Should I buy a Prius?

Hey Mr. Green,

I keep hearing hype about how hybrid cars are so much better for the environment, yet I also hear that the process to make the batteries for them is very toxic. If so, the Toyota Prius isn't a very green car, so I won't be wasting the extra cash to damage the planet. Is this a wise choice?

--Jacque in Missoula, Montana

The fuss about Prius batteries is because they're made of nickel. Thirty years ago, Canada's nickel-mining industry was particularly toxic, but our northerly neighbors have since cleaned up their mining mess. Only a fraction of the world's nickel is used for batteries, and those made for Priuses (Prii?) are recyclable. For a fuller refutation of this and other myths about the Prius, go to tinyurl.com/mrgreenprius.

However, don't rush out to buy a $22,000 Prius unless you have unlimited funds. You might net greater energy savings by purchasing a cheaper but still-efficient car--like a Toyota Yaris--and investing the money you save in less-sexy energy-conservation measures like replacing your furnace, upgrading your insulation, and installing fluorescent lights, programmable thermostats, an Energy Star fridge, and so on. Sure, the furnace and insulation won't sit in your driveway and flaunt your environmental rectitude. But they could reduce more emissions and save more money in the long run. Consider your energy habits and where you live, and do a basic energy inventory using some simple math.

Say you drive 10,000 miles per year, mostly on the highway. The Prius is rated at 45 miles per gallon (highway), so it'll burn 222 gallons a year. If gas is $2 per gallon, you'll pay $444 per year for fuel. The efficient little Yaris gets 35 mpg, so it'll burn 286 gallons annually, costing you $572. The Prius, then, will save 64 gallons and $128 per year and emit 1,250 fewer pounds of carbon dioxide. But its base price is almost ten grand more than the Yaris.

By choosing the Yaris over the Prius, you'll have an extra $10,000 to spend on planet-preserving home upgrades that will save more energy than the Prius. Of course, if your home energy use is far less than average but you drive far more--or if gas prices climb back to the $5-per-gallon range--the equation changes.

Comments

[Laura Bush]

Wow, this is REALLY helpful! It's great to have a way to quantify the differences in mileage, etc.

I also am glad to hear about the battery explanation, because I had heard that objection too.

Could you further empower us by telling us how to calculate the emissions differences? Is it really complicated?

Thank you!

[Jack Moore]

For that extra $10,000, you get a much bigger car, a much more comfortable car, and a car which USES LESS GAS. Individula economics are not the entire issue. Yes, get energy efiicient appliances, and lighting, and furnaces. But, so far, the hybrids are the best choice to USE LESS GAS, and to ride in a fairly comfortable, roomy car.

[Laura]

I was really irked by this column. Mr. Green makes a lot of assumptions here, including that the person in question does not have any children.

We made the decision between a minivan and a Prius for our family of four. THe benefits to the environment and our wallet in this instance are quite clear. The Yaris was not a viable option for us.

Also, to say that one should only buy a Prius if they have unlimited funds is ridiculous. THe base price for a new 2010 Prius is $21,000. Again, if the choice is not between a Yaris and a Prius but between a Prius and more "traditional" (in the US) large family cars, in some cases the Prius is much cheaper initially and going forward (efficiency more than two or three times your standard minivan means a lot of gas savings).

[Ron Bourque]

As a Prius owner, I have to take exception to your analysis and recommendation to buy a Yaris just to save the money – even if the money saved would be spent on other energy-saving home improvements. Most people, who purchase a Yaris, do so because they do not have that extra $10,000 spare. Many people, I have spoken to, don’t consider buying a Prius because they have many misconceptions about its performance and reliability. There is also the tendency to buy a car by the pound – a bigger car for the price of a Prius.

After driving the Prius for three years, I can tell you that this car gets 42 MPG in short distance city driving and on two recent trips – 410 miles and 180 miles – the highway mileage was 59 MPG. They way I achieve that kind of mileage is to keep my tires inflated to specifications, use cruise-control where traffic and highway conditions allow and drive at or slightly below the 65 MPH speed limit – 65 MPH is too fast for safety and fuel economy for most cars. Because of the Pius’s low drag coefficient, it actually does get good mileage at 65 MPH.

I think the equation has changed in favor or the Prius – please recalculate.

[Laura Bush]

I have another question. I just heard that the Prius battery lasts 4-5 years and costs $6,000 to replace. Is that accurate?

