) when calculating their TCO, but they still read out 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.a...

Hybrids do cost smaller amount in the long residence (lower total cost of ownership) than their conventional counterparts. (Intellichoice used a 5 year ownership comparison in 2006) See:
http://www.intellichoice.com/press/Hybri...
http://www.intellichoice.com/carBuying10...

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

The problem is that not adjectives hybrids are created equal. There are different hybrid technologies, depending on businesswoman. Even among the same businesswoman, you can find one model tuned for performance (greater power and acceleration than their gasoline-only counterparts) near only a slight fuel helpfulness improvement, compared to another tuned for fuel usefulness and low 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 - in attendance is also the costs to maintain and insure it, and also depreciation costs.

However, the societal costs for emission are not usually included. The hybrids tend to be at worst an ULEV, with oodles an AT-PZEV. Some are only sold surrounded by CA-emissions states. (Compare that to the often suggested VW TDI diesels, which cannot be sold exotic in CA-emission states because of their poor emission.) In the US, hybrid models tend to be the best in fuel discount in their respective classes, using alike testing procedure to compare adjectives cars: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/best/best... , http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicle/

The hybrid batteries contained by the currently available hybrid vehicles are usually scheduled by the manufacturer to second the lifetime of the vehicle, and have long warranty (not pro-rated!, usually 8 years/80,000 miles to 10 years/150,000 miles) to cover it. So far, hybrid battery replacements are VERY exceptional, and rarely out of warranty. Pricing is much better when buying a used part from a wrecked vehicle (much less than $1000), and not paying dealer-inflated rates/labor prices.

As for the battery themselves:

The lead-acid (Pb-A) 12v accessory battery in hybrids tend to be smaller than those found contained by every traditional gasoline vehicle. Recycling programs are in place for traditional lead-acid battery.

All the hybrids on the market use NiMH (Nickel-Metal Hydride) battery, which contain no heavy metals (so they're not hazardous spend, like the Pb-A batteries), and are confidently recycled. Often they'll have label on the packs themselves almanac who to contact to recycle them, and often there's a nice bread bounty reward as well.

Usually the mythic "article" from The Mail on the nickel surrounded by the hybrid cars' NiMH batteries is quoted from a very soon retracted article. The retraction that clears up this bit of misinformation is at: http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live...


Size of the vehicle shouldn't be an issue. (A good friend of mine is in the order of 6'9" and bought a Prius because it's one of the few cars he can fit into.) There are hybrid options available for heaps cars/trucks today, and more models are getting the option adjectives the time, so you should be able to find one that fits both you and your budget. Available US hybrids:
Toyota Prius, Camry, Highlander
Lexus: RX, GS, LS
Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner, Mazda Tribute
Honda Civic, Insight (retired model), Accord (retired model)
Nissan Altima
Chevrolet Malibu, Silverado, Tahoe (soon to be released)
GMC Sierra, Yukon (soon to be released)
Saturn VUE, Aura
(now if solely Toyota would bring over to the US either of their hybrid minivans (Estima and Alphard) that are available contained by Japan...)

NONE of the currently commercially available hybrids have the flair to plug into an electrical outlet. The only source of power is conventional gasoline. The gasoline engine provides power to the hybrid battery-operated through one of the electric motors acting as a generator. Some of the lost kinetic energy within braking is recaptured through regenerative braking (wheels spin a generator, slowing down the vehicle), which also reduce wear on the conventional brake pads.

There are no commercially-available plug-in hybrids on the souk so far, unfortunately. Some hobbiests and aftermarket companies hold been altering a few hybrids (Prius, Ford Escape Hybrid/Mercury Mariner Hybrid) to fashion them plug-in capable. Typically this requires calculation additional hybrid battery, besides the ability to charge stale the mains.
For more information, check out http://www.calcars.org/vehicles.html
(I'll file that some of the manufacturers are looking into have a plug-in hybrid available in the adjectives (2010 or so), such as the Toyota Prius and the Chevy Volt.)

To note, converting to a PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) does not drain the vehicle's range. It give the owner the option to recharge the (newly added larger) hybrid battery-operated pack at night (cheap electricity and off-peak electric nouns which would otherwise be lost). The vehicle would run for a certain distance (longer than stock) on the stored electric power alone, and when the freestyle pack is depleted to a certain point the vehicle reverts support to its original hybrid self and runs on a combination of the gasoline engine (which will also recharge the battery) and the electric motor. A PHEV would join a greater all-electric range to the existing hybrid, besides the knack (but not the requirement!) to plug it into an electric source.

Depending on the source for electricity in your nouns, a BEV (battery electric vehicle) may or may not put out more greenhouse gas emissions than a 55MPG HEV (hybrid electric vehicle). Mainly, if the primary source for electricity surrounded by your area is coal, your HEV is cleaner than a BEV running on coal-powered electricity. However, if your electricity source is fluent gas, the BEV is usually cleaner than the HEV (depending on the method used for natural gas->electricity conversion), and it get even better for the BEV if you are using a hydroelectric or other renewable electric source. In comparisons with a generic 17MPG SUV, an average 26MPG vehicle, and a high-efficiency 38MPG vehicle, the 38MPG vehicle still will pulsate the coal-powered BEV, but isn't as clean as the HEV (and gas and renewables powered BEVs are much better than the 38MPG vehicle).
see: "Battery-Powered Electric and Hybrid Electric Vehicle Projects to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Resource Guide for Project Development," July 2002
http://www.netl.doe.gov/products/ccps/pu...
http://www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/i...
first and foremost section 4.3

(and that's besides the arguements that it's easier to govern emissions from a handful of electric plants, as opposing millions of independently-owned cars... typically, electric charging rates (especially the off-peak charging times which would use otherwise lost power and level the loads) are still cheaper than petroleum rates, too. Of course, here are still emissions to verbs about save for just greenhouse gas emission, too.)

and yes, about 50% of the US' electric get-up-and-go generation is from coal, but your local mix may change: http://www.eia.doe.gov/fuelelectric.html


To answer the original interrogate, I bought my first US hybrid, back when gasoline prices be still $0.99/gallon. And it was other then, and still is. Only sedan available at the time beside SULEV emissions, and MPG over 40, and it be within my budget and fun to drive to boot. http://www.kluge.net/~felicity/prius.php

How does taking public transit(buses) better or...


How lots hybrids are there>?

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