$1.49 unleaded. It may bee time to unplug the Clarity...sigh...

I can't see it as too much of a bummer.
It's not as if the cost of running it has gone up--it's the feeling that you're forgoing the opportunity to save a fraction of a cent per mile you'd realize by burning gasoline.
For short trips especially, I suspect you're still saving something per mile when you consider the inefficiency of a cold start.

 

Time to drop some coin on solar so you can get that 11 cents down a bit. Maybe even to “free”.

We’re in the Pacific NW with just a ~3kW array, which offsets ~40% of our usage. So the 11 cents is closer to 7 cents. Of course it cost a small fortune to install with battery backup and 2 inverters for 240V to run the well pump. Oh well, what’s done is done.

 

its more than not hearing the load engine, driving EV is sublime- and worth the extra few dollars a week.

 

This may be a price point where it is cost effective to use HV Charge when appropriate in order to use EV when desired.

 

Unfortunately, math (or economics) doesn't work that way, it still cost you $0.11/kWh to charge your Clarity

 

Technically correct. However, I’m only paying for 60% of the kWh’s that we use, so the net cost per kWh is closer to 7 cents.

 

Gas has dropped to .99 per gallon here, but no way I'll use gas for my short daily commute. It's too inefficient compared to EV.

 

Here in central CA, gas is down to as low as $2.39/gl. However, PG&E raised my EV Rate off-peak from $0.126/kWh when I bought my car June 2019, to $0.169/kwH now, a 34% increase! While I'm annoyed at the electric price hike, and I like the cheap gas, I will continue fully charging even though its now cheaper to drive on gas... With work from home / shelter in place the new norm, I won't be using much of either. Stay safe!

 

I like the quiet ride and I charge at work for free. Commute is such that I still have to charge at home.

 

Isn't it better to run the Clarity in EV as far as maintenance goes?

 

The Clarity is a hybrid vehicle with a big battery (regular Honda hybrid vehicles have the exact same mechanical design with a battery 1/10 the size). Like any ICE car, you need to run the gas engine regularly to keep the fluids flowing and parts lubricated. If you want the car to last, use hybrid mode regularly to reduce depth of discharge of the traction battery (worst for longevity is charging to 100% and depleting to minimum, despite the buffers Honda put in). That way, you'll keep both the ICE and battery in peak shape for the long term. If you just want to keep the car for 3-4 years like most Americans, do whatever you want.

 

I've had a Prius Prime for a couple of years and been active on the Prime forums. I have to say I have never seen anyone suggest that discharging the traction battery is a bad idea. That is pretty much exactly what everyone does. You charge your car and when you go somewhere you drive through the full electric range and then you're automatically in hybrid mode. I'm sure it is a good idea to run the ICE with some degree of regularity, but, unless you pretty much always drive less than 43 or so miles between charges, that shouldn't be a problem. You don't want to deeply discharge your SLI battery, but the traction battery is meant to be discharged on a regular basis (like the batteries in any electric car). Of course, you don't want to fully deplete it, but that shouldn't even be possible if you have gas in your tank. Perhaps others who know more about this than I do will weigh in.

 

If we must divide ourselves while swerving off topic, put me in the group that charges and discharges fully.

The car will run the ICE periodically as reported by those who run on EV for weeks on end.

Honda recommends, in the Owner’s Manual, to fully charge the batteries after each use. When a Clarity owner can demonstrate, to my satisfaction, that they know more than the Honda engineers, I may consider their recommendation.

Carry on.

 

Sounds reasonable and in line with all I've read. Are we really going off-topic? The thread is about driving gas vs. electric and what the reasons are to use electric over gas, even if it costs somewhat more. I've recently taken rides with a couple of Uber drivers driving Model S Teslas. I asked how it can be worth driving such an expensive car for Uber. They both said it comes down to the lack of maintenance and the free charging stations. One had 250,000 miles on his Model S with no substantial repairs. That's what's making me think it's better to drive electric as much as possible (given that I'll still use the ICE a bit here and there).

 

This is only my perspective, but if we begin debating theoretical battery longevity and charging protocol, again, we are veering away from the original topic of the day to day operating costs of gas v electricity.

As of 1/1/2017, Tesla offered 400kWh’s of “free” charging with the purchase of a new car, which equates to about 1000 miles of travel. After that, no free lunch. Tesla’s no longer qualify for the $7500 Fed tax credit either.

There are some free charging options, at airports for instance. Those may not always be convenient or available.

 

Ahh, so that is what that HV Mode button is for! Ugh, but still working on burning that battery down for a new one at 7 years 11 months... goals goals! I got this car for the choice of go juice, now I can make that choice as a matter of convenience versus price.

Cheers,
Cash

 

The vehicle you choose has certain strengths. If you get a big diesel pickup, then you have the ability to drive in some tough situations and haul stuff (with the obvious cost trade off). Getting a dual-fuel vehicle has strengths too. In times when gas is cheaper, you can opt to run it as a gas vehicle. And with HV charge mode, you don't even have to plugin for better hybrid mode. If electric rates become a better deal, then you may have the ability to commute electric.

I like options, they are strength too.