The batteries will go back to the manufacturer who can recycle the batteries to reclaim the metals. If it is within the first 100000 miles or 8 years, the manufacturer will replace it for free. According to the car companies, not a single hybrid owner has replaced the battery in their car at cost, and so far the track record is that hybrids have been rock solid reliable...Diesels still have a big problem with NOx emissions, and don't work nearly as well as hybrids for slower speed city-type driving, which makes up about 70 % of my driving.
Actually Hybrids do pay for themselves. In the first study it was found out that they accidently put the over all depreciation of the car in twice. Thats why they came out and said that the cars wern't worth the money. However the study was redone, and the error corrected and it was found out that the car was actually worth the money.
Yes, I have, and electric cars with the newer battery described in the movie potentially yield 300 miles a charge.It's a shame we banished pure electrics, domestically produced energy that powered our cars was a great alternative to oil.It really seems true, it threatened the auto maintenance industry with virtually no maintenance and of course used no oil, a technology of today that was taken away from us.
"No... your reasoning is sound, but in reality, generating energy even from coal at a power plant is an order of magnitude more efficient than burning gasoline locally... the efficiency of the ICE is somewhere around 20%, while electricity generation is much higher than that."To add to that, pollutants are more easily recovered from emissions at plants than from cars. Sulfur and NOx can be scrubbed from stacks. That doesn't affect carbon numbers (although your efficiency argument does), but it would greatly improve the quality of the air.As to how much hybrids save, I estimate about $1000/yr of ownership assuming a very modest $2/gal of gas, 12000mi/yr driven, and 50 mpg for the hybrid and 25 mpg for the non-hybrid. 50 mpg is typical for a Prius given commuter driving patterns. 25mpg is probably typical for commuter patterns given fairly light traffic. If you own the car 6 years, you save $6K, and hybrids also currently retain value better, so factor that in too. To me, it seems that hybrids are competitive if not cheaper.Here's the kicker for hybrids though - they excel in stop-and-go traffic. A regular car stopped in locked up freeway traffic (as exists on the bulk of both coasts these days) burns gas the entire time. For a hybrid, the engine shuts off. So if you spend a lot of time commuting in stop-and-go, hybrids destroy regular cars in efficiency, and that's something often overlooked when focusing on EPA numbers. Also consider that many areas allow hybrid owners in the HOV lanes, which can be invaluable.
The battery on every hybrid has at least an 8 year warranty. In the Toyota (the best selling hybrid) it is 10 years. Currently Toyota will replace the battery core for about $3000. Some people (very few people so far have had to replace the battery) have gotten salvage batteries or purchased batteries from a different supplier (Panasonic makes the batteries) for far less.
"According to the car companies, not a single hybrid owner has replaced the battery in their car at cost, and so far the track record is that hybrids have been rock solid reliable..."Yes, by definition all of them are still under warranty in this country (with the possible exception of the crazy bastards who put 100K miles on one in 5 years). We'll see what their tune is when they start going out of warranty in the next couple of years. Any batteries replaced to date in the US must have lasted less than 6 years.
Actually diesel cars put out LESS of the greenhouse gas (CO2) compared to gasoline engines, so they have less global warming effect. What diesel puts out more of is NOx, which causes smog, is also a greenhouse gas, and particulates. In the USA, switchover to Ultra Low Sulfer Diesel will be complete in October 2006. This allows new 2007 model year diesel cars to use better emisssons systems that will greatly reduce NOx and use particulate traps.Honda has announced a diesel "gasoline engine killer" that will be available in USA starting 2009. Unlike the complex systems MB, VW, and BMW is developing to meet new strict emissions, the Honda emissions system is much simpler, cheaper, as clean as a gasoline engine, and get 30% better milage. Go Honda!<a class="user" href="http://sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa012&articleID=8558CB408C1D76621371888657D2EB1D">http://sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa012&articleID=8558CB408C1D76621371888657D2EB1D</a>
Actually diesel cars put out LESS of the greenhouse gas (CO2) compared to gasoline engines. What diesel puts out more of is NOx, which causes smog, is also a greenhouse gas, and particulates. In the USA, switchover to Ultra Low Sulfer Diesel will be complete in October 2006. This allows new 2007 model year diesel cars to use better emisssons systems that will greatly reduce NOx and use particulate traps.Honda has announced a diesel "gasoline engine killer" that will be available in USA starting 2009. Unlike the complex systems MB, VW, and BMW is developing to meet new strict emissions, the Honda emissions system is much simpler, cheaper, as clean as a gasoline engine, and get 30% better milage. Go Honda!<a class="user" href="http://sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa012&articleID=8558CB408C1D76621371888657D2EB1D">http://sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa012&articleID=8558CB408C1D76621371888657D2EB1D</a>
Well said, people think I bought a prius only cuz it saves gas....Actually, I bought because of the fact that as a car, it is totally functional, roomy, and has tons of electronic toys in it. It is simply a lower end luxury mid size sedan that rocks on mileage...I drove my roommates larger dodge stratus and got a neck ache from my head hitting the roof.
