Do hybrid cars result in a net reduction of carbon footprint?

Question

After all they are made in factories [using petroleum] the batteries are made in factories [using petroleum] and even though they allegedly "sip" gasoline, recent changes to fuel formulations have made all vehicles less efficient [thanks to corn based ethanol] and when the battery packs die, the cost of replacement is prohibitive to resale value... therefore no pass along "trade-in" Greener?

Answer 1

I believe they do result in less carbon overall. I do not believe they are the best option though.

Europe has not embraced the Hybrid. They are choosing the small diesel. They are cheaper, less complex, and up to now get better fuel mileage (50 MPG). They also have the advantage they can burn Bio Diesel if available.

I am looking for one now. Why would I pay more to pollute more?

Answer 2

No.

Answer 3

Not a net reduction, but certainly a reduced footprint from most other vehicles on the road.  Unless you consider walking or riding a bicycle there is not a NET reduction on any vehicle.   As far as some of the answers you are getting about battery life, the batteries in hybrids are warrantied for 8 to 10 years!

Answer 4

If you compare with regular cars that go through most of the same production processes, then most likely they DO contribute a net reduction if that individual would be using the equivalent in a regular gasoline car.

Answer 5

I hope we don't destroy the environment in our ongoing quest. These days, 'green' and 'carbon-reducing', etc. are good sales pitches. Thousands of wondrous, new, environmentally friendly products are already destined for landfill.

In spite of all this cynicism, I really hope some of these steps will lead to the proper outcome, but in the meanwhile there's big bucks in trying.

Answer 6

Yes they do.  All cars are made in factories.  Only 5-10% of a car's lifetime energy use comes during the production stage, whereas 80-90% comes during the operations stage (see pages 4-5 in the link below).

http://www.pacinst.org/topics/integrity_...

Since hybrids use far less energy during the operations stage, they result in a significantly lower carbon footprint than non-hybrids.

Your claim that the cost of replacement battery packs is prohibitive to resale value is simply wrong, and is irrelevant to this question anyway.

Your responses are all wrong, as usual.  Since you're not going to listen, I'm not going to waste my time (any more) explaining why.  I should have known better than to answer another of your "questions" (a.k.a. numbskull rants posing as questions).

Answer 7

One of the sad facts about current hybrids and solar energy batteries, is that the manufacture of the batteries produces more toxins and pose huge environmental disposal problems -- greater than fossil fuel usage.

Ethanol has been touted as a way to reduce fossil fuel usage and dependence, yet there was an article recently that American dairy farmers now have to rely on foreign corn to feed their stock because American corn is being used for ethanol, and soon, since so much farm land has been destroyed for housing developments, our ethanol will rely on foreign corn.

What leaves the biggest and saddest footprint is people.  when God said "go forth and multiply," there were only two people.  In a burgeoning population, we are quickly running out of room.  Solar energy, water reclamation, soy and corn and other natural agriculture requires lots and lots and lots of acreage.

If we keep razing paradise to put in a Wal-mart or a 5-units per acre housing developments where farm land used to be, and if we keep having to produce goods for this ever-increasing population,  we at day 25 of the pond.

I have been questioning some of the "green-ness" of hybrids for the very reason of the batteries -- as well as most current solar systems which need batteries.  

But, something has to start somewhere, and I look at these aspects as a first step to resolution.  Currently, I'm not so sure we have all the solutions, but finally, attention and pressure is being put on the issues after being ignored for scores of years.