View Single Post
Old 01-06-2011, 08:23 AM   #5 (permalink)
Daox
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 11,203

CM400E - '81 Honda CM400E
90 day: 51.49 mpg (US)

Daox's Grey Prius - '04 Toyota Prius
Team Toyota
90 day: 49.53 mpg (US)

Daox's Insight - '00 Honda Insight
90 day: 64.33 mpg (US)

Swarthy - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage DE
Mitsubishi
90 day: 56.69 mpg (US)

Daox's Volt - '13 Chevrolet Volt
Thanks: 2,501
Thanked 2,587 Times in 1,554 Posts
I vote yes. Almost everything in modern EVs is recyclable, so it doesn't have to be wasted. Yes, mining and making and refining the materials is harmful to the environment, but so are all the materials used to make conventional vehicles. The rare materials put into hybrids/evs are fairly small in volume.

Toyota has done an analysis (I know, not the best considering they're selling you something) of the 3rd gen Prius and its environmental impact to manufacture vs the environmental benefit of its reduced environmental impact of being used. Their conclusion was that the use is by far where more of the energy is used and therefore the upfront cost is easily worth it.




Here is the full video they put together on the analysis:




I completely realize that there are hybrids out there MUCH less environmentally friendly than the Prius as Jim-Bob has mentioned. This is just the info I have at hand.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	prius.jpg
Views:	134
Size:	42.0 KB
ID:	7608  
__________________
Current project: A better alternator delete
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Daox For This Useful Post:
NeilBlanchard (01-06-2011)