There are quite a few of priuses that have passed 300,000 miles...and these are just everyday Joes...the car is just too new to have a ton of people put that kind of mileage on it before it's smashed or what have you.
laughingman11Sep 28, 2006
The batteries will go back to the manufacturer who can recycle the batteries to reclaim the metals. If it is within the first 100000 miles or 8 years, the manufacturer will replace it for free. According to the car companies, not a single hybrid owner has replaced the battery in their car at cost, and so far the track record is that hybrids have been rock solid reliable...Diesels still have a big problem with NOx emissions, and don't work nearly as well as hybrids for slower speed city-type driving, which makes up about 70 % of my driving.
adml_shakeSep 28, 2006
Actually Hybrids do pay for themselves. In the first study it was found out that they accidently put the over all depreciation of the car in twice. Thats why they came out and said that the cars wern't worth the money. However the study was redone, and the error corrected and it was found out that the car was actually worth the money.
gridbreadSep 28, 2006
Yes, I have, and electric cars with the newer battery described in the movie potentially yield 300 miles a charge.It's a shame we banished pure electrics, domestically produced energy that powered our cars was a great alternative to oil.It really seems true, it threatened the auto maintenance industry with virtually no maintenance and of course used no oil, a technology of today that was taken away from us.
mrunderbridgeSep 28, 2006
"No... your reasoning is sound, but in reality, generating energy even from coal at a power plant is an order of magnitude more efficient than burning gasoline locally... the efficiency of the ICE is somewhere around 20%, while electricity generation is much higher than that."To add to that, pollutants are more easily recovered from emissions at plants than from cars. Sulfur and NOx can be scrubbed from stacks. That doesn't affect carbon numbers (although your efficiency argument does), but it would greatly improve the quality of the air.As to how much hybrids save, I estimate about $1000/yr of ownership assuming a very modest $2/gal of gas, 12000mi/yr driven, and 50 mpg for the hybrid and 25 mpg for the non-hybrid. 50 mpg is typical for a Prius given commuter driving patterns. 25mpg is probably typical for commuter patterns given fairly light traffic. If you own the car 6 years, you save $6K, and hybrids also currently retain value better, so factor that in too. To me, it seems that hybrids are competitive if not cheaper.Here's the kicker for hybrids though - they excel in stop-and-go traffic. A regular car stopped in locked up freeway traffic (as exists on the bulk of both coasts these days) burns gas the entire time. For a hybrid, the engine shuts off. So if you spend a lot of time commuting in stop-and-go, hybrids destroy regular cars in efficiency, and that's something often overlooked when focusing on EPA numbers. Also consider that many areas allow hybrid owners in the HOV lanes, which can be invaluable.
stewwebdevSep 28, 2006
The battery on every hybrid has at least an 8 year warranty. In the Toyota (the best selling hybrid) it is 10 years. Currently Toyota will replace the battery core for about $3000. Some people (very few people so far have had to replace the battery) have gotten salvage batteries or purchased batteries from a different supplier (Panasonic makes the batteries) for far less.
mrunderbridgeSep 28, 2006
"According to the car companies, not a single hybrid owner has replaced the battery in their car at cost, and so far the track record is that hybrids have been rock solid reliable..."Yes, by definition all of them are still under warranty in this country (with the possible exception of the crazy bastards who put 100K miles on one in 5 years). We'll see what their tune is when they start going out of warranty in the next couple of years. Any batteries replaced to date in the US must have lasted less than 6 years.
darkkishSep 28, 2006
<a class="user" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiesel">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiesel</a>
vorlonsSep 28, 2006
Actually diesel cars put out LESS of the greenhouse gas (CO2) compared to gasoline engines, so they have less global warming effect. What diesel puts out more of is NOx, which causes smog, is also a greenhouse gas, and particulates. In the USA, switchover to Ultra Low Sulfer Diesel will be complete in October 2006. This allows new 2007 model year diesel cars to use better emisssons systems that will greatly reduce NOx and use particulate traps.Honda has announced a diesel "gasoline engine killer" that will be available in USA starting 2009. Unlike the complex systems MB, VW, and BMW is developing to meet new strict emissions, the Honda emissions system is much simpler, cheaper, as clean as a gasoline engine, and get 30% better milage. Go Honda!<a class="user" href="http://sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa012&articleID=8558CB408C1D76621371888657D2EB1D">http://sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa012&articleID=8558CB408C1D76621371888657D2EB1D</a>
vorlonsSep 28, 2006
Actually diesel cars put out LESS of the greenhouse gas (CO2) compared to gasoline engines. What diesel puts out more of is NOx, which causes smog, is also a greenhouse gas, and particulates. In the USA, switchover to Ultra Low Sulfer Diesel will be complete in October 2006. This allows new 2007 model year diesel cars to use better emisssons systems that will greatly reduce NOx and use particulate traps.Honda has announced a diesel "gasoline engine killer" that will be available in USA starting 2009. Unlike the complex systems MB, VW, and BMW is developing to meet new strict emissions, the Honda emissions system is much simpler, cheaper, as clean as a gasoline engine, and get 30% better milage. Go Honda!<a class="user" href="http://sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa012&articleID=8558CB408C1D76621371888657D2EB1D">http://sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa012&articleID=8558CB408C1D76621371888657D2EB1D</a>
syyykkoJun 4, 2008
Well said, people think I bought a prius only cuz it saves gas....Actually, I bought because of the fact that as a car, it is totally functional, roomy, and has tons of electronic toys in it. It is simply a lower end luxury mid size sedan that rocks on mileage...I drove my roommates larger dodge stratus and got a neck ache from my head hitting the roof.
syyykkoJun 4, 2008
I think the price is now less than $2500
syyykkoJun 4, 2008
There are quite a few of priuses that have passed 300,000 miles...and these are just everyday Joes...the car is just too new to have a ton of people put that kind of mileage on it before it's smashed or what have you.