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Given Ecky's example above, assuming the hybrid system improves fuel economy by 10% in a Honda Insight, I make the following assumptions and analysis;
12,000 miles driven per year
65 MPG average
$3 / gallon average fuel cost
15 year battery lifespan
2,769 gallons of fuel, $8,307
Without the hybrid battery and 10% worse fuel economy;
3,045 gallons of fuel, $9,138
$830 in fuel savings for the hybrid system in the Insight over 15 years.
This underscores my point about how hybrid tech has diminishing returns the smaller and more fuel efficient a vehicle is.
Regarding the complex nature of modern cars, the electronics can be replaced with new modules.
... My unmodern by today's standards 2006 Acura had a lose power cable to the DVD player in the trunk due to my tinkering, and my touchscreen wouldn't function without that. It made precisely controlling my HVAC and radio impossible. I can only imagine what a dead Tesla screen limits.
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