There was a piece on Global National a couple nights ago where they calculated how long it would take the average person to start actually saving money factoring how much more the hybrids cost compared to their all gas counterparts. Depending on the model, it was between 6 and 12 years before you actually started saving money.
Here's another take from Wired:
Hybrid Cars' Fantasy Mileage Ratings Drive Into the Sunset
Quote:
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According to a formula devised by Edmunds, it would take nearly 10 years to recoup the extra costs after buying a 2007 Mercury Mariner Hybrid, up from 6.6 according to the old mileage ratings. For the 2007 Honda Accord and Honda Civic hybrids it takes 14.5 and 6.5 years, respectively.
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Besides that, the good gas mileage for hybrids only kicks in if you drive really slow all the time. When I drove my son to lacrosse and back today, I got him to watch the speedometer, and stopwatch how long I was ever in the range where the electric motor would even be operating. Out of a 45 minute total trip, less than 4 minutes.
The more I read about Hybrids, the more I'm sure the hype doesn't deliver.