[Leica] [OT] Prius Environmental costs

[pj at GoodPhotos.com (Michael Eric Berube)]

This is where the nickel for the Prius' batteries come from...
http://www.worksongs.com/archives/2006/05/the_last_ditch.php
Admittedly, the 200 lbs of nickel per Prius amounts to a minority 
percentage of the nickel that this plant processes, but it does come 
from this source and this source hardly fits their preferred image of an 
environmentally responsible caring company.
I don't recall seeing this photo in Toyota's glossy 'green' themed Prius 
brochure.

I'd LOVE to be able to bike everywhere, but I live in rural Western 
Maine. No buses, no taxis, no trains. Driving (carpooling when I can) is 
the only option for reaching 'civilisation.'

I considered a Prius (and the host of other hybrids) but I bought my 
2001 Kia Rio used for ~$3k. I've had it for nearly three years now 
(driven it about 100K miles). With proper upkeep, it still gets almost 
45MPG highway and I average 40MPG overall which is a little bit better 
than it is rated. It has at least two years of economical life left in 
it. I expect that I'll drive it to well over 250k miles donate this one 
to charity and start over with another used sub-compact.

My Kia is just as comfortable and roomy as a Prius, almost as good MPG 
as a Prius (in real life), is much easier and less costly to have 
repaired than a Prius and even after the folks who buy Prius's get their 
tax credits, my used Kia costs ~$18k less than a new Prius. That's about 
6000 gallons of gas at current $3/gal. that I can afford in my Kia, that 
I'd have to pay extra for with a Prius, better MPG included. Considering 
that that is just about 240,000 miles of driving, my Kia will be ready 
for scrap by the time I've used up this 'fuel credit.'

Kia isn't the only option either. There are LOTs of greener car choices 
which aren't hybrids:
http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/Index.do 
<http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/smcar-07.htm#sub>
Gives you the listings for a number of environmental impact factors.

If you simply want folks to think of you as 'green' minded, buy a Prius 
(with Chinese backed credit)...It you want to truly do some good for the 
planet (and your wallet), ride a bike when you can and buy a used 
compact that gets great mileage while we wait for a better alternative 
(fuel cell?...PVO diesel?) to be offered.

Carpe lumen,
Michael Eric Berube
GoodPhotos.com
AnotherMaine.com