How cost effective are hybrids? Is it true that I might not make back the upfront investment?
The catch with hybrids used to be that they would only pay for themselves, for the average driver, if the price of gasoline hovers around $3 a gallon or more. The Civic Hybrid, for example, costs $4,000 more than its non-hybrid counterpart. With gas prices fluctuating around $2.00 a gallon, it would take around 200,000 miles to break even on fuel costs alone. While it’s currently true that hybrids aren’t likely to pay for their premium in fuel savings alone, there are other cost savings to consider. It is possible to lower that break-even point with tax breaks. There are tax advantages to owning a hybrid, but they vary widely, depending on the vehicle and the state you live in. You should also consider repair and maintenance costs, insurance, and depreciation when factoring in the real cost of a hybrid. Remember, too, that you’re dealing with new technology. Independent shops are just now coming up to speed on hybrid maintenance and repair. As a result, you may still find yourself payi
