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I like to ask people what it means when someone drives a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or diesel. It means they drive a lot of miles each year, because that's the only way the economics work out. For me, at fewer than 4000 miles a year, I would never recoup the extra up-front cost. Also, don't forget that some states have extra fees for hybrids and plug-in hybrids. In Ohio, there is an annual $100 fee for hybrids, $200 fee for plug-in hybrids.
Hybrid designs from Toyota and Honda have been just as reliable as plain ICE vehicles. It's a way to reduce operating costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, without going full BEV. I think both hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles have appeal during what is a transitional period from ICE to BEV. Now, I would still want one that is well-engineered, and the vehicle itself needs to be appealing, but I would be open to a hybrid powertrain in my next vehicle.
I have owned a Toyota Highlander Hybrid for the past five years. Purchased used from the dealer, so no financial upcharge from the ICE version. I love it and have no plans to change to anything else. It fits my outdoor lifestyle.
However, I would not purchase the current model as Toyota went with 4-cylindar turbo engines. I'll stick with the ol' tried and true V-6.
When hybrids were first introduced I expected them to be unreliable and too expensive. After all, with two drive systems they added many more parts susceptible to failure.
However, Toyota hybrids have demonstrated very good reliability. Therefore, the largest issue is cost. If you drive a lot in the city a hybrid can pay for itself quickly. I've noticed that many of the Uber and Lyft drivers here in the San Fran Bay area use hybrids.
As for me, I'm retired so I drive very little. I'm better off with a simple gasoline powered sedan.
Toy hybrids are excellent and they pioneered the system about 24 years ago with the Prius. Toyota has sold some of their older hybrid technology to other large manufacturers.
I did my research and bought a Toyota Hybrid several years ago and I absolutely love the vehicle.
As another posted has mentioned, it’s a great pathway into the future of electric or fuel cell vehicles.
The combination of fossil fuel that is constantly producing electric to charge the on board battery is very efficient and eliminates any distance concerns for recharging.
It also reduces the stress and wear on the ICE since it does not run full time since it interacts with the battery power and it has about 7 less major parts than a stand alone ICE.
Our family has had 4 hybrids at various times. Perfectly happy with them all.
In all practical ways they're indistinguishable from their ICE counterparts. They require no learning curve.
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