I haven't seen anybody factor in the insurance premiums for a Prius, as compared to a normal car. Collision insurance might well be higher, although I've not checked.
But if the reason for a Prius is to reduce environmental impacts and reduce energy consumption, you either look at all impacts and energy uses, or ignore a big bunch of reality.
Leachate from mining of iron, copper or nickel does Bad Things. The Prius equals other small cars for steel and wire, but uses hellaciously more nickel.
I wish I knew more about the energy consumed in production of exotic batteries. It certainly takes more for processing nickel than it does lead.
Without regard for the first owner, the total cost of a Prius, seems to me, should include the second and third batteries as the car moves on through the chain of used-car owners. With a conventional engine, if you're rational about changing oil and filter and valve adjustment, and use distilled water in the radiator, 300K miles with no major repairs isn't difficult to achieve. I won't talk about auto-trans, though.
I dunno. I've done a whole bunch of wrench-bending and bought and sold a helluva lot of cars, these last fifty years. I'm always suspicious of "band wagons" about what's good.
Art
