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Enough to not buy a car powered by one of them. My opinion might change if something new is invented. The latest info I have if directly from one of the major Jap/American company's making hybrids, the safety and environmental problems have not been solved as of 12-07. The major problems are still EXACTLY the same ones we had 30 years ago, imagine that! Newer unforeseen problems remain in the service area. Then theres the bottom lines:
1. Cost is higher than gas or diesel ICE
2. Emissions are not less for hybrids or electrics
3. New environmental hazards that are far worse than anything we have ever experienced will result from large scale use of batteries. There is no such thing as 100% recycling and prober handling of toxic battery waste. Batteries from computers are already causing major recycling headaches. Cars will cause far worse problems. Chernobyl will look like a garden of eden when compared to what Ni Metal Hydride batteries can do to the environment. Lead acid batteries have not caused serious problems because lead is not a hazard, unless you eat it. The exotic batteries all have extremely toxic materials in them, their waste and the waste produced in their production will poison the world if they are widely used in cars.
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