For all of you hybrid drivers that think your're saving the world

[hutru01]

Prius Outdoes Hummer in Environmental Damage

By Chris Demorro - Staff Writer (Newspaper in Connecticut)

 

 

The Toyota Prius has become the flagship car for those in our society so environmentally conscious that they are willing to spend a premium to show the world how much they care. Unfortunately for them, their ultimate ‘green car’ is the source of some of the worst pollution in North America; it takes more combined energy per Prius to produce than a Hummer.

 

Before we delve into the seedy underworld of hybrids, you must first understand how a hybrid works. For this, we will use the most popular hybrid on the market, the Toyota Prius.

 

The Prius is powered by not one, but two engines: a standard 76 horsepower, 1.5-liter gas engine found in most cars today and a battery- powered engine that deals out 67 horsepower and a whooping 295ft/lbs of torque, below 2000 revolutions per minute. Essentially, the Toyota Synergy Drive system, as it is so called, propels the car from a dead stop to up to 30mph. This is where the largest percent of gas is consumed. As any physics major can tell you, it takes more energy to get an object moving than to keep it moving. The battery is recharged through the braking system, as well as when the gasoline engine takes over anywhere north of 30mph. It seems like a great energy efficient and environmentally sound car, right?

 

You would be right if you went by the old government EPA estimates, which netted the Prius an incredible 60 miles per gallon in the city and 51 miles per gallon on the highway. Unfortunately for Toyota, the government realized how unrealistic their EPA tests were, which consisted of highway speeds limited to 55mph and acceleration of only 3.3 mph per second. The new tests which affect all 2008 models give a much more realistic rating with highway speeds of 80mph and acceleration of 8mph per second. This has dropped the Prius’s EPA down by 25 percent to an average of 45mpg. This now puts the Toyota within spitting distance of cars like the Chevy Aveo, which costs less then half what the Prius costs.

 

However, if that was the only issue with the Prius, I wouldn’t be writing this article. It gets much worse.

 

Building a Toyota Prius causes more environmental damage than a Hummer that is on the road for three times longer than a Prius. As already noted, the Prius is partly driven by a battery which contains nickel. The nickel is mined and smelted at a plant in Sudbury, Ontario. This plant has caused so much environmental damage to the surrounding environment that NASA has used the ‘dead zone’ around the plant to test moon rovers. The area around the plant is devoid of any life for miles.

 

The plant is the source of all the nickel found in a Prius’ battery and Toyota purchases 1,000 tons annually. Dubbed the Superstack, the plague-factory has spread sulfur dioxide across northern Ontario, becoming every environmentalist’s nightmare.

 

“The acid rain around Sudbury was so bad it destroyed all the plants and the soil slid down off the hillside,” said Canadian Greenpeace energy-coordinator David Martin during an interview with Mail, a British-based newspaper.

 

All of this would be bad enough in and of itself; however, the journey to make a hybrid doesn’t end there. The nickel produced by this disastrous plant is shipped via massive container ship to the largest nickel refinery in Europe. From there, the nickel hops over to China to produce ‘nickel foam.’ From there, it goes to Japan. Finally, the completed batteries are shipped to the United States, finalizing the around-the-world trip required to produce a single Prius battery. Are these not sounding less and less like environmentally sound cars and more like a farce?

 

Wait, I haven’t even got to the best part yet.

 

When you pool together all the combined energy it takes to drive and build a Toyota Prius, the flagship car of energy fanatics, it takes almost 50 percent more energy than a Hummer - the Prius’s arch nemesis.

 

Through a study by CNW Marketing called “Dust to Dust,” the total combined energy is taken from all the electrical, fuel, transportation, materials (metal, plastic, etc) and hundreds of other factors over the expected lifetime of a vehicle. The Prius costs an average of $3.25 per mile driven over a lifetime of 100,000 miles - the expected lifespan of the Hybrid.

 

The Hummer, on the other hand, costs a more fiscal $1.95 per mile to put on the road over an expected lifetime of 300,000 miles. That means the Hummer will last three times longer than a Prius and use less combined energy doing it.

 

So, if you are really an environmentalist - ditch the Prius. Instead, buy one of the most economical cars available - a Toyota Scion xB. The Scion only costs a paltry $0.48 per mile to put on the road. If you are still obsessed over gas mileage - buy a Chevy Aveo and fix that lead foot.

 

One last fun fact for you: it takes five years to offset the premium price of a Prius. Meaning, you have to wait 60 months to save any money over a non-hybrid car because of lower gas expenses.

[Vimy101]

Diesel FTW.

