What is Environmental impact between making a Hybrid Car and a Gas Car?

Question

Hi,

I am a newbie on hybrid cars.
So, please bear with me.
I know you don’t want to buy a hybrid car to save gas money. I know it would take more than 10 years in some case to save the difference buying a hybrid vs. a gas car.

Okay, so I am willing to spend extra $8,500 to buy 2007 Honda Hybrid over 2007 Honda DX.

However …

My concern is how Honda makes their hybrid and is it really sustainable? I have heard that making a hybrid car, maintaining, and disposing of it is more environmentally damaging than a gas car?

Is there any websites or studies to show what is the difference in environmental impact of hybrid vs. gas car?

I like to see details including transportation of the materials, labors, logistic issues, and emission level to make one car.

Am I asking too much?

Answer 1

The MIT study, “On the Road in 2020,” reported on a comprehensive energy life-cycle analysis and found that 80% to 90% of all energy was used in the operation stage; 7% to 12% in the materials production stage, and the remainder in vehicle assembly, distribution, and disposal.

http://www.pacinst.org/topics/integrity_of_science/case_studies/hummer_vs_prius.pdf

So the extra energy used to build a hybrid is negligible over the lifetime of the car. Additionally, hybrid batteries are fully recycleable:

"Toyota has a comprehensive battery recycling program in place and has been recycling nickel-metal hydride batteries since the RAV4 Electric Vehicle was introduced in 1998. Every part of the battery, from the precious metals to the plastic, plates, steel case and the wiring, is recycled. To ensure that batteries come back to Toyota, each battery has a phone number on it to call for recycling information and dealers are paid a $200 "bounty" for each battery."

http://www.toyota.com/about/environment/technology/2004/hybrid.html

And finally, you will make up the extra initial cost in gas savings in 5-10 years in most hybrid vs. conventional car comparisons.

Answer 2

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