I know this is off-topic and probably should be discussed over cold beers (in a warm place, brr!), but Pablitos points are true about hybrids, batteries will get recycled and sure, there will come a time when the batteries of a hybrid car will need to be replaced, but hybrid owners are well aware of that prior to purchase I'd assume.Pablito wrote:
Also, car batteries are recycled when they are dead -- or at least, they are supposed to be. That's what core charges are for. When you go into the Kragen to get a new battery, if you don't bring an old one in, they charge you more. The old batteries get refurbished. Last time I checked, it was illegal to throw a car battery into a garbage can. The batteries in a hybrid are worth many $1000s of dollars; when they wear out you can bet that they are going to get refurbished, too.
However, Zeev has indicated that he's willing to give biodiesel a try, so when his tank runs dry in a few days I'm going to hook him up with a full tank of biodiesel fuel for his travels. Chip is also looking for a swanky MB wagon to get off the grid as well.
The benefit is less dependence on foreign oil and reduced emissions for which many people are more than willing to eventually replace batteries for. They can drive down the road with a clearer conscious knowing they are making a difference and not supporting all the shit that oil brings with it politically and globally. Take biodiesel for instance - we're seeing that plenty of people are willing to pay a premium, currently $3.63/gallon in Berkeley to be "off the grid" and run biodiesel with 80% fewer emissions, renewable, etc, etc. ExxonMobil posted 9.9 billion in profits last quarter, global warming is causing increased natural catastrophes globally and who knows how much longer Bush wants to stay in Iraq, not to mention what's next, so I don't understand how people who really take a moment to think about it can say that oil dependence is not a problem.
The next big thing could be a biodiesel-hybrid. Almost no emissions and no gas or petro-diesel at all.
Anyway, we will run out of oil.
http://www.hubbertpeak.com/
http://www.peakoil.com/
http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/
http://www.peakoil.net/