Are Hybrid Cars Really Cheap To Run?

You might have heard about excellent fuel economy of hybrid cars. For example, a non-hybrid 1.5L usually offers 11-14 Km/l on average, while a Hybrid vehicle with usually runs about 21-28 Km in one liter of fuel. It means they are money saver and economical to run, right? 

You’re just looking at one side of the story. Here’s our brief explanation of this topic.

Buying Cost – Hybrid Cars Vs. Non-Hybrid 

The technology used in HEVs (Hybrid Electric Vehicle), including their batteries, BMS, and electric motors, comes at a cost. For a car manufacturer, it’s not easy to build and incorporate electric motors along with a gasoline engine, so they will charge you a fortune to compensate for their efforts. 

And especially the battery cost! Worldwide, Li-ion batteries are expensive to make, and hybrid cars also use the same battery technology to store the electric juice. These batteries further increase the price of HEV. 

So, you end up paying almost 40-50% more when buying a hybrid car compared to a non-hybrid one.

For example, MG HS non-hybrid costs 7.2-8.1 million PKR, and the same model with PHEV technology will cost you 12 million PKR.

Hybrid Batteries – Lifespan & Replacement 

No battery lasts forever, and they die after some time. The same is valid for hybrid cars, which require battery replacement after a certain period as their batteries degrade over time.

Now, there is no specific lifespan for hybrid cars. It all depends on the manufacturer and model of the car and largely depends on the user’s driving style. For example, one HEV battery can last for 70,000 Km, and another HEV battery can last up to 120,000 Km. It’s all dynamic!

However, one thing we can tell you for sure is that the HEV’s battery replacement cost is heavy on the pocket. They cost almost half the price of the car’s engine (used engine price)—it’s not cheap, for sure! For an estimate, an Aqua and Prius battery replacement costs almost 90,000-140,000, depending on the battery’s health.

So, are HEVs expensive to Run?

Not always! HEVs are still much more efficient than non-hybrid ICE cars, as they have an electric motor system that is about 75% efficient, compared to ICE, which has a maximum efficiency of 40%. So, HEVs will always be cheaper than ICE of the same power and HP. 

And it’s Pakistan. Here, cars are considered investments, so even if you spend 50% more money on them in the buying price, they’ll not depreciate but appreciate over time, so price-wise, you’ll not lose anything. 

For used JDM Cars

Here, we’ve done easy maths for you, and  we’ve supposed an HEV vehicle with a 1.5L engine and another er Km cost of 1.5L non-HEV vehicle, compared the cost of both: 

HEV case:

• • Battery life: 200,000 KM
  • Battery replacement price: 110,000 PKR
  • Fuel average: 25 Km/l
  • Fuel cost: Rs.294

• Per kilometer cost for HEV: Rs. 12.31/km  

Non-HEV case:

• • Fuel average: 13 Km/l    
  • Fuel cost: Rs.294/l 
• Per kilometer cost for non-HEV: Rs. 22.62/km 

And now, if we suppose that HEV costs Rs.50 lacs and non-HEV, same league and same specs competitor costs Rs.35 lacs, it’s just a one-time investment; Both cars will sell for more than their purchase price or at least the same buying price after a few years.

For New Cars

For new cars, we’ve got some models, including the Toyota Corolla Cross HEV, Hyundai Santa FE, Haval H6, and JOLION HEV.  Our PR team of Pakwheels requested all these brands to tell us about their HEV battery replacement cost and battery life. However, only Hyundai’s official replied and told us  about the Santa FE’s hybrid battery cost and lifespan, which is:

According to the Aftersales Dept. of Hyundai:

• Santa FE Hybrid battery replacement cost is PKR 1 million
• Recommended Replacement Tenure is 15 to 20 years

Now, as per the claim, Santa FE’s fuel average is 14 Km/L. If we do a calculation @Rs.294/l petrol:

The total cost per kilometer for Santa Fe HEV is Rs.24.33.

Up till now, Toyota and Haval have not replied; if they answer our query in the future, we’ll surely update this article.

So, What’s the Problem with HEVs?

The problem is with their PRICING! 

A good condition and 2-3 years old Japanese HEV vehicle comes in the budget of 70 lacs – 1.5 Crore budget, cars. Do you really think that if a person is buying a 70 lacs to 1.5 crore car, he cares about the fuel average of the vehicle? 

Fuel economy is a term glamourized by middle-class and salaried professionals when purchasing a car. Generally, individuals within this class do not have the financial means to afford a car worth 1 crore solely based on their salary. Even if some were to consider such a purchase, it would likely require selling all their properties and assets, a decision a sane person would refrain from making.

Such middle-class people usually buy cars within a budget of 10 to a maximum of 22 lacs, and you don’t get an HEV vehicle within this price range. So, promoting fuel-efficient technology to the elite or upper-middle-class segment who do not prioritize fuel economy doesn’t make sense. 

Those who purchase hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) do indeed consider fuel economy, albeit it may not be their primary concern as it is for the middle class, and HEVs aren’t a thing for salaried or middle-class people with average salaries.