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Top 5 myths about hybrid cars

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Photo: istockphoto.com/Tim McCaig
Mark Mallet

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.


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Comments

Funny this didn't include other more economical choices like the Toyota Yaris that costs substantially less, has close to the same usable space for most needs and gets a combined of 6.9 lt / 100 km. I own a five year old Echo ($14,000 cost) which was it's predicessor and it gets a closer to 6.5 lt / 100 km , about the same gas consumption as the 2010 Corolla (about $18,000). Do you really want to live cleaner? Just go for a walk or bike ride to replace frequent short car use for trips to the corner store, library, wherever you can. Parking the car more often will save you money and make you healthier!
Submitted by Anonymous (guest) on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 20:18.
Now comes the attack the victim stage. Congressional members who have facilities in their state or district, Toyota and investors who believe the whole thing is a auto workers union conspiracy are in full attack mode. It will change when one of their own takes a Toyota speed ride. Canary Wharf Escorts
Submitted by georgepolard (guest) on Sat, 04/24/2010 - 04:33.
Anyone interested in converting their car to an electric/biodiesel hybrid should read "The Zero-Carbon Car" by William Kemp. This book discusses the issues around transportation in terms of the environmental impact and then shows step by step how to take any vehicle and turn it into an electric hybrid (he uses biodiesel for the engine that charges his batteries). Available at www.aztext.com or at Chapters-Indigo or amazon etc.
Submitted by M M (guest) on Fri, 03/19/2010 - 09:31.
I like this top 5 list on hybrids. At University of Waterloo, a team of engineering students are working to transform a GM-donated "conventional" hybrid vehicle into a plug-in electric hydrogen fuel cell vehicle that will have the same utility as the base model, but zero carbon emissions. The goal is no emissions, but still maintaining the performance and safety. It's all part of a North American collegiate competition sponsored by GM, the U.S. Dept of Energy and Natural Resources Canada called, EcoCAR. Check out our competition blog: www.greengarageblog.org or our team website: www.UWAFT.com if you want to learn more.
Submitted by Eric (guest) on Wed, 03/17/2010 - 22:49.
Thanks for the information. I am actually considering to buy a ford hybrid vehicle but as you've said, then I'll go for Black Ford Deuce Roadster.
Submitted by Anonymous (guest) on Thu, 10/01/2009 - 23:54.
Don't forget that a hybrid only needs the oil changed every 15,000 km because the oil is cleaner - not all service station know this or tell you this- we learned this after a few oil changes. We've been driving the hybrid ford now for 4 years and would buy another for sure
Submitted by Anonymous (guest) on Mon, 06/01/2009 - 12:53.
yeah nice gov gives a tax exemtion for a hybride car of 4 thousand $ but gives a exemption of 1 hundred thousand for a hummer .. how does this sound . figure it out .. does oil comp sound familier ....they dont give a rats as about imission control ( polution)
Submitted by Richard. Raymond Quebec (guest) on Mon, 06/01/2009 - 07:42.
Did any one here watch the program ,WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR, on cbs sunday night , it was aired at 10:00 and finished at midnight , shame they aired it late it was very interesting and answered a lot of questions about the economy and the big coprates who control our lives and economy not to mention our climate,, like everything else it was probably controlled to air so late so people can't watch it... as many people work the next day ( Monday ) .. our gov are int the plan not to let our children grow up healthy and enjoy a healthy planet .. LONG LIVE THE ALL MIGHTY DOLLAR .. who cares about our health heck we're all going to die sometime ,, yeah but whatt about our future generations they don't seem to exist in the eyes of the rich and powerfull gov .. hats of to the narenator Mr. Martin Sheen .. keep up the good work even if it was late i watched the whole episode and learned a lot .. yours truly a not so late viewer who got lucky
Submitted by Richard. Raymond Quebec (guest) on Mon, 06/01/2009 - 07:38.
It would seem to me that humans on this earth are fighting a losing battle against the so-called warming of the planet due to the emission of CO2, Certainly we are contributing to some extent, but Mother Nature does a far better job when she allows acres of forest and grassland to burn uncontrollably; a process that has continued since this planet's birth. According to some very learned scientists, who have made the subject their life's work, the planet is actually standing still with regard to 'warming', if not actually cooling down. Many of those who disagree, are simply trying to make a name for themselves, and plunging the economy into a situation from which there is no recovery. With regard to the building and use of electric vehicles, many years back I drove an electrically propelled delivery van with a humungous battery, on a daily route of maybe 10 - 20 miles without a single problem en-route. Yes, it had to be plugged in over-night, but the power supply came from one CO2 producing source only, not from hundreds of idling, gas powered vehicles stuck in traffic. Certainly, there will always be a need for longer-range vehicles such as the hybrid, but the production of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide by gas powered vehicles within the city would be eliminated.
Submitted by A nony mouse (guest) on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 10:09.
Re: Hybrids are not expensive. The author makes a specious comparison. I am not trying to choose between a Prius and a Camry LE. I am trying to choose between a Prius, a Honda Fit, a Toyota Yaris, an older Mazda Protégé5 and limping along with my old minivan (yech). Now, explain to me how a Prius is not expensive? And the author fails to discuss the energy hit of buying a new car vs. continuing to drive an old car.
Submitted by Anonymous (guest) on Tue, 05/05/2009 - 17:36.

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