 pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | Minimize the Impact? Hybrid vehicles are not the environmental panacea everyone makes them out to be. They simply trade one form of pollution for another. In my opinion, exchanging the pollution of a gas-powered engine for the pollution created by battery production is a bad trade.
Over the past 30 years, efficiency of gasoline engines has improved significantly, and while more work needs to be done in this area (revising CAFE standards, etc.), gasoline engines have come a long way in terms of producing less emissions as technology improves.
However... anyone who knows anything about making batteries knows that the process and chemicals used in these suckers are extremely toxic. Couple that with the fact that all batteries eventually die out and have to be replaced will mean that even with recycling, you still have to scorch the Earth to make even more.
Which poison is better?
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Only SHATNER is Kirk. |
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 KoolMoeAw ManPremium
join:2001-02-14
Annapolis, MD | A rarity, I think in general, but I agree with you. Moving to batteries that are going to die eventually and no plan for recycling them (is there?) is kinda silly.
However, anything that helps promote an alternative to gasoline as the only method of auto fuel is a good thing. Let's just hope these hybrids are but a temporary span of the overall evolution away from the traditional.
KM
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Don't Lie - Be Kind - Realize your Potential |
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 tapeloopNot bad at all, really.Premium
join:2004-06-27
Airstrip One
kudos:1 | reply to pnh102
Re: Minimize the OPEC? But...but...what about reduction of our dependence on foreign oil? 
I will say that the car biz is more about what sells than what pollutes the environment less. People see the dollar signs in their eyes from gas savings and buy the hybrids for that reason I'm sure. Auto makers push the hybrids because they sell. Before it was the SUVs and the whole "safety" schtick.
And batteries...don't get me started. Battery technology needs to make it to the 21st century something fierce.
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I cannot stand demagoguery. If you disagree with my stance, you're a blithering twit. You're not a twit, are you? |
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 morboComplete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000 | reply to KoolMoe
Re: Minimize the Impact? said by KoolMoe:Moving to batteries that are going to die eventually and no plan for recycling them (is there?) is kinda silly. i believe all the auto manufacturers recycle the batteries for free. |
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KoolMoeAw ManPremium
join:2001-02-14
Annapolis, MD | That's good news! I wonder what exactly the details are of these recycle claims. Do they actually recycle or do they just dump most of the parts? Hmmmm.
KM
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Don't Lie - Be Kind - Realize your Potential |
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 BIGMIKEPremium
join:2002-06-07
Westminster, CA | reply to KoolMoe
said by KoolMoe:A rarity, I think in general, but I agree with you. Moving to batteries that are going to die eventually and no plan for recycling them (is there?) is kinda silly. However, anything that helps promote an alternative to gasoline as the only method of auto fuel is a good thing. Let's just hope these hybrids are but a temporary span of the overall evolution away from the traditional. KM To purchase a brand new hybrid battery from a dealer, the price for a Honda Insight Hybrid battery is around $3600.
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Type "miserable failure" in Google |
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