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Fuel prices are also encouraging people to look to such alternative engines.

He says: “The numbers of people planning to buy used hybrids is increasing, with nearly seven per cent of those we recently surveyed saying their next car will be one. Neil Addley runs the .uk portal for franchised dealers around the UK. In 2012, Honda switched from nickel metal hydride batteries to lithium-ion versions, virtually tripling replacement costs in the process, from £972 to £2,700 – not that any of these batteries have yet needed to be replaced. Replacing the pack on an original Honda Insight or Civic IMA will cost you around £2,000, but it’s a more palatable £900 on the later Insight and Civic IMA. For a Mk1 or Mk2 Prius, it’s £1,201 and £1,068 respectively on an exchange basis a new battery for a Mk3 is priced at a hefty £5,730, though. If you do need to replace an entire battery pack, it’s not as costly as you might expect. After 10 years you can still expect at least 80 per cent efficiency from a hybrid battery pack could you say the same about the internal-combustion engine it’s supporting?” He continues: “What’s more encouraging, though, is the fact that it’s highly unlikely a whole pack will need renewal, as it’ll simply be a question of replacing any dead cells inside, cutting costs even further. By the time these cars are out of warranty – and, more importantly, by the time their battery packs start failing – replacement costs will almost certainly be significantly lower than they are now.” He says: “Battery pack costs have halved in the past three years, and they’re now a fifth of what they were 10 years ago. Mitsubishi UK MD Lance Bradley reckons there’s good news here, though. With their batteries still under warranty, most makers have yet to set prices for replacement packs.
#Hybrid cars australia 2015 plus#
There’s no clutch, conventional starter motor, alternator or drivebelt, plus it says the hybrid system leads to longer durability of brake discs, pads and tyres. They assume poor reliability is likely, but according to Toyota, the opposite is true. Hybrid tech may have proven itself worthwhile and dependable, but many potential buyers are still put off due to the perceived extra cost and complexity of the drivetrain. So, should you consider one as your next motor? Some manufacturers have been slower to catch on, but there’s still a whole range of options available on the used market. The first-generation Toyota Prius hit UK showrooms back in 2000 and with the Mk4's arrival, it’s fair to say hybrid tech has proven reliable. While the market share for both plug-in and petrol/electric hybrids has grown over the past 12 months, these cars have been on the market for years. It’s not a totally new phenomenon, either. Makers are under increasing pressure to deliver cars with better efficiency and lower CO2 emissions, and although small petrol turbos are popular, there’s little doubt that hybrids are a growing force. Air quality concerns and testing regime worries mean many owners are shying away from diesels and looking for cleaner alternatives.
