Considering maintenance and repair, are hybrid cars worth buying?
Robyn asked:
I am considering buying a hybrid car, but am unsure how well the technology is developed and if the dealerships are equiped to maintain these vehicles.
Adrian
I am considering buying a hybrid car, but am unsure how well the technology is developed and if the dealerships are equiped to maintain these vehicles.
Adrian
December 13th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Hybrids are expensive to construct because the manufacturer needs to develop and install two motors instead of one. Plus, the complex vehicles also contain a regeneration system that is used while the driver breaks, gathering energy generated as the vehicle is brought to a stop. These three components are intricate and costly.
The cost of constructing a hybrid car is reflected on the sticker price. Hybrids are considerably more expensive than traditional cars that run solely on gasoline. They are also more expensive to repair. The three systems that comprise the hybrid’s inner workings interact together. When one system fails, they all fail. Since the cars are relatively new to the market, owners can expect to pay hefty repair costs.
The government is trying to offset the high cost of the hybrid car by offering a tax incentive to individuals who buy the vehicles. However, the tax incentive is not enough to cover the difference between the hybrid and the traditional gasoline-run car…..
December 16th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Perhaps in the future they will be more viable, but for now, they simply aren’t. Compared like for like, and I’m sure BBC “Top Gear” mentioned this (though I can’t cite the exact episode) the Mercedes S Class is actually more environmentally friendly from beginning to end of life than the Toyota Prius, and as such won an award in Europe for this.