Are the hybrid batteries as bad as traffic emissions?

Q: How often do hybrid batteries need replacing? Is replacement expensive and disposal an environmental problem?



A: The hybrid battery packs are designed to last for the lifetime of the vehicle, somewhere between 150,000 and 200,000 miles, probably a whole lot longer. The warranty covers the batteries for between eight and ten years, depending on the carmaker.



Battery toxicity is a concern, although today's hybrids use NiMH batteries, not the environmentally problematic rechargeable nickel cadmium. "Nickel metal hydride batteries are benign. They can be fully recycled," says Ron Cogan, editor of the Green Car Journal. Toyota and Honda say that they will recycle dead batteries and that disposal will pose no toxic hazards. Toyota puts a phone number on each battery, and they pay a $200 "bounty" for each battery to help ensure that it will be properly recycled.



There's no definitive word on replacement costs because they are almost never replaced. According to Toyota, since the Prius first went on sale in 2000, they have not replaced a single battery for wear and tear.



source: www.hybridcars.comAre the hybrid batteries as bad as traffic emissions?Well, you seem to have answered your own question... so what are you asking?



Hybrids are only good if you do a vast majority of city driving. On the highway, they get worse mileage than other cars in their size %26amp; power class, due to the extra weight of the batteries %26amp; motor that they drag around.



It's rare that they are worth the expense, but if it makes ya feel good, have a ball.



Next generation plug-in series hybrids that can go 40 or 50 miles in Lx-only mode are a different story. I might buy one of those, once they get reliable.Are the hybrid batteries as bad as traffic emissions?I have heard that the production companies of some of the batteries are kind of rough on the environment...



but I still don't think it would equal the damage of many cars...