Hybrids good or bad.

[RichardG]

Something that's been bugging me and knowing some are owned or at least run by forum members thought I'd ask the question.

I have heard that Hybrids are nowhere near as green they are made out to be, no one can argue about their low emissions but the story I have heard is that the enviromental damaged caused by the extraction of the materials to make the batteries far outwieghs the benefit of the reduced emissions and that there are some decidedly ungreen leftovers involved when it comes to dismantaling the car at the end of its life.

Just wondered if anyone knows whether its true or one of those myth's put about to discredit them.

 

[cj10jeeper]

I do know that the most environmentallly friendly car from cradle to grave is:

wait of it - the Jeep Wrangler TJ. Yep a 4l petrol, 6 cylinder, 4x4

When you take into account the lack of plastics to make and recycle and stripped out nature, it outwieghs the perceived high fuele big engine damage.

I do beleive that Prius type cars are most friendly to the user. The rest of it's cradle to grave is indeed heavy but I beleive they have made great strides to mitigate these claims.

 

[Markyboy]

I think it depends on what sort of driving you do too. If you are doing a majority of urban driving then the Hybrid will return impressive economy. If you spend all your time bashing the motorways at 80 mph then a decent TDI will return better economy than the hybrid (in this case most hybrids are just a small petrol engined car that has to carry a few hundred kilos more than a normal equivalent small car).

I thought the PAS group was going to introduce a 1.6HDI/Hybrid drive-train but I haven't heard anything recently. It was rumoured to provide near 100mpg economy in a C4 sized car.

 

[WLH]

I do know that the most environmentallly friendly car from cradle to grave is:

wait of it - the Jeep Wrangler TJ. Yep a 4l petrol, 6 cylinder, 4x4

When you take into account the lack of plastics to make and recycle and stripped out nature, it outwieghs the perceived high fuele big engine damage.

I had a 1980 CJ5 Jeep which I drove for 10 years. I sold it to a nearby neighbor who is still driving it today.

I'm all for everyone driving the most fuel efficient little POS as possible because the less gas they use leaves more for me...