In 2010, approximately 30 electric hybrid car models were available to the consumer market, though several more models remained in developmental stages. The average cost of a hybrid car is between $2,000 to $5,000 more than that of a traditional combustion engine model, with some hybrids costing as much as $20,000 more than traditional models. The limited number of hybrid cars has not created enough competition among manufacturers to drive costs down, and many consumers cannot afford the initial purchase price of a hybrid car despite the eventual savings in fuel consumption.
Because of hybrid cars' increasing complex electrical system, many garages lack the specialized equipment needed to perform maintenance. Many problems must go directly through manufacturer, which may create an inconvenience and a more expensive option. Though replacement batteries for hybrid cars are a rare necessity, the batteries are difficult to procure and may cost several thousand dollars.
Though hybrid cars have a reputation for fuel efficiency, they still use a combustion engine that requires fuel. Hybrid cars are not free of harmful emissions caused by fuel combustion. In addition, a 2007 report from a research team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology estimated a larger carbon footprint caused by the manufacture of hybrid cars than the footprint caused by the manufacture of traditional cars due to the production of additional specialized components.
Many hybrid car models are lighter than traditional car models---a factor that increases the likelihood of spinning out in an accident or due to extreme weather. Though hybrid cars receive comparable safety ratings to those traditional cars, the battery poses a particularly dangerous hazard. The electric battery in a hybrid car runs at considerably high voltage; exposure of the battery or its components caused by a crash may create an increased risk of severe injury due to burns.
