I just saw a blurb for the 11pm news that featured the prius. I rewound the TiVo and they said the following "They're clean, efficient and promise to deliver great gas mileage. Americans and lining up for hybrid cars and want to know more. But if you're buying one for savings, think again. Asa Aarons demonstrates, is the hybrid right for you?" Throughout the commercial, they showed people driving or fueling or looking under the hood of their Prius. So, I'll sit through the fear, uncertainty and doubt campaign and report back, but I doubt that there will be any real news.
I have a bad feeling that they are going to talk about "hybrid premium cost recovery". Which is a totally false way to evaluate the product. Do you do that with conventional vehicles? No, so it doesn't apply. The only way to value a vehicle is by TCO.
I share the bad feeling that more FUD is on its way. TCO is close, though I would suggest that TCU (Total Cost of Use) would be a more appropriate way to evaluate and compare vehicles. TCU includes emissions, which is hugely in the Prius' favour, but TCO does not.
