Quote:
Originally Posted by bwilson4web
.... The electrolyte is potassium hydroxide and the electrodes are nickel and a collection of rare earth, nickel compounds. These are not terribly toxic compared to a lead acid battery. Treat them with respect and recycle. ...Bob Wilson
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For years, the flying community has treated the engine in an aircraft as a semi-consummable by adding an "engine overhaul reserve" to the direct operating cost of the aircraft. This money is banked toward the time that the engine will need to be overhauled. (The period between anticipated overhauls is referred to as Time-Between-Overhaul or TBO).
What the public at large simply does not understand regarding hybrids is the acutal cost tradeoff between a hybrid battery "overhaul" (reconditioning, replacement, repair, or whatever) and the fuel saved by a hybrid. Even with a reserve fund of about $3800,00 taken every eight years or so of driving, the cost for the battery still comes out way below the cost of the additional fuel, assuming an average annuall mileage or greater (typically about 4-5 cents per mile vs about 8 cents for mile in an "average" hybrid -- more in a conventional vehicle). In addition, the battery can be almost completely recycled -- the fuel consumed cannot. All of this does not even consider warrantees or service contracts.
All of the above does not even consider the environmental impact of the several hundreds of gallons of extra fuel going through the tailpipe as emmissions in the non-hybrid.