The story of hybrid cars has come a long way in the journey of automotive industry. What was once only held to be a niche vehicle aimed for a decidedly smaller number of audiences, has now entered the mainstream of vehicle production in an ever-increasing speed. The cost of the hybrid vehicles to has crossed many stages to come to its current status, where the cost isn’t considered to be a restraining factor anymore with its list of benefits it brings to you.
But not every car buyer is owning a hybrid even today. The reasons are primarily confusion and lack of knowledge and information on how much actually a hybrid vehicle will cost to buy and to own. Questions pour in when we talk about hybrid cars. Will the improved fuel economy be achieved only through an extra cost? What would happen if the hybrid drivetrain suddenly faces a breakdown, or what if the battery wears off?
To answer these variety of doubts we spoke with many hybrid owners, special mechanics and reputed dealerships like Lexus dealer Lakeside to learn about the real costs of owning these eco-friendly high-tech cars. And here we share you the summary of what we learned.
Fuel Economy Is the Strength of a Hybrid Car
The first reason why someone would choose a hybrid over a conventional car would be to reduce the use of gasoline. Hybrids deliver best fuel economy when driven at low speeds and when you use it in stop-and-go conditions, which is just the opposite to a conventional fuel car. The hybrid advantage lower down while driving on sustained highway speed.
But even then, the cost of making a hybrid run will be always lower than its gas-only counterpart. Even though the difference can vary from one model to another, a reduction of the fuel economy ratings would be counted as 30 percent for the hybrid cars and only 10 percent in its non-hybrid counterpart. So, take a look at the EPA ratings while comparing between the two.
Hybrid Costs and its Benefits
With every passing day the number and variety of hybrid vehicle models in the market are increasing. The reason is not only because of its rising popularity, but the upcoming federal fuel efficiency that aims at achieving a fuel EPA rating of 54.5 mpg by the year 2025. If that really takes place, the scale of economies in manufacturing the hybrids as well as the purchasing of raw materials should also come down, and the hybrids would no longer remain a premium sector of vehicles then.
The Bottom Line
However, for some people, the primary reasons to go for a hybrid would go beyond the petty calculation of dollars and cents. Most hybrid owners show their concern about reducing emissions, help the nation wean out of its dependence and excessive usage of gasoline and contribute in a positive way in making a “green” statement in the society. As per the experts of Lakeside Lexus dealership, hybrid cars are also hi-tech cars with greater level of comfort that allured many buyers till now and continue to do so.