Follow up question to driving a hybrid car?

Question

Most of the answers seem to say that driving a hybrid reduces my carbon footprint. Question is, what about the to charging the battery? Electricity isn't carbon free. I'm also told the batteries aren't recyclable and need to be replaced every few years. Any thoughts on that?

Answer 1

ducati

The one EV car I currently have (have 2 vehicles that run on hydrogen also) I converted from a vw bug and is free to charge. As I live completely off the grid all my electricity comes from solar panels and 2 wind generators, which I a;sp built.

However I did charge up at Costco in Carlsbad California (I actually only drove up there to fill up) if I remember right it was around $2.00

Here’s a list of other places you can charge up, don’t know if there are any prices though.

http://www.evchargernews.com/#regions

The one EV car I currently have (have 2 vehicles that run on hydrogen also) I converted from a vw bug and runs on 12 optima yellow tops. iv'e had them in there for about 5 years no change in charge. As I live completely off the grid all my electricity comes from solar panels and 2 wind generators, which I also built.

the following is cut from a guide i offer at agua-luna com to convert any vehicle to ev. it describes some differnt ev battery life charictoristics better then i could rewrite here again.

"The lifespan of a deep cycle battery will vary considerably with how it is used, how it is maintained and charged, temperature, and other factors. In extreme cases, it can vary to extremes - we have seen L-16's killed in less than a year by severe overcharging, and we have a large set of surplus telephone batteries that sees only occasional (5-10 times per year) heavy service that are now over 25 years old. We have seen gelled cells destroyed in one day when overcharged with a large automotive charger. We have seen golf cart batteries destroyed without ever being used in less than a year because they were left sitting in a hot garage without being charged. Even the so-called "dry charged" (where you add acid when you need them) have a shelf life of 18 months at most. They are not totally dry - they are actually filled with acid, the plates formed and charged, then the acid is dumped out.

These are some typical (minimum - maximum) typical expectations for batteries if used in deep cycle service. There are so many variables, such as depth of discharge, maintenance, temperature, how often and how deep cycled, etc. that it is almost impossible to give a fixed number.

Starting: 3-12 months

Marine: 1-6 years

Golf cart: 2-6 years

AGM deep cycle: 4-7 years

Gelled deep cycle: 2-5 years

Deep cycle (L-16 type etc): 4-8 years

Rolls-Surrette premium deep cycle: 7-15 years

Industrial deep cycle (Crown and Rolls 4KS series): 10-20+ years

Telephone (float): 2-20 years. These are usually special purpose "float service", but often appear on the surplus market as "deep cycle". They can vary considerably, depending on age, usage, care, and type.

NiFe (alkaline): 5-35 years

NiCad: 1-20 years "

Not sure if you’re interesting in doing it your self, but I’d be willing to walk you step by step threw the conversion. I've converted 3 of my own cars (a datsun truck, ford ban, and a vw bug) and a few for neighbors. I've also converted cars to run on hydrogen, ethanol and biodiesel, by far EV is the easiest.

If you’re interested here’s what it would entitle…

- The engine compartment is first cleaned out of any gasoline components.

- Electric components are then installed in exchange.

- A battery bank is built and incorporated.

- Existing starter and driving systems are connected.

- Turn the key, step on the gas pedal sending more energy to the electric motor, & thus more power to the drive system, which in return creates more speed, more acceleration.

- The system has normal automotive top speeds and acceleration, typical to the vehicle your modifying. If your top speed was 85 mph and your acceleration was 1 mile per min, then this will be what your left with after the conversion.

The methods are extremely simple, making the process possible for anyone, everyone, ANYWHERE.

Typical tools, hardware & supplies are used, making access to parts available for all.

Electric Conversions can be easily accomplished in ANY model vehicle, even tractors, Generators, types of machinery, etc.

Project lengths range from 1 day to 1 month.

If you’re interested I wrote a guide on it which is available at www agua-luna com

Hope this helped, feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions if you’d like assistance in making your first self sufficient steps, I’m willing to walk you step by step threw the process. I’ve written several how-to DIY guides available at  www agua-luna com on the subject. I also offer online and on-site workshops, seminars and internships to help others help the environment.

Dan Martin

Alterative Energy / Sustainable Consultant, Living 100% on Alternative & Author of How One Simple Yet Incredibly Powerful Resource Is Transforming The Lives of Regular People From All Over The World... Instantly Elevating Their Income & Lowering Their Debt, While Saving The Environment by Using FREE ENERGY... All With Just One Click of A Mouse...For more info Visit:  

www AGUA-LUNA com

Stop Global Warming, Receive a FREE Solar Panels Now!!!

Answer 2

It depends on how the company is making electric,,,,,,,,

it they have all wind mills,,then no carbon,,,,,,,,,,

Answer 3

Current hybrids don't plug into the power grid (plug-in hybrids are in development, but there aren't any available yet).

The hybrid battery is recharged through various methods.  The main one is from the gasoline.  However, hybrids allow the internal combustion engine to run at its most efficient speed, basically using it as a generator.  They also recharge the battery through the regenerative braking system.  This is what makes them more efficient and thus reduces their carbon emissions.

The batteries are fully recyclable and also last the lifetime of the car.  The Prius has been out in the US since 2000 and not a single one has had a battery replaced due to old age, including those used as taxis which have over 200,000 miles on the original battery.  In fact, hybrid batteries are under warranty for 8-10 years so you know they'll last more than a couple years.

"Q: Are hybrid batteries recyclable?

GS: Absolutely. In fact, Toyota pays a bounty to dealers who recover them from damaged vehicles. Additionally, our engineers are studying the possibility of remanufacturing these batteries."

Answer 4

Batteries are not too bad for the environment, and even with the 50% coal on the US electric grid, it's still significantly better to drive on electric [Plus the electricity is like 60 cents a gallon equivalent]

If the batteries are lithium-ion, you might need to eventually replace thme in like 5 or 6 years, but if they're nickel-metal hydride, they should last the lifetime of the car [May need replacement eventually]

Answer 5

ye they do need to be replaced but they go sooooooooooooo much further only less power (  =150 miles per gallon  )

Answer 6

Where I live almost 50% of our electricty comes from hydro. The technologies out there for batteries are all recyclable but yes they are part of an electric system that must be replaced, like motors. The most important thang about Hybrid car is it is the start of this revolution. Electric cars can get around the equelevent of 150 miles per gallon

Answer 7

1.  Charging the battery is taken care of by the car itself.  It recovers energy from braking and stores it in the battery.  It also saves energy by turning off the engine and running on the battery when you're not moving or going slowly (Prius; Hondas can't do this).

2.  Since there is no external electricity involved, the carbon issue isn't relevant.  When you get to plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) it will start to be relevant.

3.  Hybrid batteries are extremely recyclable.  The nickel in current batteries and lithium in future batteries is concentrated and very easy to recover, even easier than the lead in lead-acid batteries (which are among the most consistently recycled items in the USA).