Are hybrid/electric cars really the best viable option for better fuel economy and to protect the environment?
Especially when modern technology has engineered plenty of gasoline vehicles that are categorized as ultra low emission vehicles or even near zero emissions.
Not So Sporty or Great on the Highway
We have all seen Hybrid cars on the road and know what they look like-- not too appealing. The most common being the Toyota Prius, is often referred to as a cheese wedge or door stop. I mean there's no hybrid out there that I have seen that I was like, I have to have it, it's awesome, even though there's starting to be more hybrids in the form of their gasoline engine counterparts. Another thing is that hybrids don't use their electric motor on the highway, they function just like a combustion engine car would, on gasoline.
Still a Price Premium
Even though prices for a hybrid vehicle have come down they still cost significantly more-- from $2-6,000. But at the same time gasoline non-hybrid models are becoming more fuel-efficient and cheaper as well.
For example:
"Standard internal combustion engine vehicles from Kia's lineup, for example, offer above-average fuel economy that come close to the EPA estimates for hybrid fuel economy, but for thousands of dollars less. When you can buy a
Kia Forte for $14,695 and still get combined mileage ratings of 30 mpg in city and highway driving, it’s hard to justify spending $26,780 for a
Nissan Altima Hybrid that only delivers a 4 mile-per-gallon improvement over the Kia. For many drivers, the greater luxury of the Altima will get trumped by the $12,000 upfront savings the Kia offers."
Also, diesel technology has come along way, now a days there are diesel engines that get just as many miles to the gallon and run just as clean as the cleanest cars on the road. They can offer this without the downsides of a hybrid vehicle.
Another thing to consider is that the big battery of the hybrid only lasts for a range of 150,000-200,000 miles, after that the battery would need replacing and it comes with a big price tag in the several thousand dollar range, making a hybrid vehicle with higher mileage and the original battery almost worthless.
Uncommon Maintenance Issues
When something goes wrong with your hybrid drivetrain or battery or other uncommon vehicle parts like the regulator that sits between the battery and the electric motor, odds are you're going to need a dealer's help. That adds up to one big pain for rural drivers, or if something happens on a road-trip – and your warranty runs out – it becomes a costly pain as well. Longer warranties help, but we have to wonder what role the technology gap plays in the resale value of hybrids, especially given some of the uncertainty around battery technology and the potential for an expensive battery replacement after the warranty runs out.
These are just some the issues out of many that I mentioned, I just feel that there are many other options that are better and more efficient than hybrid vehicles, and given the price of ownership and performance compared with gasoline vehicles, I don't see owning a hyrid vehicle justifiable.
