Hybrid fuel-efficiency is a bedtime story.
The best real-world mileage you can expect from the likes of a Toyota Prius is around 48 mpg, which really isn't all that much better than most decent cars on the road. But let's put this to the test, based on real-world gas mileage. The 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid really gets around 28 miles per gallon combined city and highway, and the regular, comparably equipped V6 manages about 18 miles to the gallon. The difference in cost, assuming 13,000 miles driven at an average of $3 per gallon is about $770 a year, a savings, true -- but not all that remarkable. As hybrids age, the efficiency of their small internal combustion engines - and probably the electric motors - will decline, thus eliminating any return on investment.