The Truth About Cars

MAY 13, 2024

The very first press car I ever received was a red 2008 Mercury Sable , so let's take a look at the same kind of car at the end of its 16-year career. But we just saw a Corvair in this series less than two years back , so today you're getting a history lesson about decline-and-fall-era Mercury instead.

Mercury 59

Mercury 2008 Colorado 2007 59

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 21, 2009

Conversions are mostly for the Prius, with a few for the Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner hybrid SUVs. At these prices, people are buying the "environmental feature" -- they want to be among the first owners of the worlds cleanest extended-range vehicles. They are early adopters, buying "Version 1.0" So far, most start as hybrids.

Plug-in 41

Plug-in Plug Hybrid Nickel Metal Hydride 41

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 21, 2009

Despite this, a 2003 EPRI study , assuming only $2/gallon gas , zero buying incentives, and a PHEV premium of $3-$5,000 more than standard hybrids, shows that the total lifetime cost of ownership for a PHEV will be lower than that of any other vehicle type -- so the payback will be there. See our 2007 Goals and 2006 Report.

PHEV 37

PHEV Nickel Metal Hydride Prius EPRI 37