Cost comparison: Plug-In vs Standard

Even better that you may be effectively driving off solar, assuming that you are producing more than you use. Time shifting electrons is fair maybe even better since you are peak-shaving. If nothing else you also increase your rate of return on the solar!

 

This is key! It all depends on how and where you drive. Unfortunately it's not a straightforward decision.

 

All excellent points, but think about this scenario. For some reason ( there are lots) Gasoline has become a very scarce and expensive commodity, there are lines to all gas stations, for blocks. Some stations have just a small allotment in thier tanks. When you get to the pumps you find out that you can only get 3 gallons (the station is trying to be fair to all its customers) You now have to tip the attendant. Some stations are rationing at $25/ gal others will sell you all you want at $65/gal. No driving allowed on Sunday (except emergency. Traffic stops everywhere by the gas police checking for hoarding. Don't laugh, this really did happen! in the 70's TWICE. Not quite as extreme as I have described. But similar. But you, you made a brilliant decision 2 years ago, you bought a PIP and you can drive in EV mode for basic necessities. If your frugal maybe your gasoline may last a year.

 

I'm afraid if it got that bad you would be ill advised to even take the PIP out of your garage!

 

I looked at it from a the angle of Return on Investment. The PIP model works if the majority of your driving is not long highway travel, and you can plugin a few times a day. I drive ~ 12k per year, maybe 2 of the is highway. I figured 10k, with 5 people driving short trips, less then 20 miles and plugging in to recharge after each trip. This worked out to be ~ $8k savings (assuming 150k miles/70mpg) for me vs the regular Prius. I was offer invoice of $24 for the regular Prius. The PIP is ~$29k(Including Fed rebate) so it worked out to be ~ $3k cost savings. Other components not included were the 2 vs 3 yr free service, free charging in MA by National Grid stations for the next two yrs.

To Sum - a no brainier!

 

I look forward to showing that's a misconception.

My annual mileage is 20,000. More often than not, I won't have an opportunity to plug in at work. I drive lots of highway miles on the weekend and some weeknights. But I also do a number of short trips around town on a regular basis.

The system is more dynamic than people realize.
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I can't justify a PIP but I want one anyway. I dare say that most buyers are buying it because they want it. The savings from a 45 mpg car to a 65 mpg car is not too dramatic. The coolness of going 12+ miles and sounding like a golf cart is dramatic! I love EV mode -- even for the short spurts my old Prius will do.

 

I have looked at this as well and don't think it is an economic decision. It is an emotional and lifestyle decision. (Most car purchases are)

My number crunching yields for me:

An 11 year payback

Assuming Gas @ $4.50 per gallon and power @ $0.13 per kwh

5 trips a week at 50 miles per trip
2 charges daily with one free
$4200 capital cost difference including sales tax and fed tax benefit.

With 7 trips/ week payback drops to 8 years.

With no free daily charge the payback grows to 10 years with 7 trips a week

 

I think you are right John, then in 2-3 years with charge stations everywhere, driveing in EV will be a snap. What if America finally wakes up to EV and EV hybrid vehicles???

 

It was that bad. Except for a couple of insertions of my own ( gas police ) the news of the day talked of rationing gasoline to save for defense, talk of a 3-4 day workweek. The world can and does change overnight, especially on weekends. The governments love to change monetary policies on Sunday. It never got to the point of total disorder, but one could not gas up without an attendant, there was arguing, fights and line junping. If it ever got to the rioting and mob stage, to drive any car would be dangerous, possibly your garage would not be safe. YES, we were on the edge.

 

Ummm ... gas has gone up a dollar a gallon. But me, I made a brilliant decision 5 months ago, I ordered a PIP.

Same here. I wince at those half mile drives down the hill in my current car with the engine cold and running rich.

 

How many miles did you put for the weekend trips? How about other daily local trips (non-commute)?

 

My typical weekend/weekday trip is 50 miles so that is what I used on weekdays and weekends. The avoided cost is 26 miles of gas operation (two 13 mile ev runs per day) net either one or two recharges depending on the use of the one free assumption.

With $6.00 gas payback would shrink to 6 years assuming static electric cost.

 

No grocery shopping, hair cut, movie, eat out locally, etc...?

 

Let's not forget meeting mom at the lake to walk the dog. Not using a drop of gas for that relaxation/socialization/exercise opportunity is a big plus in my book.
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I disagree. The PiP costs $X additional. You can save a maximum of $Y per day by using electricity. If you happen to burn $5 worth of gas in addition to that, you still saved $Y on that day.

Someone who drives a lot will probably save more money than someone who drives a little, because, as long as they charge up, they'll always save the $Y each day. Of course, it's still better to walk or bicycle or take the bus, but that is not an option for everyone.

 

We live in a rural small area in upstate NY. A trip to the grocery store is around 14 miles round trip. Today we went to a larger area to shop, my wife did get a hair cut and we had dinner - the trip was 65 miles round trip. A movie and dinner is a similar trip.

On the plus side with the warmer weather I hid 63.5 mpg on the MFD for the trip including 30 miles of highway. Likely 60 mpg in reality. I am hoping with this tank I see my first 60 mpg calculated. Right now at 275 miles and 62.5 overall on the MFD.

We are thinking we at some point may relocate to California with the state rebate and more short trips (and hopefully future drops in the PIP price) there will be a plug in Prius in our future. I love the technology.