Hybrid cars have been on the market in North America for more than a decade but car buyers are still not seeing the kinds of price reductions that were predicted to occur as hybrids gained popularity and market share, according to the British Columbia Automobile Association's annual Hybrid Cost and Savings analysis released last week.

Even with the technological advancements and increased sales and model selection that have occurred since Honda introduced the first gas-electric hybrid vehicle into the mass North American market 12 years ago, consumers continue to pay a premium to purchase a hybrid.

And, with the introduction of the HST and the corresponding elimination of the provincial sales tax rebate on hybrid vehicles, most hybrid models continue to cost more to own and operate than their conventional gas-powered counterparts.

According to the BCAA's annual analysis conducted in July, several models come close to their conventional cousins when costs are compared over five years, but only one -- the $105,000 Mercedes S400 Hybrid sedan -- is less expensive to own and operate compared to its conventional equivalent.

BCAA's study placed 16 hybrid models available in B.C. and their conventional equivalents side-by-side and compared the purchase, financing and fuel costs over a five year period. The analysis assumes a constant gas price of $1.17 per litre and a driving distance of 20,000 kilometres a year. The main differences between the 2010 and 2009 cost studies are the elimination of the provincial sales tax rebate and the provincial luxury vehicle tax, and the price of gas, which last year was $1.04 per litre. New models this year are the Lexus HS 250h and Mercedes-Benz S400.

BCAA'S HYBRID COST ANALYSIS REVEALED THE FOLLOWING:

- The $105,000 Mercedes S400 Hybrid sedan is the only model less expensive to own and operate compared to its corresponding conventional model. The S400 is approximately $5,000 less to own and operate than the closest conventional model, the Mercedes S450.

- The hybrids that come closest in cost to their conventional counterparts in purchase and operating costs are all the Toyota models (Prius, Camry and Highlander Hybrid), all the Honda models (Insight and Civic Hybrid) and the Lexus HS250h.

- Over a five-year period, the hybrids that are the least costly to own and operate are the Honda Insight ($38,326), Toyota Prius ($40,324) and Honda Civic Hybrid ($42,664).

- Hybrids with the greatest greenhouse gas emission advantage over their gas-powered equivalents are:

Toyota Prius (55 per cent fewer GHG emissions)

Ford Fusion Hybrid (38 per cent fewer GHG emissions)

Honda Civic Hybrid (37 per cent fewer GHG emissions)

- The hybrids with the lowest overall GHG emissions (kg of carbon per year) are:

Toyota Prius (1,748 kg/yr)

Honda Civic Hybrid (2,070 kg/yr)

Honda Insight (2,162 kg/yr)

Ford Fusion Hybrid (2,352 kg/yr)

"With the elimination first of the federal tax incentive and now the provincial tax rebate, it appears it's still going to be a while before hybrids offer a cost advantage over standard vehicles," BCAA's director of corporate communications and government relations Trace Acres said in a media release. "What we are seeing, however, is manufacturers starting to offer price breaks for things like cash sales, so an environmentally conscious consumer may still be able to make a hybrid purchase work financially by shopping around."

When considering a switch to a more environmentally friendly vehicle, Acres said drivers should examine emission ratings as well as sticker prices to ensure the hybrid they choose will provide them with the environment savings they expect.