http://www.evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=14582

http://clubs.ccsu.edu/recorder/editorial/editorial_item.asp?NewsID=188

In summary, the articles point to the amount of energy used to create the LiOn batteries, and how when factored into the carbon costs, the Prius is a worse polluter over a Hummer over the lifetime of the batteries.

And when it comes time to replace the batteries, you incur the same carbon costs again.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d never drive a Hummer and would love to drive a Prius, but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be when one takes the long view.

Why? Unlike the popular \”common knowledge\” Toyota has slipped badly on quality by adding a blizzard of new models and not adding on enough engineers. Speedups at their plants have combined to deliver a body blow to
Toyota\’s vaunted quality. Their president, I believe his name is Fukuda, has stated himself that they have to get their arms around the quality issue or their success will be history.

Further, a diesel can use bio-diesel which can be made from rapeseed, soy, any other vegetable oil and is readily made by the home enthusiast. This is a CLOSED cycle which essentially renders the carbon footprint irrelevant, since all the carbon the car puts into the air is then taken back out by growing more veggies. Right now VW and GM are in the forefront. Toyota\’s hybrid experience will probably end up as a footnote like Japanese high-definition analog TV. Remember that? HUGE FAILURE!

Salud.
Mike

I believe the item that “Hugo” is trying to discuss is the one that takes into account the environmental impact of the products put into their production. The nickel that goes in the batteries requires a process that has a huge negative impact on the environment. I don’t think that is a justification for buying a Hummer, but definately something to think about before you assume you are driving around in the cleanest thing on earth which it isn’t.

The Prius is a marketing scam that is neither environmentally smart or financially intelligent since you can buy a Toyota Yaris and have 10 grand to spend on gasoline which will drive miles before you meet the Prius price.

People who have cars that run on Veggie oil and bio-diesel often mock Prius owners and rightfully so. The fact is that their cars are way better. People who ride bicycles regularly are actually doing something as well and, of course, that can’t happen in some instances. Sure people can ride 20 miles a day if they want but try that in Chicago traffic. Safety isn’t on the side of those guys.

So keep driving that car and fooling yourself because it isn’t fooling me.

Until the Prius can get 100MPG, plug in while at home to extend your miles, and run off the next generation of fuel… most likely biodiesel if we are smart …Biodiesel that doesn’t compete with food, that is…. The Prius will continue to be a car about image.

I have a Chevrolet Metro that routinely gets 45MPG and outdoes the Prius in most normal driving situations.

Please react on the content, not the spelling and grammar. I would love to see you write in Dutch! I guess you’re never going to be a “knowledgeable” person here in the Netherlands… Sorry dude!

@ Phrancis:

Ok, there are some big holes, but these are very easy solved when one compares a prius to a more standard, let’s say, Volkswagen Golf? Which is definately more efficient then a Hummer. The point I wanted to make is that people wash unjustly their guild away when they buy a Prius.