[Marty]

Yaris is a subcompact. Prius is a midsize with a hatchback with over 39 cubic feet of utility too. Prius is much safer with stability control, 4-wheel disc brakes with brakeforce distribution, knee airbag, etc. Prius pollutes much less while driving or sitting at stop lights or in traffic. And, gets far better fuel mileage. Come on Answer Guy, compare an apple to an apple.

[Robin Smith]

Awesome posting.Thanks a lot dor this information..Please continue with the good work.

http://crash456.blog.co.uk/2009/09/14/easy-tips-to-save-fuel-6961104/

[Blog Paling Keren]

Canadian nickel mining company, Inco, has fired thousands of their employees in my country.

[HID Kit]

Nice blog.Thanks for the good information.

[How to buy car online]

Look i just bought on and I think is the best money I ever spent on a car but if you want same tips on how to buy a car online you should check this web site as well .
Great info here really appreciated
http://1sttimebuyerinformation.com/buyers-informations/how-to-buy-a-car-online-tips-and-tricks/

[generic viagra]

I hate the designs of cars like the prius ?

[homes for sale costa rica]

Also, do car rental companies have some sort of contracts with auto transporters saying they will move rental cars always or on demand basis

[sildenafil citrate]

Last Friday I had to go to Sacramento for a meeting, and the time on the plane gave me a chance to continue my exploration of Everything is Miscellaneous by David Weinberger. I seem to only find time to do this kind of reading on airplanes…uninterrupted blocks of time are pretty scarce! At least this time I was smart enough not to attempt to drink orange juice J. Sorting through the stacks on my desk today I came across the following quote that I jotted down on the plane:

"Reality is multifaceted. There are lots of ways to slice it. How we slice it up depends on why we're slicing it up."

[kamagra jelly]

Jeg synes idéen er begyndt at ramme hjem, at vi er nødt til at matche og være bedre end den "competition'-hvis vi skal have en lys fremtid.

[dental health center]

I'm looking for a non-obvious list of 30 companies (with various
different types of business models) that "fit the bill."

[truck rental]

I must say that I enjoy reading your answers very very much! You always knowhow to approach the problem on every level, and you advice is honest and wise. It is a pleasure to read your posts!

[Round and Brown]

I must say that I enjoy reading your answers very very much! You always knowhow to approach the problem on every level, and you

[guanacaste costa rica]

He is using homo's to destroy America because he hates America. He doesn't hide this fact. Look on his web sites he even admits it, how does it feel to be used?

[CNA Practice Test]

Yes... it seems that the media is very biased to their own way of thinking and hasn't improved since you wrote this article.

[lcd]

I admit your insights raised few doubts.. You use common sense and that's a good quality ,as for me I drive my Prius for the past three years, and I must say I'm not sure that my next car model will be any different than the one I drive today..
I'll take your insights into count..
THNX and keep up your good posts.

[radio cage lock]

The question is: Save the planet earth or save my money? If I know the answer to this, then I'll know which car to buy. Thanks for the info, by the way. Nice post. :-)

[buy adipex]

My wife have Prius and she are happy.

[tampa seo]

I can say the mileage is excellent.

[large designer handbags]

Thank you for providing the perspective. I just read a part of the article, so I don't know much what to say. Good luck for the new member!

[David The Storage Guy]

I heard the hybrid is more efficient when running local? So I guess the calculation/comparison can be further improved by looking at the percentage of local drive vs. highway?

[arizona web design]

A lot of people are caught up in the flurry of social media marketing. Like anything that changes lives and livelihood of so many millions of people, it is difficult, confusing and frustrating to connect the dots of this complex collection of activities.

[ferragamo shoes]

the information of this post is very relevant
for what i am looking for, thank you so much for sharing this one

[lacoste protect]

it is difficult, confusing and frustrating to connect the dots of this complex collection of activities.

[Erwin Calverley]

Well, I can't confirm the negative effects of nickel battery on hybrid cars. But if you still doubt cars like the Toyota Prius, I suggest you choose other fuel-efficient cars instead - even if they're not a hybrid.

[columbia jackets]

I think the equation has changed in favor or the Prius – please recalculate.

I hate the designs of cars like the prius ?

[David John]

Thanks a lot for a bunch of good tips. I look forward to reading more on the topic in the future. Keep up the good work ! This blog is going to be great resource and I love reading it.
singapore car leasing
http://sg.sixt.com/leasing/leasing/