from Fast Company Now: Hyperion, a software company, announced this week that employees who purchase a Toyota or Honda hybrid (or any other vehicle that gets more than 45 miles per gallon) over a gas-guzzler will be reimbursed $5,000. Given that Hyperion aims to reimburse about 200 of their 2,500 employees each year, this adds up to a hearty $1 million per year to put the brakes on global warming and conserve natural resources.
from Hyperion’s web site: On November 29, 2004, Hyperion launched Drive Clean to Drive Change, an initiative designed to empower our employees to take a personal step to improve the air by driving a car that goes further on a gallon of gas. Many of our employees are already interested in and already inclined to take this step. As a company, we are simply doing what we can to help. Hyperion also launched the Companies for Clean Air Consortium to help other companies create similar programs.
I read recently that taking in the cost of the hybrid vehicle over a five-year (or longer) period and deducting the cost of the gasoline it saves, you about break even at best. You could actually lose money, unless the price of gas goes over $4 a gallon. A globally-warming thought in itself.
Clyde,
I would love to see those numbers and how “they” ran them. I am making a HUGE assumption here, but I am guessing “they” didn’t take into consideration the cost of our natural resources. Or, the tax credit which should be considered for sustainability.
I am reasonably sure with the $5000 credit provided for by Hyperion, the potential owner of a hybrid comes out ahead.
This was rather recent, as I recall, and I was surprised. The article said if you really wanted to save money, instead of buying a hybrid just buy a used car for under $5000 and run it for a couple of years. The gas cost (even with occasional repairs) versus the cost of a new car would be negligible. I am talking about transportation here, not saving the world. If you want to really save the world, walk, don’t ride.