Update on my largest mobile tech purchase. Ever.

Got a question from long-time reader, Mike, in the ol' mailbag. Mike's been following my mobile adventures for a few years and remembers when Barb and I spent the near equivalent of 20+ refurbished MacBook Pros for our 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Sound like a bunch of money? Well, it was, but it was also a great investment for us and you don't hear too many folks say that about cars.

Mike was curious to see if and how the hybrid vehicle was holding up for us, so here's a relatively quick update....

First off, we still have the vehicle and it's our primary mode of transportation. Due to some work-at-home arrangements, we recently sold the other car. We loved the 2004 Acura TL, but the high-output six-cylinder engine eats up premium gas, which is around $3 a gallon in our neck of the woods. Dropping down to one vehicle saves money each month by eliminating a second car payment, insurance and premium gas.

We've had the Hybrid for about 18-months now and we still love it. Since weather can affect the battery, we don't do as well on the gas mileage in the winter, but still get a respectable 24 mpg in cold weather. Bear in mind that this isn't a small hybrid that will ever get 50+ mpg; it's a seven-passenger SUV with AWD. In the summertime, we top out around 31 mpg; more if I coast a bunch, but that usually drives Barb nuts. ;)

Our vehicle has a tad over 25,000 miles on it now, so let's do some quick math. The vehicle that the hybrid replaced was my 2001 Dodge Dakota QuadCab with a 4.7l V-8. She got me 13 mpg, rain, shine, sleet or snow. I'll assume that I'm averaging around 27.5 mpg year-round with the hybrid and I'll also assume a conservative average gas price of $2.50 a gallon over the past 18 months.

The 25,000 miles in our old truck would have used around 1,923 gallons of fuel at a total cost of $4,807. Using the same assumptions, I figure those same 25,000 miles used about 909 gallons, which cost us around $2,272. If you add in the fact that we don't pay yearly emissions tests, since it's a SULEV and we got a $2,000 federal tax deduction the year we bought it, you can see the savings quickly pile up.

Does the savings justify the premium price for the technology? Well, we figured the break-even point for us was about 4 years and we were willing to accept that. Additionally, we know that in some small, minuscule way, we're putting less pollution in the air. We're not changing the world by any means, but we're doing what we can.

Comments

[Sumocat]

With our Prius, I've also noticed that gasoline usage is higher in cold weather, but from observation, I think it's largely because Toyota hybrids rely on the gas engine for heat, same as conventional vehicles. This means the gas engine will kick in just to produce heat even when idling.

However, our average mpg doesn't drop nearly as much as yours. Maybe down two or three from our usual average around 45 mpg (which is down one or two from what it was before the area switched to 10% ethanol gasoline). But then again, you get a lot more snow than we do in VA.

[Kevin C. Tofel]

Sumocat, you could be right. My take on the colder weather impact: we get our best gas savings when the engine is at it's warmest and it takes much longer to get to the normal temp during the winter. That and the fact that colder batteries seem to have less 'kick' and don't hold a charge as long in the cold, but I'm definitely no expert in battery power.

[ThoughtFix]

I was strongly considering a Prius last September. However, after a lot of research, I decided I'd save much more money (both on gas and on the car) if, instead of a hybrid, I got something else. The single most fuel-efficient non-hybrid of the 2007 models: the Toyota Yaris. I named it Pluto after the former planet.

I averaged 38 MPG for the whole week of CES, including the six-hour drive each way.

Let's go hug some trees! I'm in!

[Kevin C. Tofel]

No question there are some GREAT non-hybrid choices out there. Just like any other tech; it's a personal choice. We were limited to a degree because we need AT LEAST AWD (if not 4WD) where we live, plus we have the two kids. That put us in the small / crossover SUV camp. Additionally, most of our driving is at or under 35 to 40 MPH, i.e.: we rarely drive on highways. The Yaris is great on gas and efficiency; sweet!

[Scott_H]

"...premium gas, which is around $3 a gallon in our neck of the woods."

Must be nice. In my neck of the woods, it's north of $7 a gallon.

[dd]

As a British person who reads this blog (great work btw guys), we've an 06 Honda Civic (the European 1.8 version), that gets about 40-45mpg (now that it's bedded in) whatever the weather! And petrol here is currently about 90-95p/litre!

However, I must admit to having bought my Q1 in the States...simply because it was cheaper!

[Mike Hamilton]

Thanks for the update! I appreciate the information.

[Shane Conder]

On the topic of the break-even point: If the hybrid credit is supposed to return something like 80% of the cost difference between that exact car and the non-hybrid version of the exact car (although average out over the entire model line, including options), wouldn't you have long since recovered the price premium for a Highlander hybrid versus the same options in a non-hybrid version?

Your numbers show a $2500 in fuel savings and $2k for tax (sounds like you got the deduction, though, rather than the credit that showed up later). That should have easily covered the cost premium, right?

Here in CA the fuel economy dropped by about 2-4 MPG until the last few weeks on our Accord Hybrid. It's surprised me how much difference a 40 degree morning can be from a 60 degree morning.

(from a UX280p toting hybrid owner...)