Hybrid Calculations
Finally someone has decided to do the hard econometric number-crunching on whether getting a hybrid car saves you money.
The conclusion, surprisingly, is not really:
it is painfully obvious that existing hybrids lack the ability to make up for their steep prices with gas savings. While a hybrid would present significant savings over something like a new Ford Super Duty, you would always save more with any of a number of economy cars.
Don't take that as a fatwa enjoining you to buy Buicks, though, folks. The author of the study has not included government incentives in his calculations. The omission is understandable, since the type of incentive varies greatly from one locality to the next. But it bears stressing that the incentives are not negligible here in Virginia: the exemption on the annual car tax, as well as the ability to use HOV lanes as a single-occupant vehicle are two things worth taking into consideration. I believe similar tax advantages now exist in the District and Maryland.