is a toyota prius economically freindly ? ? ?

Question

yes we know it saves petrol cleverly with batteries and generators but taking into account the resources and carbon emissions from making the batteries is it really worth it?

Answer 1

For Toyota and the battery manufacturer, yes. It is at first good to the consumer with the potential tax credit and OK gas mileage, but as the time for battery replacement looms, the costs balance out and may actually go the other way. What is tough to calculate is what will the batteries cost at replacement time versus petrol cost?

Emissions from battery production are not as great as fuel emissions form a comparable all gas or diesel vehicle over time, so the Prius is better there, though the MPG is not really THAT great. Plus, where are all of these old batteries going to go? Reclamation takes care of a portion of the problem, but not all.

Answer 2

I don't know whether you meant to ask if the Prius is _ecologically_ friendly (that's what people seem to be answering), but on the question of whether the vehicle is _economically_ friendly, the answer is a big fat NO.

I went to both Toyota.com and Chevrolet.com and priced out a Prius and a Cobalt with essentially the same features (Prius comes with more bells and whistles standard, so I added all of those to the Cobalt). The base Prius MSRP is $22,175; the upgraded Cobalt's MSRP is $18,190, and this is before taking into account the fact that Chevy's incentive programs generally blow Toyota's out of the water (that is, Toyota doesn't offer much in the way of incentives, whereas GM does).

All in all, you'll pay $4,000-5,000 more to buy a Prius than you will for another gas-powered vehicle in its class, similarly equipped. But what about all that money you'll save on gas? Well, according to the EPA's estimates, you'll spend $612 per year on gas for your Prius, compared to $1243 per year for your Cobalt, a savings of $631 per year. At that rate, without even figuring in the cost of battery replacement, it would take you between 6.34 and 7.92 years to recoup the extra you paid, assuming that you get what the EPA estimates. (This, by the way, is a big 'if' given that the EPA is considering revising its fuel economy numbers to more realistically reflect 21st century driving models, and hybrids are the vehicles whose fuel economy numbers would be impacted the most.)

The average new car owner does not keep a car for 6-8 years, so most of them would be better off sticking with a gas-powered vehicle.

Answer 3

prius is more environmentally freindly than conventional infernal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle cradle to cradle analysis, but not absolutly environmentally freindly.

the batteries are 100% recyclable.
the prius is much better in cities as there are no emmissions when stationary, and deisel particulates kills and cause ill health to thousands according to UK cheif scientific advisor.
Most UK "journalists" fail to compare like with like, the Prius is quite a large well featured automatic, cruise control etc; it also responds to a more relaxed driving style, which its quietness in traffice engenders, ie not racing between lights.

Most UK motoring industry, are scared to look at the change that must come soon due to peak oil and climate change, that may leave them on the scrap heap with their obsolete achaic lifestlye vehicles. eg why did Top Gear "test" a 250 mph jet dragster when there is a 350-400mph electric Bluebird in Wales looking for sponsorship? http://www.bluebird-electric.net/

100% electric cars are far better, but GM recalled and scrapped the EV1, see www.whokilledtheelectriccar.com
electric motors are far more efficient than ICE, even taking the generators into account as big generators contantly running at optimum load and temperature and monitored for emmissions, using unrefined fuel close to source beat a small engine by miles.

electric motor has much better torque characteristics so the tZero can out accelerate at ferrari. range of the Tesla is 250 miles per charge; http://www.evuk.co.uk/news/index4.html#Tesla_Roadster_launch
(made by Lotus Norfolk UK) Tesla recon $30,000 of solar pannels would be enough for normal motoring requirements. (No mention on UK TV, only a brief report on a BBC radio 4 business programme)

current nano technology Li-ion batteries have a predicted 40 year life http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20061026005107&newsLang=en

Answer 4

No. A motoring magazine worked out taking into account the cost materials, labour, life expectancy, cost of disposal etc that a range rover is more eco friendly overall.

Besides, a prius "boasts" a pretty measly 56mpg. Whereas Jeremy Clarkson quite rightly said a diesel VW Lupo will do 75mpg.

And no, I dont work for Top Gear.

Answer 5

Yes, they are.....they get better mileage making owners use less gas..therefore spending less money. The cost of the replacement batteries is low..about $300-$500 right now and will get cheaper as time goes on, and do not need to be replaced for about 5-7 years. Someone mentioned the VW Lupo....those cars are not available in the U.S., so not an option here. Diesel cars are not widely available either at the moment so I think the best bet NOW is hybrids.

Answer 6

I can't imagine why making the battery could cause even close to the amount of pollution that using a vehicle over it's lifetime will cause. Compared to driving most non-hybrid vehicles, then damn right the Prius is ecological and economically friendly. My neighbor has two Priuses and hasn't had any problems with them or had to replace anything in the three years he has had them.

If you still think the Prius puts makes too big of an ecological and economic footprint, take a bus, bike or walk instead.

Answer 7

I agree! When all is said and done, hybrids . . . at least at their present level of technology . . . are not the answer. Much better, at least short-term answer, is diesel technology. They are in the process of introducing here in the U.S. the same level of "clean" diesel fuels as have been required in Europe. Unfortunately, old biases die hard and U.S. state and federal government have not yet caught up with reality. As a result only one car diesel, a Mercedes, will be certified for sale in the U.S. in 2007, though more are supposedly on the way for '08. Meanwhile, my '03 VW Jetta Diesel Wagon cost only $1,000 more than a gas engine version when new, has 122,000 trouble-free miles on it and still averages 48 mpg.

Answer 8

Yes. The prius is a big step for an alternative.

Answer 9

no car is Eco friendly, the most pollution is actually made when it is being built, or when it is scrapped, the actual running of a car isn't that polluting.

Answer 10

No fcuk mpg, Get a big fcuk off S.U.V that does 12 mpg they are safer IF you have a crash as well.