Why you still need cash and how the system tracks you

Prius Prime was the most fuel cost efficient car I have ever driven at $0.036/mi. No question about it. If I am still commuting for work, I would have kept the car. But since I don't commute any more for my work (fully remote), our annual mileage is less than 8Kmiles for two of us, me and DW, on a single BEV. Even though the Equinox EV is the most fuel energy efficient car we have ever owned at 93.4mpg(e), it is also the most expensive fuel cost per mile car at $0.116/mi. Yep, it cost more to drive Equinox EV per mile than least fuel energy efficient (23.1mpg) Pathfinder Hybrid ($0.110/mil). lol

 

And those are your IRL numbers; NOT estimated EPA garbage or exaggerated Fuelly numbers.

 

Of course, those are actual $ spent and gas/electricity purchased during the period I drove those cars. And as such they are historical value for my own reference. The reference will not work for everyone. You see that overall mpg was slightly higher for 2021 PP at 76.9mpg(e), (total amount of energy: gas + electricity in gas equivalency) ÷ (total miles driven), than the previous two PPs. This was primarily because I did more EV only driving on 2021 model PP than other two. But the fuel cost per mile was cheaper for 2020 PP. Because the gas price was quite low. I don't think we are going to see below $2/gal gas price for a long time, maybe never.

 

I was still commuting to and from work, when I swapped out the 2012 Prius C to my now 2021 Prime. The Prime cost me an additional $20 a month in electricity cost, but saved me 1.25 - 1.5 tankful of gas a month on the same commute. When recalculating monthly fuel cost; adding electricity and subtracting gasoline; it was a $35 net savings a month. Insurance didn't go anywhere since I opt'ed out of collision and comprehensive coverage. I self-insure those, because I can take the hit, if it comes down to that. Meanwhile; that money is earning 10%-15% in my brokerage, rainy day, emergency fund account. I haven't had an "at fault" accident in more than 35+ years of driving. (knock on wood) I've had to pay for a couple of windscreens that took a rock hit; but it was more that made-up for in brokerage account gains.
Drivers around here seem to get worse every year and don't follow the rules of the road. It's like driving in a foreign country where driving rules are mare suggestions.