Does the process to make hybrid batteries use more carbon than most cars?
giantfishhead asked:
Considering the heavy environmental burden in both production and disposal of batteries, does the the production of a hybrid car actually make more sense (in terms of spent carbon) than a similar size vehicle?
Curt
Considering the heavy environmental burden in both production and disposal of batteries, does the the production of a hybrid car actually make more sense (in terms of spent carbon) than a similar size vehicle?
Curt
November 25th, 2008 at 3:07 am
even just charging the batteries can add more CO2 and CO to the air than driving the average V6 car
November 28th, 2008 at 4:22 am
The plates in the batteries are lead. The exhaust contaminants are carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen.
So, yes, the hybrid is better, as it reduces the exhaust gas pollutants. But the real way to go is hydrogen fuel cells. The only thing those put out are oxygen and water. And they may have just gotten easier and cheaper to make, since they just discovered how to separate hydrogen from seawater with radio waves. Endless, cheap, hydrogen from ocean water….cool! They also found that seawater will burn, while under radio wave emissions. No kidding. So pretty soon, we just crank the stereo real loud, and fill up at the ocean…….
November 30th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
your question does not make sense to me. A hybrid car uses the same battery as a conventional car for most purposes , it does have a separate battery for the electric drive, usually a metal/hydride with a 100,000 mile warr approx. You’re comparing the carbon units to mfg a metal/hydride battery vs the long term energy savings of a hybrid car In my opinion there is no comparison hybrid technology is the winner
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:39 pm
It is true that it does take EXTRA resources to create the additional battery, but the amount is quickly canceled out by the amount of fuel saved, sometimes half as much. The fact that the battery has to charge DOES NOT increase the amount of carbon because a normal car is ALWAYS charging their battery, while a hybrid only charges when it is necessary, and much more efficiently at that.
December 5th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
No (to the first question). A Swiss study which examined the environmental impact of 6,000 car models found the Prius to be the greenest car on the planet:
Additionally, a 2006 study from Argonne National Laboratory concluded that around 75% of all hybrid and internal combustion vehicle energy use comes from the operation of the vehicle. The rest comes mostly from producing the fuels and the manufacture and disposal of the vehicle and its materials. Other studies have found that 80-90% of the lifetime energy use comes during operation. See pages 4-5 of the link below for further details.
The energy for the construction of a car – including hybrid batteries – is minimal in comparison to the amount of energy the car consumes during its lifetime of driving.