9 Responses

1. No, they’re not. The batteries are fully recyclable.

   “Q: Are hybrid batteries recyclable?

   GS: Absolutely. In fact, Toyota pays a bounty to dealers who recover them from damaged vehicles. Additionally, our engineers are studying the possibility of remanufacturing these batteries.”

   Plus NiMh and lithium-ion batteries are non-hazardous, and hybrid batteries are designed to last the lifetime of the car.

2. Batteries are recycled so thats not a problem… they promise to burn less fuel and if they deliver on that then it will be a big improvement.

3. All cars are evil.

   We should be using public transportation or walking to get to work and the store.

   The problem with this country is the distance we have to cover to get to where we are going.

   We need a major disaster to pull our communities together to live in harmony with the planet.

4. The former leader of the Green Party of Canada made a big deal about driving a Prius, but the current leader does not have a car, uses public transportation.

   Batteries are not an environmental problem even though they are a cost issue. What is a problem is that manufacturers have chosen mostly to apply the technology to vehicles that are not optimal, not economical users of energy.

   Honda did stick with a couple fairly economical cars, but even then failed to pull way ahead of the pack for fuel economy.

   What I like about Prius is not the car, but the fact that our solar panel can charge it up enough to get to and from town without running the engine. It goes rather slowly, like 40 km/h on only battery, but I have time.

5. check the stats on deaths from autos as compared to natural deaths…

   mass transit or walk

   reduce cars reduce road war

   toyota please make us a light rail!

6. nimh and lithium ion batteries have their issues in regards to their creation, and their recycling. they are however less of a problem than used engine oil, even recycled oil. battery technology continues to advance, and better batteries are in development all the time, as is better technology to manufacture and recycle batteries.

7. “Batteries are horrable for the enviroment. Lots of toxic materials. ”
   current hybrids use NiMH batteries, nickle mining has been considerably cleaned up, the daily mail had to withdraw its scare story on how bad it was http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=417227&in_page_id=1770.
   Toyota pay to get all bateries back for recycling.

   “And batteries don’t have a very long life span.” Very few hybrid batteries have yet failed in thier 10years of use, they should last the life of the car as they are not stressed much, unlike conventional lead acid car batteries

   Future electric vehicles will use Li-ion, non-toxic & 20+year life http://www.altairnano.com/markets_amps.html

   “So are these cars worse for the enviroment in the long run” No, compared to all the nasty metals that go into infernal combustion high temperature alloys, sintered parts, coolant & exaust & fuel systems – all non or low grade recyclable due to contamination

   “Like we see all these tv’s, computers, etc… in the land fills.” Cars are high value items & the manufactuirers already have a duty in the EU to recycle them, so they will not end up like other electronic toys.

8. Hybrid cars are an excellent step toward helping the environment as they leave a smaller footprint when it comes to the exhaust emissions! For more info go to:
   http://www.water-hybrid-cars.info or another great site at:
   http://www.water-4-gas-cars.com

9. They are not a big advancement . The battery problem as we presently handle that same problem. The power to charge them must come from some wheres.