Are Hybrid Cars Costlier to Maintain than Non-Hybrid Cars?
Is a hybrid car expensive to maintain? A lot of people get worried about buying a hybrid; they worry that it is complicated, it is very expensive to buy and it will cost a lot more to maintain than non-hybrid cars. A hybrid is in fact, complicated and an expensive car to buy, but it is actually less expensive to maintain when compared to a non-hybrid car over a long period of time. So, the answer to the question is no, unless the car breaks down.
The normal or routine maintenance of a hybrid car is not more than that of normal cars. In fact, a hybrid car might cost less to maintain than the regular non-hybrid cars. A hybrid does cost more when it needs some major repairs.
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People who buy hybrid cars often debate about whether or not, the high mileage and fuel efficiency save money in the long run. This actually depends on a number of factors, like the price of fuel, how much you drive the car and the period for which, you keep the car. People often wonder or not it is economical to own a hybrid car especially because it is more expensive to buy than a non-hybrid car.
The electric motors of a hybrid car take over when driving at low speed, this makes the engine shut down. Because the use of the engine is reduced, the wear and tear of the engine is reduced as well. This saves the owner from expenses related to engine repair. Auto experts recommend an oil change at about 3500 kms of use. Some hybrid cars also come with regenerative braking system, which has a long life. Regenerative brakes don’t heat up much, resulting in their long life.
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The major cost of maintaining a hybrid car comes up if you have a faulty battery. New hybrid cars come with a battery warranty of about 8 years or 160,000 kms, while some have a warranty of up to 10 years or 240,000 kms, whichever comes first. A hybrid battery costs more than $2,000, which is more than PKR 200,000.
When comparing the cost of maintenance over a period of time, a hybrid costs less. The wear and tear of the engine is relatively less when compared to non-hybrid cars; and you save a lot of money on fuel.