There are ups, downs to owning a hybrid vehicle
By Amanda Lisk, Star-News Correspondent, October 25, 2008
Source: StarNewsOnline
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20081025/ARTICLES/810252925?
Title=There_are_ups__downs_to_owning_a_hybrid_vehicle
Does it cost less to operate a hybrid vehicle? Here are some of the advantages:
Drivers can save anywhere from $500 to $4,250 over five years with selected hybrid vehicles, according to an October release by ConsumerReports.org.
HybridCars.com says maintenance of hybrid cars could cost less than conventional cars because there is less wear and tear on the engine and brakes compared to conventional vehicles.
There also are government incentives to own a hybrid.
North Carolina offers tax incentives of up to $2,000 for select hybrid car purchases. Federal tax credits are also available for select models.
There are drawbacks to hybrid ownership, however.
Batteries for hybrid cars are designed to last for the life of the car and most dealerships offer 8- to 10-year warranties. If a hybrid battery needs to be replaced, however, the cost for a new one ranges from $3,000 to $8,000, according to HybridCars.com.
“They’re not cheap; they don’t tell a lot of people that,” said Wilmington Nissan sales consultant Maurice Gabriel.
“If you get into an accident and the battery is damaged, it becomes a hazmat problem,” said Val Boudreau, owner of Wilmington Car Doctor. “It’s not all green.”
Unless under warranty, hybrid cars will need a specially trained technician for service and that could cost more money than traditional vehicle maintenance, Gabriel said.
“You have to be specially trained, like when you go to the hospital with heart problems, they need a cardiac person,” Gabriel said. “A lot of places here are not hybrid-trained.”