There are so many questions
associated with a hybrid car. Most often people doubt the speed and
performance of hybrid cars vis--vis conventional gasoline powered
cars. Apart from that a lot of people often question the viability of
lead-acid batteries that are used in hybrid cars.
Hybrid cars batteries also use the same technology that drives all the
other car batteries, Lead and Acid combination. But Lead is highly
toxic and if not disposed off properly can cause several health
complications in humans. For most of the critics of hybrid cars buying
a hybrid vehicle is like trading one environmental problem with another
environmental problem. They say that while hybrid cars would bring down
the gasoline consumption and in turn reduce the carbon dioxide
emissions from cars, imagining a situation where so many lead-acid
based batteries turn up in landfills is quite scary.
But hybrid car manufacturers and those in favor of hybrid cars are
quick to point out the fact that not all batteries are Lead-acid based.
Above all they also claim that lead based batteries are not that
polluting if compared with the harmful environmental effects of
Nickel-Cadmium based ones. Most of the hybrid cars today use Nickel
Hydride based batteries and are far less harmful to the environment as
compared to the conventional batteries.
Apart from that hybrid car's batteries are designed for a really
really long life. On an average a hybrid cars battery is expected to
last anywhere between 150,000 and 200,000 miles depending upon usage
and maintenance. In fact, with proper maintenance and regular checkups
these nickel-metal-hydride batteries that are currently being used in
hybrid cars can keep on running for much more than 200,000 miles. Most
of the batteries used in hybrid cars are covered under warranty varying
between 8-10 years depending upon the manufacturer.
Nickel-metal-hydride batteries currently being used in hybrid cars are
fully recyclable, claims Toyota, manufacturer of top selling hybrid
cars. Toyota also says that they will recycle every single battery
fully so that it poses no environmental hazard. However, they are quick
to add that since they launched the first hybrid car, Toyota Prius in
1997, they have not replaced many batteries since they are durable and
have a very long life. According to Toyota ever since they launched
Prius in 1997 they have replaced batteries only for manufacturing
defects and not even once for wear and tear. Toyota also encourages
people to return exhausted batteries and has put a price tag of $200 on
every battery that is returned to them. They say that while batteries
are unavoidable in cars, this is their little way of showing concern
for the environment.

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