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I've often wondered how much of the world's lithium reserves it would take to convert every cars in the world over to EVs with lithium batteries. 0.1%, 5%, 10%

• kqr2 16y ago
  Yes, in general, a used fuel efficient gas car is better for the environment since it takes quite a bit of energy to manufacture a Prius. http://www.wired.com/autopia/2008/05/the-ultimate-pr/ http://www.wired.com/autopia/2008/05/the-ultimate-pr/
  • pyre 16y ago
    So you're comparing a used fuel efficient gas car to a new Prius? Why not compare new-to-new or used-to-used?
    • kqr2 16y ago
      A lot of people who purchase a Prius think they are doing something environmentally friendly. In fact, that's part of Toyota's marketing campagin. Not only that, but the government helps subsidize these purchases by giving tax breaks. If the real goal was to do what's best for the environment, then it's not to buy a brand new hybrid.
      • ubernostrum 16y ago
        "When bought brand-new, it has consumed more energy than it has saved" does not imply "buying this is never the best choice for the environment". Instead, it implies that one should work out where the break-even point -- beyond which the net is savings over a gasoline-powered vehicle -- occurs, whether that point will realistically be reached and passed by the majority of owners, etc.
        • joezydeco 16y ago
          The Toyota Prius, when compared to a Toyota Corolla LE, takes 16.2 years to break even. Data from 2008. http://www.edmunds.com/advice/fueleconomy/articles/116513/article.html http://www.edmunds.com/advice/fueleconomy/articles/116513/ar... Note that this is only comparing from the start of ownership. If you want to compare the offset in energy in making the hybrid vs the gasoline engine, we're getting into multiple decades.
          • ubernostrum 16y ago
            Which is a much better argument, and what I was hoping someone would come up with :)
      • drivebyacct2 16y ago
        That logic is unsustainable. New vehicles will (have to) be purchased. Going out and buying a Prius for the sake of being environmentally friendly would be dumb. But choosing a Prius instead of a Charger for your new car purchase makes plenty of sense IMO.
        • jonah 16y ago
          Yes, but driving your current car a few more years is better yet. (Unless it's REALLY old and therefore likely a heavy polluter.)
          • drivebyacct2 16y ago
            > Going out and buying a Prius for the sake of being environmentally friendly would be dumb. I understand and acknowledge that.
      • forgottenpaswrd 16y ago
        Why not? Buy a brand new hybrid and use it for more than 10 years, instead of buying a 10 years old used car and use it for two three years until its mechanical parts are so used that it fails constantly. Of course the best for the environment is to buy a bike(you only need to manufacture 10 kilograms instead of +1000), or just walk, if you are going to buy a car anyway buying a Prius helps to develop electric cars, witch is better at least for cities environment(less diesel particles in the air, asthma, cancer and allergies). It is way easier to control energy plant combustion particles than in individual cars, and on some places in the world you could use local wind solar , geothermal, biomass(wood, stubble) or nuclear energy along with gas or coal.
• bryanlarsen 16y ago
  The answer is 0.000.......0001 %, with too many zeros to count. Lithium comprises 0.005 percent of the earth's crust, the 15th most abundant element on earth. Yes, the price might go up, perhaps dramatically, but we're not going to run out.