Is it worth buying a plug-in hybrid when you don't drive much?
Hello,
I am on a waiting list to purchase a Toyota Prius Prime. I'd like to keep the vehicle for a long time, longer than ten years. My annual mileage is low (between 5,000 and 6,000 km). So I'm wondering whether it makes sense to buy a plug-in hybrid. I've heard that not driving a lot affects the battery, as the "regular" cycle of discharging and recharging the battery will not be respected.
It's worth noting that my choice of the Prius Prime isn't motivated solely by fuel economy (I don't drive much, so the cost of fuel isn't a determining factor). But it's a reliable vehicle and I enjoyed driving it during a test drive at the dealership.
Do you think it makes sense to buy a plug-in hybrid when you don't drive much?
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Hello Mohamed,
First of all, the Toyota Prius Prime is an excellent choice in its class, and the new model is even better thanks to its improved range and enhanced performance. You didn't mention it in your question, but if you have the option of plugging the vehicle in at home or at work, your battery won't have any discharge problems, since it will be charged and then used regularly as you drive. If this isn't the case and you're parking on the street, you can also select HV mode while driving. This recharges the car's battery using the gasoline engine.
The last scenario is if you have to leave your vehicle unplugged for a long period of time. If this is the case, here are Toyota Canada's recommendations in the owner's manual:
"To prevent the hybrid battery (traction battery) charge from becoming very low, charge the hybrid battery (traction battery) from an external power source or start the hybrid system at least once every 2-3 months."
So unless you park your car for a very long time without ever charging it, you shouldn't have any technical problems or premature battery ageing if you drive 5,000 to 6,000 kilometers a year.
In terms of whether or not it's worth buying, there's no doubt that a Toyota Prius Prime will retain a very good market value for years to come. And if you decide to part with a 10-year-old, one-owner Prius Prime with only 60,000 km on the odometer, I'm taking little risk in telling you that you're going to sell it for a very good price.
So, if you like the vehicle, there's no reason not to take the plunge. The only drawback with Toyota is the current high financing rates. Find out whether it would be more interesting for you to finance the vehicle elsewhere. And if that's not possible, consider using a down payment and opt for the shortest possible financing.
