Why hybrid and electric vehicles remain expensive in the Philippines...see

**niky** · May 14th, 2012 12:43 PM

The Prius C is a lot of money for a Yaris-sized car. Even with the tax breaks, it will still cost around 1 - 1.2m. Not all of that mark-up is taxes, you know.

Take all taxes out except the bare minimum in VAT, you're paying Php 950k for the "stripper" Prius C... absolutely no options or toys... for a car that gives you less interior space (but better economy) than a 1.4 liter Hyundai Accent. (taxi model... also "stripper"... at 600k). It will get over twice the economy in mixed driving... say 20 km/l to 10 km/l, based on what we have observed with the previous Prii in testing... so figuring this:

Price difference: Php 349,233.60

Fuel economy savings: Php 275 per 100 kms.

Break-even point: 126,994 kms.

That's a lot better than at the current price... (break even at 300k kms) and you could conceivably convince taxi operators to buy a few... but there's still the worry about battery longevity in tropical weather (which is NOT an imaginary issue... and has affected some of the hybrids and electrics here in the Philippines, already) and the fact that the vehicles still use gas.

Personally... at 1m, I'd buy one, given the cash, since I like the looks of the car and from reports, it's about as good as the previous Prius in terms of economy (new one is just too heavy with a motor that's too big)... but the technology still has to get cheaper to penetrate a market like this... especially considering that we're a diesel nation, and the advantage of hybrid over diesel isn't as big as it is over gasoline...

**renzo_d10** · May 14th, 2012 12:53 PM

Prius C price according to Toyota Philippines' website..

Full Option - Php1,525,000.00
Full Option (White Pearl) Php1,540,000.00
Standard - Php1,475,000.00
Standard (White Pearl) Php1,490,000.00

Details of prices provided here are subject to local conditions and requirements and may, therefore, vary from models available in your area. Please enquire at your local dealer for details on your local prices.

**niky** · May 14th, 2012 01:22 PM

That's without tax breaks. With tax breaks, lowest it can get is around 950k. Mostly likely will retail at 1m to 1.2m, because they'll need to make up for low volume by charging a bit more. This is because several dealerships will have to buy the equipment to service it, and they can't defray the expenses through high volume. If volume is high, then 1.05m for the base model is possible.

**renzo_d10** · May 14th, 2012 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by niky

That's without tax breaks. With tax breaks, lowest it can get is around 950k. Mostly likely will retail at 1m to 1.2m, because they'll need to make up for low volume by charging a bit more. This is because several dealerships will have to buy the equipment to service it, and they can't defray the expenses through high volume. If volume is high, then 1.05m for the base model is possible.

Niky,

Sa tingin mo how much would the battery replacement cost and how long can it work properly? I've read somewhere kasi dito rin sa tsikot na pwedeng pumalo sa 150k yung replacement? How true is this?

**fourtheboys96** · May 14th, 2012 02:05 PM

from a strictly private costs and benefits, the payback period is definitely long and not attractive.
So this is where the government (and academics) should come in.

Social costs of pollution is quite large. Health costs alone is US$450 million per year in 2002 (four cities inc MM but I assume bulk of this cost is from MM due to number of vehicles and population density). If we add the costs of deterioration of property, it can significantly increase.

Since avoided costs = benefit, we might as well avoid this unnecessary costs. It may not be cash in the government coffers but in form of savings.

But I know the buses and jeepneys are the main culprit with air pollution and only minimal improvement in ambient air quality can be achieved if private vehicle owners and even taxis are all changed to hybrids.

Nonetheless, it is better to start with something.

**pop3corn** · May 14th, 2012 02:15 PM

this desire to go green is just an internal feeling by individuals with an unhealthy lifestyle. if one will just work physically everyday, kahit gano ka pa kaitim ang pollution, our body can withstand the elements. and what about electric motors, sayang din yun kung overweight din naman ang passengers.

we're just going to spend a lot on batteries na pag na-deplete eh we will need yet another institution watchdog to control its waste management.

**uls** · May 14th, 2012 02:21 PM

^^^^

haha

so all environmentalists are fat?

--

kaya pala wala ako "desire to go green"

i don't get that "internal feeling"

siguro dahil payatot ako hehe

**uls** · May 14th, 2012 02:32 PM

btw OB, don't you think it's time to come up with new material?

i mean that gym-fit thing is getting kinda old

it's still funny (to your many fans) but you gotta keep things fresh ya know

**miLes** · May 14th, 2012 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by pop3corn

this desire to go green is just an internal feeling by individuals with an unhealthy lifestyle. if one will just work physically everyday, kahit gano ka pa kaitim ang pollution, our body can withstand the elements. and what about electric motors, sayang din yun kung overweight din naman ang passengers.

we're just going to spend a lot on batteries na pag na-deplete eh we will need yet another institution watchdog to control its waste management.

no matter how physically fit you are pollution will always affect your performance.

class a lang naman ang may desire to go green, not actually the desire but they have the time and resource. kung middle class ka lang ubos na oras and pera mo sa everyday kayod and gastos. my brother drove the prius around for about a year, realized he's not really a tree hugger and got an fj cruiser instead

**niky** · May 14th, 2012 05:38 PM

Battery costs, if prices come down enough, will be in the 100-150k range, but that will be several years down the line.

True, the pollution reduction versus regular private cars will be minimal. Fuel economy for modern cars with emissions controls is directly proportional to fuel burned... so using a Hyundai Eon or a Chevy Spark with similar economy to a hybrid will result in similar CO2 and HCO emissions.

What you want is to force the issue and make more public utilities hybrids, electric or at the very least, modern diesels. Such moves will be considered "anti-poor" and "pahirap" but they are the most sure-fire way of curbing pollution. Ban the sale of old-school diesels with high particulate, NOx and CO emissions. Make it so that everyone MUST follow. Users who want to keep on using their old-school diesels will have to fit NOx-scrubbing urea injection systems and particulate filters from the aftermarket... possibly to the tune of Php 50,000 each, at least.

The change in air quality should be immediate.

-

There is something the middle class can do to improve air quality. Leave the car at home and walk.

Last car delivery, I walked from Hyundai at Makati Ave. to the Ayala-EDSA bus station. Just two kilometers. A nice, brisk walk. Good exercise. And if you work in Makati and do that everyday, you should have thighs of steel after a month. Especially if you force yourself to take the stairs at the pedestrian underpasses instead of the escalators. (I did. Lots of fun... especially after the fourth or fifth intersection...

)