The September issue of Car and Driver has a story by one of the columnists about the hidden downside of hybrid automobiles.
To summarize the writers knocks:
1) A Prius owner would have to drive at least 66,500 miles annually for five straight years ... to equal the costs of operating a cheaper, conventional Corolla.
2) Battery pack replacements for Toyota hybrids are $5300; for the Ford Excape hybird, $7200.
3) Nobody has figured out how and where the dead batteries will be disposed. They are in fact self-contained toxic waste dumps.
4) A number of EMT and fire crews have announced that they will refuse to rescue victims trapped in such vehicles fearing electrocution or acid burns.
5) There is no real advantage to owning a hybrid in terms of fuel mileage when the extra cost of the vehicle is added in. Period. Do the math, according to a dealer of several brands of hybrids.
6) The truth is, although the Prius is selling like mad, hybrid Honda Accords and Civics are backed up on dealer lots. Why ? Because they look like conventional Hondas, whereas the Prius has unique styling. It has an iconic status among the Greenies. Meaning, the greenies are more concerned with appearing green than actually being green.
Your mileage may vary.