Hello -
I have no problems with hybrids as a transition technology. As others have posted, the batteries have held up well and are therefore proving themselves in real world circumstances. Also, the *replacement* generation of batteries are going DOWN in price, not up :
Some Hard Figures on Hybrid Battery Replacement ~ Hybrid Car Review
Quote:
Failure Rate of Hybrid Battery Packs
Honda says fewer than 200 of their 100,000 hybrids (0.2%) have had their battery fail after the warranty expired. Toyota says their battery failure rate (after warranty) for their second generation Prius (2004 model year and up) is 0.003 percent which equates to 1 every 40,000. The first generation Prius had a failure rate of 1 percent post warranty.
...
Hybrid Battery Replacement Cost
On June 1, Honda is cutting it's replacement costs from $3,400 to $1,968 (excluding installation costs) for a Insight up to $2,440 on an Accord Hybrid. Toyota is also looking to cut it's $3,000 replacement costs (excluding installation cost). Originally, replacement costs were around $5,500.
|
From my POV, this a fringe benefit of the link between batteries and the
Moore's Law speed of advancement of PC tech.
If I were in the new car market, the *only* thing that would keep a hybrid out of my top-5 list is my bias towards manual-transmissions.
No manual, no $ from me.
CarloSW2