Need opinions. (yeah, I know... opinions are like ______, everyone has one)

[huunvubu]

My question could of gone into both the hybrid or the eco boost section but it needs to be seen by both sets of people.
I had originally planned on getting a hybrid. Then with all this time on my hands waiting to order, I started to study more.
What I came up with is:
1) From what I'm seeing of people needing to replace their batteries, it's not a pretty sight. Big $$$ is involved. I have no idea how long the Maverick battery will last but I know it's not forever.
2) Sure, the hybrid is cheaper off the line and will get better mpg but I don't think it'll add up in the end if the battery takes a dump.

Am I being paranoid or realistic?

paranoid

Sponsored

 

[PDM33]

Everyone freaks out when they buy a Hybrid and wants to know how much a replacement battery will cost. When you look at buying the Ecoboost do you get a price on how much it would be to replace the engine? Same concept, if you are going to think the worst is going to happen than think about it the same way whatever car you buy. There are many many many electric and Hybrid vehicles out there with 200k to 300k miles with the original battery. Just because it's a "new" concept to you doesn't mean it hasn't existed for over 20 years and has been very reliable for millions of people. Get whichever works better for your lifestyle and enjoy it!!

 

[MostlySafeBear]

My question could of gone into both the hybrid or the eco boost section but it needs to be seen by both sets of people.
I had originally planned on getting a hybrid. Then with all this time on my hands waiting to order, I started to study more.
What I came up with is:
1) From what I'm seeing of people needing to replace their batteries, it's not a pretty sight. Big $$$ is involved. I have no idea how long the Maverick battery will last but I know it's not forever.
2) Sure, the hybrid is cheaper off the line and will get better mpg but I don't think it'll add up in the end if the battery takes a dump.

Am I being paranoid or realistic?

I really do not understand why people are needlessly paranoid over the high-voltage battery in the hybrid drive system.

It's been around in the US for over 20 years in the Prius, and in Japan for 25 years. It's been tested for even longer than that. The system in the Maverick is closely based on the Prius in many fundamental ways, just scaled up and including two decades of improvements, to the point of even licensing patents.

It's not new technology, for fuck's sake. It's not like we have no idea about battery longevity and replacement costs from the Prius to base informed opinions on, and also previous Ford hybrids.

If you want to "worry" similarly over the internal combustion engine then you can abandon it and go buy a horse, but I'll laugh at you. You probably wouldn't care and I wouldn't blame you, but I also am not un-necessarily and unjustifiably paranoid.

That said, absolutely nothing is perfect and nothing lasts forever, whether it's a hybrid, an internal combustion engine, or a horse.

 

[dalola]

My question could of gone into both the hybrid or the eco boost section but it needs to be seen by both sets of people.
I had originally planned on getting a hybrid. Then with all this time on my hands waiting to order, I started to study more.
What I came up with is:
1) From what I'm seeing of people needing to replace their batteries, it's not a pretty sight. Big $$$ is involved. I have no idea how long the Maverick battery will last but I know it's not forever.
2) Sure, the hybrid is cheaper off the line and will get better mpg but I don't think it'll add up in the end if the battery takes a dump.

Am I being paranoid or realistic?

Realistic if you plan on owning the Mav past the 8yr/100K hybrid warranty.

Paranoid if you aren't.

 

[docsmith1511]

My question could of gone into both the hybrid or the eco boost section but it needs to be seen by both sets of people.
I had originally planned on getting a hybrid. Then with all this time on my hands waiting to order, I started to study more.
What I came up with is:
1) From what I'm seeing of people needing to replace their batteries, it's not a pretty sight. Big $$$ is involved. I have no idea how long the Maverick battery will last but I know it's not forever.
2) Sure, the hybrid is cheaper off the line and will get better mpg but I don't think it'll add up in the end if the battery takes a dump.

Am I being paranoid or realistic?

I've owned a 2009 Ford Escape hybrid (currently have108k miles) since March of 2009, different battery than the Mav but I have no issues with my battery. I've lived in super hot areas, New Orleans and southern Cali as well as super cold Massachusetts. Battery is still doing it's job

 

[Deleted member 5597]

I just got an Uber ride to the Ford dealer to pick up my Escape hybrid. The guy that picked me up has a 2008 Toyota Highlander hybrid. He bought it new. He’s still driving it with the original battery.

 

[Iain000]

There is nothing to worry about, so many people are not worried about driving pure electric cars.

 

[KenC]

Stop listening to the internet. You have 8 yrs 100,000 miles to think about what will happen to the battery. More if you live in California.