 

I car pooled with a friend who's working with me for a few days in his Jetta TDI. Decent little car. He figures that he's getting ~45 mpg. However, the thing is a dog when it comes to acceleration with a 4500rpm red line. 9.5 seconds 0-60 which actually isn't horrible in a historical context when that used to be an acceptable time back in the 70s. The mileage is stunning though.

[SC GT]

What a stupid article. I hate authors with agendas. How much does a Hummer cost per mile to operate at 100,000 miles? How many non-military Hummers will ever clock 100,000, much less 300,000? Anyone can manipulate numbers. The problem this author has is that he does a piss poor job of it.

[SLegacy99]

Here we go.

 

I didn't even finish reading this garbage. A hummer better than a Prius? Than it must be better than ymy LGT too. Don't believe everything you read.

 

For one thing. The EPA is skewed. 80 mph. Thats ridiculous. I cruise at about 73 mph = 31 mpg. When I take it above 80 mph, mileage drops to 27 mpg (the EPA estimate for this car which was supposedly achieve from doing 55mph ?????????). So why wouldnt the test it at 65 mph or 70 mph?

 

My bro's gf's Prius averages 62 (better than expected) in the city and around 49 mpg crusing at 70 mph. 49 mpg is still better than any diesel Ive ever heard of. Oh and the whole idea that you can cruise around without using any gasoline at all is fantastic.

 

Ive only driven my mom's RX400h once, but I would buy one in a heartbeat if I had the cash. It was the neatest vehicle I have ever driven.

 

 

One more thing to chew on. Hybrid technology is very new. 5 years from now we will supposedly be looking at PZEV vechiles that get 110 mpg. Im looking forward to seeing it and since Subaru is allied with Toyota, I wouldnt put it past SOJ to work on that.

[SLegacy99]

Diesel FTW.

 

 

Diesel Hybrid FTW.

[jj808]

Water powered car FTW! Its real too! I saw the announcement the other day right before a Jack in the Box commercial. I cant wait to get one!

[mlrtime]

hybrids as they exist today are a joke, I agree it is important to do R/D on the technology, however spending money today IMO is a waste.

[SLegacy99]

hybrids as they exist today are a joke, I agree it is important to do R/D on the technology, however spending money today IMO is a waste.

 

Well if you can get a 3.5L 6 cylinder engine that has the power of a 4.5L 8 cylinder, but the fuel efficiency of a 3.0L 6 cylinder, sign me up.

I think its still pretty amazing that the GS hybrid has 340 hp and gets 25 mpg in the city. I have half the horsepower and only get 21 in the city. I'd be happy to make the trade.

[urfsin]

I think there is *some* truth to the article, but it is clearly biased. I think hybrids are a small step in the right direction. Beyond the enviroment, we need to stop / slow down doing buisness with the middle east oil cartel. I would say that being in bed with the middle east because of our dependence on oil is just as bad.

 

Biodiesel hybrid FTW!!!

[PhilT]

Bicycle FTW !

[SLegacy99]

Beyond the enviroment, we need to stop / slow down doing buisness with the middle east oil cartel.

 

 

Does it anyone else find it ironic that typical Repulicans tend to be all gung ho about this war in the middle east (or they used to be), yet they're the one's who drive the huge SUVs or against fuel alternatives. I mean, look at Texas. Shouldnt the idea to not continue pumping money into the middle east?

[one69chev]

i love hummers

[godwhomismike]

i love hummers

 

I'd take one over a Prius any day.

[unstablementaly]

does anyone realize that electric motors themselves produce pollutants? ozone is the by product of electric motors. ozone is a pollutant in the lower atmosphere. it's just something not measured when testing these cars.

 

as for the poster about the hummer being tested at 100k versus it's 300k. to what end? if the hummer is designed to last 3 times as long as the prius, theres the enviromental savings right there. also, the test looked at the H2, not the H1 that we used to be able to get and the military uses. if you're going to quip about the facts and pass judgement, maybe you should get yours straight first.

[VTsullyman]

Does it anyone else find it ironic that typical Repulicans tend to be all gung ho about this war in the middle east (or they used to be), yet they're the one's who drive the huge SUVs or against fuel alternatives. I mean, look at Texas. Shouldnt the idea to not continue pumping money into the middle east?

 

That was a dumb ass blanket statement. I think there is plenty of people in each party that drive huge gas hog SUVs and dont want to change to something more fuel efficient.

 

Go eat a granola bar and chain yourself to a tree and read off some more stupid propaganda that is obviously not true.

[Penguin]

The only hybrids I like are the ones that I use to make my living. Hybrid cars are not anything I will buy at this point. Too many compromises and too much added complexity for a drive system no better than a good modern diesel.

