rgevans871

After reading many of the responses after the article at http://www.hybridcar...dden-costs.html, I'm wondering whether a hybrid is something I want to invest in. I asked the parts guy at our local Ford Dealer the cost of the battery. He looked it up and quoted me $8000 and then didn't include removal and replacement labor. A hybrid would look more attractive to someone that either leases or trades every 2 to 3 years. I'm not either of those cases. Thanks for your input and particularly the web site. Ron.

What is the life expectancy of the hybrid battery? What is it's replacement cost, including change out labor? Does the battery warranty prorate the replacement cost of the battery depending on it's age as most conventional battery warranties do or is it a full replacement cost up to the expiration date of the warranty? I'm a prospective buyer trying to do a life cycle economic assessment of the cost of owning a Fusion Hybrid for a period of 10 to 12 years with 120,000 to 150,000 mile. I'm anticipating that I'll need to replace the battery sometime during this period. My local Ford Dealer has not been helpful in answering these questions. Ron.