 

[Timothyd]

Your answer depends on YOUR personality and goals.

The engineer part of me dislikes having two powertrains in one vehicle. As Sandy Munro says, the more parts, the more things there are to break. But there seems to be way more joyous hybrid owners in this group that there are unhappy people.

I personally chose Ecoboost for the awesome acceleration (the Maverick is a small truck hot rod in some ways) and because I NEED AWD to climb up my 175' vertical ascent in 1/4 mile driveway. That said, I have no illusions about Ecoboost reliability. That engine is hot and heavily loaded to deliver all that power. But I'm outta here and into a BEV long before the warranty expires. And I don't drive that many miles and frankly don't care what gasoline costs.

So you kind of have to pick your poison. The Maverick isn't perfect, and the two Maverick powertrains aren't perfect either. Either choice you make carries a small but not zero risk factor.

Perfection is elusive. Compromise and adapt or die. Well, maybe not die.

 

[Timothyd]

There is nothing to worry about, so many people are not worried about driving pure electric cars.

Till the governor says "Don't charge it"

 

[RR - All the way]

If you usually drive a vehicle less than 100,000 miles, hybrid is covered by warranty.
Now I have not read the warranty; I have an EB so have not read the fine print; hopefully the hybrid warranty does not "prorate" the battery based on age like normal batteries???

A question for the forum: Does the hybrid battery mostly wear out based on age, or the mileage and number of start and recharge cycles??

 

[RRaynor2]

I doubt this is the case, but it would seem nice if the 2.5L Atkinson could work independently if your battiers ever crapped out. Basically your hybrid would turn into ICE-only truck. I wonder if a reprogram could pull that off?

 

[projectvortex]

The other seldom-mentioned benefit of the 2.5 engine is its port-injection, vs the 2.0 direct injection turbo. I’d put money on the 2.5 lasting a lot longer without issues than the 2.0 regardless of the hybrid battery question. I have actually. Lol

 

[Milqueman]

My question could of gone into both the hybrid or the eco boost section but it needs to be seen by both sets of people.
I had originally planned on getting a hybrid. Then with all this time on my hands waiting to order, I started to study more.
What I came up with is:
1) From what I'm seeing of people needing to replace their batteries, it's not a pretty sight. Big $$$ is involved. I have no idea how long the Maverick battery will last but I know it's not forever.
2) Sure, the hybrid is cheaper off the line and will get better mpg but I don't think it'll add up in the end if the battery takes a dump.

Am I being paranoid or realistic?

A lot of it depends on you and what you're going to do with the vehicle, how long you plan to own it and how many miles you drive per year, but I ran some very basic number for you.

Some basic information:

1. Hybrid batteries are WAY cheaper than full size EV Batteries. EV batteries can cost $10,000 - $40,000.

2. A quick Google search of Hybrid battery replacement costs came up with $2,000 - $8,000 (This is for all Hybrids on the market, Google doesn't know how much a Ford Maverick Hybrid battery costs)

3. A quick Google search found that a Ford Escape Hybrid battery costs about $5,000 to replace, including labor, so that's right in the middle of the aforementioned average. So I'll use this for calculations.

4. The Ford Maverick Hybrid battery is supposed to last the the lifetime of the vehicle. (however long that is?)

5. MANY people are reporting that the Maverick Hybrid is getting 40+ MPG, but for the below calculations I'll use 40 MPG average

6. The Ecoboost is supposed to get a combined 25MPG, so I'll use that for calculations.



so...

ASSUMING the following:
You drive 20,000 miles per year
Gas will average $3.50 per gallon
You own the vehicle for 5 years.
Hybrid battery replacement will cost $5,000
40 MPG for the Hybrid
25 MPG for the EcoBoost.



CALCULATIONS:

Hybrid annual fuel costs:
20,000 Miles per year divided by 40 (MPG) = 500 gallons of gas.
500 Gallons x $3.50 = $1,750 fuel cost per year

EcoBoost annual fuel costs:
20,000 Miles per year divided by 25 (MPG) = 800 gallons of gas.
800 Gallons x $3.50 = $2,800 fuel cost per year

Hybrid fuel savings per year:
$2,800 - $1,750 = $1,050

By driving the Hybrid 20,000 miles per year @ 3.50 per gallon, you will save $1,050 per year.

$1,050 x 5 years = $5,250

If you drive the Hybrid for 5 years, you will have paid for the battery that could cost $5,000

But.... the battery is supposed to last a lot long than that.

I would say that the Hybrid will come out as the cheaper option in the long run, based on all the above assumptions.

Sponsored