Prius: Biggest user of rare earths of any object in the world

[dBrong]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,544741,00.html

In summary from the article: "... Each electric Prius motor requires 2.2 lb of neodymium, and each battery uses 22-33 lb of lanthanum. That number will nearly double under Toyota's plans to boost the car's fuel economy"

I think if you take into the account all the extra energy used to manufacture the exotic parts, the extra parts themselves, and you figure the kilowatts of electricity, and convert all that to BTU's, and then to gallons of gasoline. Divide that by the number of miles traveled in the projected life of the car - I bet that the MPG won't be any better than todays gasoline powered car.

I'm guessing the batteries are expensive, and have a finite life. Would it be fair to say that a battery replacement for a 6 yr old electric car would exceed the price of the car?

[Ken]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,544741,00.html

In summary from the article: "... Each electric Prius motor requires 2.2 lb of neodymium, and each battery uses 22-33 lb of lanthanum. That number will nearly double under Toyota's plans to boost the car's fuel economy"

I think if you take into the account all the extra energy used to manufacture the exotic parts, the extra parts themselves, and you figure the kilowatts of electricity, and convert all that to BTU's, and then to gallons of gasoline. Divide that by the number of miles traveled in the projected life of the car - I bet that the MPG won't be any better than todays gasoline powered car.

I'm guessing the batteries are expensive, and have a finite life. Would it be fair to say that a battery replacement for a 6 yr old electric car would exceed the price of the car?

But it's Greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen!
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(Hidden comment, below, for fear of upsetting the gullible.)
In fact it is nearly as green as the people who will buy it.

Ken.

[dom]

I do believe you are right about the mpg not being much better. I wish someone would do a nice pretty little study about it. You know, the kind with charts!

[Kwozzie1]

Just a feel good car.........for those who think they are green thinking

Oh did I mention over priced

[swamprat]

Real world gas mileage in Prius's drive normally is about 38-40 mpg in combined city/highway driving. For all of the compromises made, the results suck.

[dom]

That is freaking nuts! I get 44 mpg in my '94 Saturn.

T