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Reader: Hybrids not worth it

CAPE TOWN - The green car market is struggling in the USA, hampered by high prices and a limited choice on battery-powered vehicles. Automakers believe their time will come...

Dave Sergeant, a vehicle analyst with JD Power, said: "Everybody thinks that everybody else should be driving a green car."

Automakers have launched a host of hybrid and battery vehicles in recent years with huge fanfare in response to political pressure from the Obama administration to improve fuel economy but green vehicles are still struggling to find their market.

''IT'S JUST NOT WORTH IT'

Wheels24 reader Riaan van Wyk believes going green is not worth the hassle:

"I did the following calculations. A Toyota Yaris 1.3XS CVT costs R194 700 (I am using the CVT model since the hybrid only offers this gearbox option).  The Hybrid (electric motor and 1.5 petrol engine) Toyota Yaris 1.5XS HSD CVT costs R230 600 – the difference is R35 900. 

Fuel consumption (manufactures claim) is 5.4litres/100kms (petrol) against 3.8 litres/100kms – saving 1.6 litre per 100kms traveled.  This translates to R18.35 per 100kms taking coastal fuel price of R11.47. 

This is a saving of R0.1835 per kilometer if you drive the hybrid – you will need to drive 195 000kms to break even (no interest taken into account). If you finance your vehicle this will increase even more.

What's more, you don’t have a choice of transmission. 

If you opt for the manual Yaris XS (R183,000, this means at 195 000kms plus 64 000kms just to break even.  At this time your car would have done over 250 000kms – repairs and maintenance?  Battery replacement?  It is just not worth it at the current cost of these cars."
 
Email us and we'll publish your thoughts on Wheels24. Or use the Readers' Comments section below...


 
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