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First I just want to say, those nickel-hydride batteries for electric cars… where do you think they get all that nickel? Answer: from the largest source of air pollution in North America, a nickel mine in Sudbury, Ontario. And it's not CO2 that mine ejects, its sulphur dioxide.....
killr_b, I hate to say it, but you've been played by a propaganda effort. While the Toyota Prius' battery does contain a significant amount of nickel, mined in an energy-intensive and environmentally destructive manner, it's still much better for the environment than the H2.
According to this
article, the story begins with the release of a report by CNW Marketing, which was then picked up by the Recorder. From the article:
The Hummer-beats-the-Prius talking point began with this report (PDF) from CNW Marketing Research. The report, titled "Dust to Dust," was cited in a March 2007 editorial in the Recorder, a student newspaper at Central Connecticut State University. That editorial, in turn, was praised by Rush Limbaugh, thereby guaranteeing its eternal life in blog comments, online forums, and the musings of George Will.
It's worth noting that the original research paper has numerous faults, including the use of the term "gigajeulles" of energy and includes a strapped-chicken series of calculations intended to make the Prius look worse compared to the H2, including adding a calculation of Toyota's R&D on the vehicle. They also include a calculation that flies in the face of a MIT report on mileage calculations.
Also, nickel can be recovered from both the Prius frame and battery, so once dug out of the ground, the nickel can be recycled. The article notes that the H2 contains twice the nickel in its frame than the Prius as well, so that environmental effect should also be added in the H2's column.
Ultimately, the Prius runs into problems against some high-mileage cars, but compared to the H2, it's a gem. The H3 will have similar, if less significant, problems in this comparison as well.
Now, of course, no one buys a H2 for it's environmental sensibility, but the Prius vs. H2 debate is just not a realistic comparison.
...2008 Hummer 3s are more efficient at burning all the fuel/ air and therefore put out fewer emissions with a V8(Alpha edition) than a '99 Civic does with a 4 banger.
This is also a bit of a strapped-chicken, however, you are correct. The H3 produces 2.1 grams of CO2 per mile and 3.64 pounds of smog-producing pollution per year, with 13.07 tons of Greenhouse gases. The 2000 Honda Civic (I couldn't find data for the '99, but I think we're close) produces 2.1 grams of CO2 per mile, but produces 11.74 pounds of smog per year and 6.3 tons of Greenhouse gases. It's worth noting that the contemporary of the H3 isn't an eight year old Civic, but the 2008 Civic. The 2008 Civic produces 2.1 grams of CO2, 4.13 pounds of smog, and 6.34 tons of Greenhouse gases per year.
All numbers are from
this EPA site and were done using the Arizona calculations, changing the state doesn't appear to affect the information.
