Hybrids do not need a $5000 battery change at 100K (if that is what you meant).
No, what I'm saying is the batteries, from my understanding, need to be replaced at 100,000 miles and cost $3,000. You also have the timing belt, water pump, etc because it still has a gas engine which will bring the cost on up close to $5,000 for a car that's not even worth $5,000. Hence the introduction of the throw away car...
You say to trust them because they're smart, and I say what about E85 gas?
Would you rather have $4 gas or no gas at all? Just pay at the pump, and y'all just get over it...
I'm not sure it's that simple. The cost of oil effects everything from the cost of my shirt, to the cost of food in other countries. There are people who wont be able to eat if oil prices keep going up this quick.
I know for a fact that the batteries IF replaced will cost close to $5000, and you ever wonder what happens if you get in an accident with any of the hybrids?? or if you happen to have a cell or two go bad...???
E85 and hybrids are like band-aids over a broken femur.
I'm really surprised environmentalist are okay with hybrids. You would think they would be up in arms. They're going to really do some damage I think. Great, the air is cleaner, but now we cant drink the water because there's too much lead in it....
$5000/100,000 miles is 5 cents a mile. I know you're exagerating about the hummer, since it costs 33 cents/mile just in gasoline, but tally up all the costs of owning your cars and you'll find the cost of new batteries is pretty insignificant. Replacing the factory tires on my used '02 sedan cost me $1200 and will last about 20,000 miles...6 cents per mile just for tires. They're working to bring battery costs down.
Yeah, I'm exaggerating, but you see my point.
Think about the used car market. A used 100,000 mile civic right now goes for around $6,000 I'm guessing. If the up front cost to keep it running is $5,000(water pump, timing belt, and $3,000 batteries) then the used car market will dry up, and these cars will be crushed and go into the landfills about 5 years early.
As far as the price of batteries coming down, it could go either way. They could actually go up in price because of demand.