With gasoline prices at $3.00 per gallon, consumers are flocking to purchase hybrid vehicles (combination of gasoline and electric motors) that get 50 miles per gallon of gasoline. The monthly payment on a 3-year lease of a hybrid is $499 compared to $399 per month on a conventional, equivalent traditional gasoline car that gets 25 miles per gallon. Both vehicles require a one-time $1,500 payment for taxes, license, and dealer charges. Both vehicles have identical lease terms for the residual value, maximum number of miles allowed without penalty, and so forth.
Required:
- Calculate how many miles the consumer must drive per year to make the hybrid the economical choice over the conventional gasoline-only vehicle.
- How does your answer to part (a) change if the price of the gasoline is $4.00 per gallon?