Well Mitch, if and when the price of a used Insight gets anywhere near the cost of a new set of batteries, people like myself who would be able to repair/recondition the pack, or replace it with a salvaged one will be buying a used Insight as a second car. Furthermore, I believe we are going to see a surge of new and better batteries on the market soon. Once production catches up with demand, they will become available to electric car builders, plus Mike, myself and others who want to upgrade their Insight's performance.
Besides, lets assume that your battery dies just after the warranty and you have to buy a replacement. If your second battery lasts 100,000 miles, you have put 200,000 miles on the car for 2,500 dollars. Thats 80 miles per dollar of investment. Assuming your Insight gets 60 MPG and a similar car gets 30 MPG and that gasoline averages 3 dollars a gallon the "regular" car is paying an extra 4 dollars per 80 miles. That "regular" car will have cost its owner 10,000 dollars more to fuelup for that same 200,000 miles. In addition the Insight may cost less for repairs and maintenance over its service life due to the absence of an alternator, alternator belt, sparkplug cables, distributer, power steering pump, power steering belt, Plastic timing belt, and also because of its corrosion resistant aluminum body and stainless steel exhaust system.
Time will tell and experience will vary.
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Kip Munro
The laws of physics don't need changing, but rather our attitude and values. 72.8 LMPG
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