Vorts, An interesting article on the economics of buying Hybrids in today's US market.
http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/23/Autos/hybrid_alternatives/index.htm http://tinyurl.com/7ccmy One of the more interesting quotes: "A hybrid Honda Accord costs about $3,800 more than the comparable non-hybrid version, including purchase, maintenance and insurance costs. Over five years, assuming 15,000 miles of driving per year, you'll make up that cost in gasoline money if the price of gas goes up immediately to $9.20 a gallon and averages that for the whole period." * * * * The Prius may be the exception to they hybrid rule. Mr. Storms! You may have made a wise selection! The jest of the article seems to be: Buy a hybrid if you wish to make a social statement. Don't buy them if you think you'll save yourself money. Hybrids need to approach the lower prices of non-hybrids if they are going to accomplish what they claim to do, which is save you money. It's a ghastly thought in my view to think U.S. gas prices would have to rise to over nine bucks a gallon just to make hybrids economically competitive in today's market. I haven't personally verified this fact but I recently talked to a friend who regularly communicates with customers in Europe. She claims there are European countries that are currently paying the equivalent of eight bucks for a gallon'o'gas. Regards, Steven Vincent Johnson www.OrionWorks.com
