Hybrids are becoming more common now, and the new Chevy Volt actually looks pretty good, especially in the ads of it always going places and never needing to fuel up.
Then, I priced it out a little, wow, it's listed at $41500 at GM.ca (http://www.gm.ca/gm/english/vehicles/chevrolet/volt/overview)
Now, I thought to myself, but it's so fuel efficient, I wonder how much it would save me compared to what I am driving now, a 2004 BMW 330ci.
You can find a similar 330ci for under $18000 (http://www.autotrader.ca/a/pv/Used/BMW/all/bmw+330ci/?lloc=Toronto%2c+ON&cty=Toronto&prv=Ontario&ctr=Canada)
According to http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm, the 2012 Chevy Volt in Electric only mode uses (equivalent I imagine) 2.5 L/100 KM, or cost $1.08 to drive 40 KM. For the 2004 330ci, combined usage is 11.8 L/100 KM, or estimated cost $4.65 for 40 KM.
So that means a savings of $3.57 per 40 KM driven, or about $0.08 per KM of savings.
The price difference between the two cars is around $23000 (let's say you negotiated $500 off the $41.5k sticker price of the Volt).
How far can $23000 get you in the BMW? Let's say premium gas is around $1.45/L. That would buy you over 15000 L of premium gas (yes, at today's price).
How far would 15000 L get you? Let's take worse case scenario of City only driving, again, fueleconomy.gov estimates that to be 13.8 L/100 for the BMW.
15000 L / 13.8(L/100) *100 KM = 108700 KM.
That's over 100000 KMs.
So if a 2012 Volt and a BMW 330ci started travelling into the city today, only after 100000 KM, the Volt driver can finally gloat about how much money they are saving.
Yes, of course I neglected to take into account repair costs on both cars, battery replacement costs, etc. But I was frankly surprised at the result. Because I too was taken in by the idea of not paying more and more for gas each time.
Oh btw, when you do need gas for the Volt, and you will, it takes Premium gas, just like the Bimmer.
Humm... I think I'll keep my baby :-)
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