# Hybrids and ultra efficient cars are bad for society?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hybrids-and-ultra-efficient-cars-are-bad-for-society/305579>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 26, 2005, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hybrids-and-ultra-efficient-cars-are-bad-for-society/305579 "2005-05-26T10:15:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hybrids-and-ultra-efficient-cars-are-bad-for-society/305579/61 "2005-06-02T13:49:43Z")

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> **[Prius Keeps Car Dealers -- but Not Repairmen -- Busy](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jun-01-fi-prius1-story.html)**
>
> The technologically complex, top-selling hybrid from Toyota has rated high in reliability.

quote:  
Battery replacement costs have dropped to about $3,000 today from $10,000 or more in 2001

So I’m guessing in 8 years the battery replacement costs will be ~$1000.

and:  
[http://pressroom.toyota.com/photo\_library/display\_release.html?id=20040623](http://pressroom.toyota.com/photo_library/display_release.html?id=20040623)

quote:  
The Prius battery (and the battery-power management system) has been designed to maximize battery life. In part this is done by keeping the battery at an optimum charge level - never fully draining it and never fully recharging it. As a result, the Prius battery leads a pretty easy life. We have lab data showing the equivalent of 180,000 miles with no deterioration and expect it to last the life of the vehicle. We also expect battery technology to continue to improve: the second-generation model battery is 15% smaller, 25% lighter, and has 35% more specific power than the first. This is true of price as well. Between the 2003 and 2004 models, service battery costs came down 36% and we expect them to continue to drop so that by the time replacements may be needed it won’t be a much of an issue. Since the car went on sale in 2000, Toyota has not replaced a single battery for wear and tear.

Guess we will find out in ~10 years what the battery costs are and how many need replacing. I for one am willing to take the gamble.

Brian

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**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hybrids-and-ultra-efficient-cars-are-bad-for-society/305579/62 "2005-06-02T23:30:58Z")

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While the reported numbers are low (though, this doesn’t necessarily mean anything, since the numbers for Ford Exploders rolling over started out low as well), [Prius owners are complaining of unexpected stalling.](http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=8506801&src=rss/technologyNews)

> [@](#):
>
> Toyota Motor Corp. (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Monday it is looking into complaints in the United States that its popular Prius hybrid car suddenly stalled or shut down, often at high speeds on highways.
> 
> “We have been alerted to the fact that some owners might have a problem,” Toyota spokesman John Hansen told Reuters. “We are going to go back to our service records to find out what owners have had a problem like this and how many.”
> 
> The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it has received 13 complaints so far of the gas-electric hybrid vehicles stalling or stopping unexpectedly.
> 
> Toyota dealers attributed the problems to a software glitch in the car’s complex computer system, according to some complaints.

The BBC account I heard this morning stated that the number of complaints had risen to over 30.

In slightly better news, there’s word of an [improved electric motor](http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_objectid=15580050&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=welsh-car-team-pioneer-electric-dream-name_page.htmlmick) for cars.

> [@](#):
>
> Imagine an electric car that produces hardly any noise, no air pollution, and is as fast as a Ferrari.
> 
> It might become a reality in the near future, thanks to a revolutionary new motor designed by an enterprising team in Wales.
> 
> If the IMP motor meets expectations, it could usher in a new age of rapid, clean, electric transport.

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**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hybrids-and-ultra-efficient-cars-are-bad-for-society/305579/63 "2005-06-03T01:23:43Z")

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Sounds great, but I would take issue with the “no air pollution” and “clean” assertions, since generating electricity is neither.

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