Good News: You Can Break Even On A Chevy Volt In Only 27 Years

You will likely have to spend $10,000 to replace the batteries around the ten year mark.

(Nashville Business Journal) — If you’re thinking about buying a fuel-efficient hybrid, electric or otherwise eco-friendly vehicle as a way to save money over time, do your homework — or be prepared to wait.

Buyers who choose Nissan’s all-electric Leaf ($28,421) over its approximate gas-powered equivalent, Nissan’s Versa ($18,640), will likely wait nearly 9 years until they break even, according to a new report by The New York Times that examines the cost of fuel efficiency.

For drivers of the Chevrolet Volt ($31,767), the wait is even longer — 26.6 years.

A few vehicles begin paying off relatively soon after leaving the dealership. Two hybrids — Toyota’s Prius ($23,537) and Lincoln’s MKZ ($33,887) — as well as Volkswagen’s diesel-powered Jetta TDI ($25,242) all take less than two years before they start saving their owners money.