Hybrid Myths

Reality: Recycling and Recyclable are Different
Here's something about hybrids that should be of concern: There's a huge difference between something that is recyclable and stuff that actually gets recycled. Currently it's not profitable to recycle the nickel-metal-hydride (Ni-MH) batteries employed in almost all hybrids and many personal electronic devices. Proceeds from reclaimed metals roughly equal the cost of recycling Ni-MH batteries. If the market price of nickel, chromium and iron is depressed and shipping costs are high, it's a money loser.


Subsidies are required to induce recyclers to process Ni-MH batteries. Along with several computer makers, most, if not all, makers of hybrid vehicles financially support the recycling of Ni-MH batteries. However, one way or the other, the consumer funds these subsidies, either by higher purchase price, reduced dividends for stockholders or lower wages and benefits for company employees.


Ni-MH batteries also contain titanium, vanadium and zirconium. The last three are not commonly reclaimed by recyclers and wind up in road aggregate. Another reality based fear: Increasing demand for nickel and other metals will unavoidably increase mining and ore processing, both of which have negative impact on the environment.


In the near future it's likely that lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, not too dissimilar to those now in many laptops, will replace Ni-MH batteries in hybrids. Li-ion batteries promise to hold more energy and be smaller or lighter than Ni-MH. It's almost certain that motor vehicle-bound Li-ion batteries will not use the flammable liquid solvent now used in Li-ion computer batteries. Current thinking says an inert polymer will be employed instead. Li-poly batteries have many advantages for vehicle use: They are lighter, spill- and leak-resistant and can be molded into virtually any shape. However, it appears it will be even more difficult to profitably recycle Li-poly batteries than Ni-MH batteries. (Li-poly batteries contain no lithium metal.)


No new technology is without flaws, but the ability of hybrid vehicles to reduce emissions and reliance on foreign oil more than offsets their problems.