OrionWorks wrote:
"A hybrid Honda Accord costs about $3,800 more than the comparable
non-hybrid version, including purchase, maintenance and insurance costs.
The manufacturers offer the same warranties for all models, so maintenance
does not cost the owner extra for the first 3 years, or 10 years if you get
an extended warranty. Maybe it costs Honda more. The Honda Accord Hybrid is
a "light hybrid" with a 255 hp motor plus "Integrated Motor Assist (IMA)"
from a 12 kW electric motor. This gives some start up assistance and
regeneration, but it mainly it means that many functions that are
mechanically driven with a conventional engine (with scavenged power) are
driven by electric power instead. This is a good idea. All automobiles are
heading in this direction, but I doubt it costs an extra $3,000. You can
get a 12 kW motor a lot cheaper than this! The Honda Insight is a true
hybrid. The Prius gas motor is 76 hp and the electric motor is 67 hp. Now
*that's* a hybrid, by gum.
See:
http://www.thecarconnection.com/Vehicle_Reviews/Hybrids_Electrics/2005_Honda_Accord_Hybrid.S274.A8850.html
". . . the IMA powers all cockpit functions independently of the V-6. It
manages the dual-zone climate control system; it powers the audio system;
it turns off the gas engine automatically at every stop then restarts it
instantaneously upon acceleration; and it converts heat produced by braking
into regenerative electricity."
It does not "convert heat," for goodness sake. It converts kinetic energy.
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."
That may be true for the Accord, but the Prius and Insight pay for
themselves in 2 to 3 years at 15,000 miles per year. By the way, the
average driver goes 11,766 miles per year and gets 22.1 mpg. (Annual Energy
Review, table 2.9). With gas at $2.50 / gallon the Prius saves the average
car driver $677 per year, and the average van, pickup truck or SUV driver
$963 per year. That is assuming the Prius is carelessly driven and it gets
only 45 mpg.
- Jed
