Top 5 myths about hybrid cars

To buy a hybrid or not to buy a hybrid? That is the eco-question.

Will it save you money? Will it save the planet? Myths abound about the pros and cons of modern hybrid cars. Here are a few of those myths exploded.

1. Hybrids lack power
This may have been true for some of the early hybrids, but current models have just as much juice as their gas-powered brethren. For example, the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid can accelerate with almost the same V-6-like power as its gas-powered sibling, and the 2008 Lexus GS 450h can go from 0-100km/hr in just 5.2 seconds. Of course, all other things being equal, more power generally translates into poorer fuel economy.

2. Hybrids are expensive
Yes, it's true that the initial purchase price of a hybrid is more than that of a gas-only equivalent. That being said, here's some quick math comparing the economics of a 2008 Toyota Camry hybrid, its gas-only basic counterpart, and a 2008 Toyota Prius. The Toyota Camry Hybrid costs $32,000 with a fuel efficiency of 5.7 l/100km (50 mpg) and annual fuel cost of $1140. The Toyota Camry LE (gas-only) costs $25,900 with a fuel efficiency of 8.0 l/100km (35 mpg) and annual fuel cost of $1600. A Toyota Prius costs $29,500 with a fuel efficiency of 4.1 /100km (57 mpg) and annual fuel cost of $820. (The fuel costs are based on 20,000 km (12,427.42 miles) per year at $1 per litre/ $2.18 per gallon.)

According to the above numbers, it would take 10 years of driving (200,000 km) to recoup the initial price difference between a Camry Hybrid and Camry LE, but only two years (40,000km) to recoup the price difference between a Toyota Prius and a Camry LE (excluding increased interest charges). If gas prices continue to rise, the payback time decreases. Likewise, the higher gas prices climb, the higher the resale value of a hybrid is already considerably more than that of a gas-only vehicle. The upshot? If you're in the market for a new car anyway, a hybrid might well make economic sense.

3. Hybrids need to be plugged in
This common myth confuses hybrid cars with electric cars. The latter indeed rely on an external plug for their power, and their range is therefore limited (not to mention the fact that purely electric vehicles are almost non-existent in today's market). Hybrid cars, however, use a mechanism known as 'regenerative braking' to charge their batteries -- essentially transforming the car's deceleration into electrical energy that is then stored in the battery. What many eco-car enthusiasts are waiting for, however, is a combination of the two: a plug-in hybrid that would run entirely on electricity for its first 80-100km, switching over to hybrid technology only for longer trips. In theory, for many commuters this could mean never having to fill the gas tank.

4. All hybrids have great fuel efficiency
While hybrids get better mileage than their gas-only counterparts, some models' fuel efficiency is far from spectacular. For example, the Toyoto Highlander SUV may be a hybrid, but its unspectacular fuel efficiency of 7.9 litres/100km (30 mpg) is handily beaten by a host of non-hybrid vehicles currently on the road, albeit smaller ones. Furthermore, a hybrid's fuel efficiency is largely dependent on the type of driving you do. Because hybrids generate electrical power through braking (see above) and save power by switching off the gas engine when they come to a stop, they get better mileage in the city than they do on the highway - the opposite of standard gas-powered cars. If you intend to do a lot of long distance highway driving, a hybrid may in fact provide very minimal fuel efficiency benefits.

5. Hybrid batteries have a short lifespan and are expensive to replace
While the nickel-metal hydride batteries used in the current generation of hybrid cars would indeed be expensive to replace, costing at least a few thousand dollars, the reality is that most car manufacturers warranty their batteries for 8-10 years or 160,000 km. Since there aren't yet many hybrids on the road that have hit those lengthy milestones, it's difficult to ascertain how long hybrid batteries will actually last. Anecdotally, however, a cab driver in Vancouver drove his Toyota Prius 320,000 km in 25 months, and his car's batteries remained strong.

Mark Mallet is a LEED Accredited professional consultant and writer based in Nelson B.C., specializing in the green building industry.