Vincentric: Hybrids Losing Their Competitive Edge
Gasoline-electric hybrids are losing their competitive edge over ther gasoline counterparts due to falling fuel prices and more efficient internal combustion engines, according to a five-year owner cost analysis by Vincentric.

Photo of 2014.5 Camry Hybrid courtesy of Toyota.

Photo of 2014.5 Camry Hybrid courtesy of Toyota.
Gasoline-electric hybrids are losing their competitive edge over ther gasoline counterparts due to falling fuel prices and more efficient internal combustion engines, according to a five-year owner cost analysis by Vincentric.
The research firm studied the total cost of owning a hybrid, and found that 10 of the 31 hybrids included in the research were more cost-effective to own that their gasoline counterpart. The percentage of cost-effective hybrids has fallen to 32 percent from 39 percent in the 2013 study and 44 percent in the 2012 study.
The Lexus CT200h and the Toyota Avalon Hybrid returned impressive lower ownership costs with savings of over $7,600 and $3,200 respectively. Additional hybrids from Acura, Audi, Honda, Hyundai, Lexus, Lincoln, and Toyota also showed cost advantages, according to Vincentric.
However, when the costs to own and operate all 31 hybrid vehicles were taken into account, the average five-year cost-of-ownership for hybrids was $1,339 more than their gasoline-powered counterparts.
“In some cases, fuel cost savings associated with hybrid vehicles are able to offset their price premium. However, hybrids are losing their competitive edge due to the improved fuel economy of gas-powered combustion engines and falling fuel prices,” stated David Wurster, Vincentric's president. “Consumers must look at individual models to determine whether a hybrid or its gas-powered counterpart has lower ownership costs and will save them money in the long run."
Vincentric measured total cost-of-ownership using eight different cost factors: depreciation, fees & taxes, financing, fuel, insurance, maintenance, opportunity cost, and repairs. The analysis assumed vehicle ownership of five years and 15,000 annual miles of driving.
Here's the list of the top 10 models:
2014 Acura ILX Hybrid ($1,613)
2014 Audi Q5 Hybrid ($2,611)
2014 Honda Insight ($86)
2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid ($1,379)
2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid ($191)
2014 Lexus CT 200h ($7,632)
2014 Lexus ES 300h ($1,179)
2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid ($3,252)
2014 Toyota Avalon Hybrid ($3,356)
2014 Toyota Camry 2014.5 Hybrid ($1,075)
More Green Fleet

Inspiration Mobility Acquires Key Electrada Assets
Inspiration Mobility Group has acquired select assets of Electrada, adding the fleet electrification provider's team, technology, and charging infrastructure development capabilities to its energy management business.
Read More →
Turning Connected Vehicle Data Into Decisions That Matter
Fleet leaders have more data than ever, but turning that data into clear, actionable decisions remains a challenge. This white paper shows how leading organizations are using connected vehicle data to improve safety, reduce costs, and optimize fleet performance. Learn how to turn insight into action across your fleet.
Read More →Are You Tracking Your Fleet's True Total Cost of Ownership?
Bobit Business Media surveyed 190 fleet professionals and found that while most fleets are tracking costs, fragmented systems and data gaps are keeping true TCO visibility out of reach. With rising pressure to control spend in an increasingly volatile environment, the gap between what fleets think they know and what the data actually shows is wider than you might expect. See how your peers are managing costs today and where the industry still has room to improve.
Read More →
Hybrids: Electrification Without the Challenges
For fleet managers, fuel is one of the biggest line items in the budget — and it's one hybrids can shrink without changing how your people work. Download the eBook to see the numbers, understand the technology, and get a step-by-step guide to making the switch.
Read More →
Startup ZMD Motors Developing Electric Conversion for Ram 5500 Work Trucks
Detroit-based company says it has begun early development of a system to convert internal combustion Ram 5500 chassis-cab trucks to electric power.
Read More →
U.S. EV Adoption Is Climbing, but Commercial and Passenger Markets Diverge
New industry group data revealed that light-duty electric vehicle sales are hitting record market share and volumes, while commercial EV volume dipped. What’s driving the fluctuations?
Read More →
How To Upfit Electric Work Trucks and Vans
The biggest challenge lies in balancing additional equipment and accessories with EV battery capacity and range.
Read More →
How Fleets Can Adjust Approaches To EV Adoption
With the expiration of federal incentives, EV success now hinges less on government policy and more on discounts, battery tech progress, increased range, and broader infrastructure.
Read More →
Despite World Troubles, Forward Thinking Guides Fleets
Fleet operators shared their challenges during an annual conference that embraced the latest advances across all aspects of running private- and public-sector vehicles.
Read More →
GM Energy Details Partnerships and Targets for Public Charging Build-Out
EVgo, Pilot, ChargePoint and IONNA named; goal is 35k GM-invested DC stalls by 2030, with customer-experience upgrades at sites.
Read More →