[SLegacy99]

That was a dumb ass blanket statement. I think there is plenty of people in each party that drive huge gas hog SUVs and dont want to change to something more fuel efficient.

 

Go eat a granola bar and chain yourself to a tree and read off some more stupid propaganda that is obviously not true.

 

I am sure there are Huge SUV drivers in both groups. But, Democrats are always be scoffed at by Republicans for environment concerns. When I was in High School I had to do a reporty on the Senate environment committee (or whatever its called). The headof this committee was from Oklahoma. I did a little more research and discovered that Oklahoma is actually the most polluted state in the U.S. and therefore regulations were set to be on par with them so that they didnt have to spend any money to change their filthyways. Its not right.

 

I'm not stupid. I can learn things on my own, not from eating granola and gourging on propaganda.

[SLegacy99]

Give it time and hybrids will drop in cost. Typical hybrid is what $2000 more. Give it 5 years and it could more like $1500 additional cost. Technology just has to become more mainstream. Don't want to pay the extra cost? Do what my mom did and buy one at the model year end clearence. My mom got $4K taken off the cost of hers cause the '08s were comin in. So she's already saving money. She saves $600 a year compared to if she were still driving her old SUV.

[Penguin]

Give it time and hybrids will drop in cost. Typical hybrid is what $2000 more. Give it 5 years and it could more like $1500 additional cost. Technology just has to become more mainstream. Don't want to pay the extra cost? Do what my mom did and buy one at the model year end clearence. My mom got $4K taken off the cost of hers cause the '08s were comin in. So she's already saving money. She saves $600 a year compared to if she were still driving her old SUV.

 

Try about $3500-$4000 more than a comparable model with a conventional gasoline mill.

[BigJack]

Article is stupid to compare against a hummer but it makes good points about the battery issue which many people fail to take into account...I hear those batteries area couple of grand to replace too. Realy what we need to do is get away from gas guzzling suv's and drive more effecient cars. I have a new rule. If it gets under 20mpg i don't buy it. I just got out of a ram...10.5 mpg. I loved it but it was getting ridiculous

[LordJim]

Does it anyone else find it ironic that typical Repulicans tend to be all gung ho about this war in the middle east (or they used to be), yet they're the one's who drive the huge SUVs or against fuel alternatives. I mean, look at Texas. Shouldnt the idea to not continue pumping money into the middle east?

 

Here's some 'inconvenient truths' about the hero of the Green movement, Al Gore:

 

The Tennessee Center for Policy Research says Gore — whose global warming documentary won an Oscar Sunday, 'deserves a gold statue for hypocrisy,' because his 20-room mansion consumes more electricity every month than the average American household uses in an entire year — with an average power bill of $13,059 59 — along with a natural gas bill of more than $1,000 a month."

 

Al Gore routinely trots around the country in his private jet. Any guess on how much fuel that consumes?

 

What about his Cadillac Escalade? I'm pretty sure that's a big honkin' SUV. Yup, pretty sure about that one.

 

As "inconvenient" as it is, you can't blame global warming and a dependence on oil on the Republicans. There's plenty of blame to go around.

 

-

Jim

[geddyup]

great write up. your one of the few around here with a brain.

[LordJim]

> but it makes good points about the battery issue

 

Something else to consider with these batteries - what happens in a few years when they start going bad? Is the infrastructure in place to recycle these things?

 

-

Jim

[Trent]

Article is stupid to compare against a hummer but it makes good points about the battery issue which many people fail to take into account...I hear those batteries area couple of grand to replace too. Realy what we need to do is get away from gas guzzling suv's and drive more effecient cars. I have a new rule. If it gets under 20mpg i don't buy it. I just got out of a ram...10.5 mpg. I loved it but it was getting ridiculous

 

Right on track, and to add, disposal of battery cost you too. Not to menchen that most bad/unusable US batteries are paid to be sent over seas to have the lead/nickel recyled with the result of toxic leftovers to be barried in china's land. Then ofcource the metal/recycled product is sold and shipped back to US manufactures for the second time. ITS GREAT FOR CHINESE DRINKING WATER I HEAR. And buying crap twice from over seas is always money saving.... hmmmm lets see more expensive, and bad for enviroment, but hell its all worth it after the tax write off! "Americans will spend anything to save money"

[SLegacy99]

I have a new rule. If it gets under 20mpg i don't buy it.

 

 

I follow the same rule. Therefore I would never buy a 7 series, most SUVS, even an automatic Legacy GT. My next car will be a WRX. 20 city and 27 highway. Good enough for me. My first LGT only got 19 mpg and that was no fun at all.