TomT said:
Me thinks there is something seriously wrong with your numbers... Or you are a serious outlier...
nerys said:
for me the volt is not even a remote option on a remote table anywhere. too expensive.
even a craphole prius is a better option at $78,000 over 10 years.
Most definitely a serious outlier. alas I can only give data I have and that is data on me and is the data that decides my decisions
just for the hell of it here is how I came up with the numbers.
I calculate what I call a 10 year TRC or Total Real Cost. kind of an oxymoron since I can't predict ALL the costs but I can make assumptions on the most dominant numbers and assumptions on the rest being "relatively equal and therefore irrelevant"
For example I don't have to include tires or regular maintenance since ALL of them will or should be equal in this regard. 4 tires etc.. etc..
I also eliminate most "other" maintenance by using only brand new cars. I have in my experience gotten 300,000+ miles on a car without any major repairs so it is a fair assumption.
I do not include electricity since I get it for free of "$ cost" to myself. 70+ % of my charging as at my 2 jobs neither of which charges me for power and around 50% of the rest of my power is offset with solar that is pre existing. (over the years in anticipation of having an EV and because it is fun to mess with) so maybe $100 a year in power? if you want we can add that cost as well. I estimate I would need $800 a year in power if I had to pay for all the power I use including at both jobs. These are my original numbers (which I am using here) my interest rate would be 12% fuel is $3.50 a gallon. (more on this later)
Nissan Leaf. $30,000 plus $10,000 interest Minus $7500 in subsidies plus $11,000 for 2 batteries plus $1000 in power. $44,500
Prius assuming 50mpg. $24,000 plus $8,000 in interest plus $28,000 in fuel Total $60,000 I originally had $78k for the prius. I did these calculations many years ago at which time I think I factored in 2 battery replacements like the Leaf but have since learned that 200+ thousands miles on an original prius battery is NOT unheard of. so figure $65,000 ?? add in 1 battery replacement.
I think I also originally ran these numbers with $4 a gallon gas average and 50,000 miles a year. adjusting to $3.5 a gallon and 40,000 a year.
Chevy Volt. I believe I used an original MSRP of $42,000 for the volt. I think you can get them for $35k now. so $27k after rebate.
the volt has VERY short all electric range (under 30 miles far less in winter) I used 40% electric for my numbers. (none of my driving is short versus time it is all long distance driving or lots of short term high density driving IE would drain the battery really fast)
30mpg after depleting the battery.
SO Volt. $35,000 plus $12,000 interest -$7500 rebate plus ?? $11,000 plus $500 in power plus $28,000 in fuel (Fascinating that it comes out to be teh same as the prius!!!)
Batteries? this one is up in the air. I have seen prices as low as $4000 and as high as $34,000. so let us just assume "leaf like" prices.
as at the new lower price at the new lower miles per year and using a lower price per gallon the Volt now comes in at $79,000
as you can see the leaf is about HALF the price
And there is more savings to be added. at my mileage I would perform oil changes at least 5 times a year (usually every 2 to 3 months usually around 8,000 miles) that is $650 more dollar on the price of the volt and prius and that is "do it myself prices" if I goto a local 10 minute place $1100 more
you also have other maintenance that adds up over time but is not "major"
Fuel system Emissions system and Exhaust systems maintenance that simply does not exist in the leaf.
Even if I compare it to my Geo Metro it is quite favorable. Brand new price $9,000 62mpg average. a bit less delivery driving 50mpg average over the year.
Geo Metro $9,000 plus $1700 in interest plus $28,000 in fuel Total $38,700
in my CURRENT situation these numbers would all be a little lower as I have pretty good credit now and can get an APR of 4% but it would not change the "distribution" of the values very much just where that distribution lies and I don't feel like recalculating it all
SO for my specific 40,000 miles a year driving and assuming 12% interest that is how the cookie crumbles on the cars and why I can never choose a volt (or a prius)
One other problem. unless you make $60,000 a year you are not getting the $7500 rebate. unless you do a lease then buyout and nissan gets and credits you the rebate. I make $24k a year. I would get almost zero from that rebate. (I think I figured it out at $400 can't recall for sure)
which is why I bought a used one