What are the other environmental impacts of Hybrid cars?

Question

I have heard rumors that the manufacture of the nickle batteries is an environmental nightmare in China creating exess waste and the need to then transport these batteries. Then their life span is only about 100K, once that battery is done it is the worst kind of waste, toxic, non-biodegradeable and non recyclable. On your Green Car ratings the Prius gets an 86 while the Mercedes M-Class gets an 8. Did you consider that the Mercedes will run up to or past 300K and is almost 100% recyclable with the exception of the small battery?

Answer 1

I question your statements about how much pollution the batteries are really responsible for. Also, the batteries could be recycled like regular lead-acid batteries are.