Prius Outdoes Hummer in Environmental Damage

[Air-Warrior]

Prius Outdoes Hummer in Environmental Damage
By Chris Demorro, Staff Writer
March 7, 2007

The Toyota Prius has become the flagship car for those in our society so environmentally conscious that they are willing to spend a premium to show the world how much they care. Unfortunately for them, their ultimate ‘green car’ is the source of some of the worst pollution in North America; it takes more combined energy per Prius to produce than a Hummer.

Before we delve into the seedy underworld of hybrids, you must first understand how a hybrid works. For this, we will use the most popular hybrid on the market, the Toyota Prius.
snip (http://clubs.ccsu.edu/recorder/editorial/editorial_item.asp?NewsID=188)
<SNIP>
One last fun fact for you: it takes five years to offset the premium price of a Prius. Meaning, you have to wait 60 months to save any money over a non-hybrid car because of lower gas expenses.

[Naturalized-Texan]

I've been to Sudbury, Ontario, twice and what Demorro says about that Nickel plant is true. The area sure looks like a dead zone.

[DeclinetoState]

The bottom line: Get a Chevy Aveo or a Scion xB if you want to save money--and the environment.

[Timberwolf]

One last fun fact for you: it takes five years to offset the premium price of a Prius. Meaning, you have to wait 60 months to save any money over a non-hybrid car because of lower gas expenses.
Problem is, even then, you won't be saving any money...quite the opposite, in fact. Remember, those batteries need to be replaced every 4-5 years at a cost of $5-6 THOUSAND.

Guess it just makes sense to drive those eeeeeeeeeevil SUVs.

[DeclinetoState]

How often do hybrid batteries need replacing? Is replacement expensive and disposal an environmental problem?

The hybrid battery packs are designed to last for the lifetime of the vehicle, somewhere between 150,000 and 200,000 miles, probably a whole lot longer. The warranty covers the batteries for between eight and ten years, depending on the car maker.

Battery toxicity (http://www.hybridcars.com/battery-toxicity.html) is a concern, althoug today's hybrids use NiMH batteries, not the environmentally problematic rechargeable nickel cadmium. "Nickel metal hydride batteries are benign. They can be fully recycled," says Ron Cogan, editor of the Green Car Journal. Toyota and Honda say that they will recycle dead batteries and that disposal will pose no toxic hazards. Toyota puts a phone number on each battery, and they pay a $200 "bounty" for each battery to help ensure that it will be properly recycled.

There's no definitive word on replacement costs (http://www.hybridcars.com/economics/hidden-costs.html) because they are almost never replaced. According to Toyota, since the Prius first went on sale in 2000, they have not replaced a single battery for wear and tear.
HybridCars.com (http://www.hybridcars.com/faq.html)

[Timberwolf]

I stand corrected...although, by today's standards, the life of the car IS 4-5 years...in which time, one is expected to put approximately 100,000 miles on one's vehicle.

[DesertFox]

I prefer my Toyota FJ Cruiser.

[Timberwolf]

The FJ Cruiser is a nice ride, but I prefer my '97 Suburban...:D

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//pictures/VEHICLE/1997/Chevrolet/12641/1997.chevrolet.suburban.1926-E.jpg

People ask me, "Why do you drive that beast? It's so hard on gas!!" My reply? "My 7 yo daughter is in the vehicle with me a LOT. If someone gets stupid, WE'RE walkin' away from the wreck."

It's all about the safety of my daughter...don't care if gas hits $4/gallon, I ain't givin' it up.

[Timberwolf]

What bugs me is the technology exists that my Sub could get 25-30mpg in town, but the "ptb" won't utilize the patents they've purchased.

[DesertFox]

I like the roominess of the Suburban, as I never seem to have room for all the stuff (my wife calls it another word that begins with "s") I want to have with me in case of this or that. But after years of less-than- stellar performance, engine problems, rattles and bangs and like that, I just don't trust American-made cars and will only spend my money on a used one to be used as a third car. My main car's the Cruiser and my backup's an Isuzu Trooper.

[Timberwolf]

I'm actually thinking about giving up some "room" and a wee bit of safety to buy a Toyota Sequoia, next time around.

We're going to buy my better half a Saturn towards the end of summer. I've heard some very good stuff about them...my wife's brother-in-law is the GM of a Saturn dealership and figured he'd get us a good used Saturn for a good price.

For me though...I think I, too, am done with American-made. If Saturn made something comparable to a Tahoe (like Toyota's Sequoia), I'd consider it.

[BuckeyeMike]

If everyone were to drive one of these electric vehicles, what would be the environmental damage incurred in recharging them every 24 hours or so?

[DoctorDoom]

That would depend on the source of the electricity. If it's nuclear power, there's no effect. If it's fossil fuel power, it will add to the plant's output of waste products. One vehicle won't do much. Millions will.

[DeclinetoState]

And we know how all the "Greenies" want us to construct hundreds of nuke plants to make sure we have all the affordable electricity we might need to keep our electric cars charged up.

[Timberwolf]

I'm waitin' for "Mr. Fusion"!! LOL

[Rhino]

I like the roominess of the Suburban, as I never seem to have room for all the stuff (my wife calls it another word that begins with "s") I want to have with me in case of this or that. But after years of less-than- stellar performance, engine problems, rattles and bangs and like that, I just don't trust American-made cars and will only spend my money on a used one to be used as a third car.I loved my Suburbans for the same reasons, and switched to a crew cab pickup for the same reasons. But now I'm not that happy with my Ford either. Think I'm gonna go import next time.