Jed- I don't know where you got this info that auto engines can't last more than 180,000 miles.
I did not say they cannot last, I said they need an overhaul. Mine did, anyway.
I drove a dodge diplomat V8 for 267,000 miles without an overhaul- the famous 318ci engine.
That is remarkable. Most manufacturers say you need an overhaul at about 120,000 miles, I believe. It costs anywhere from $2000-$4000. I think that is roughly as much as the new batteries in the hybrid cars will cost.
The point is, when hybrid cars were introduced, some auto industry columnists fretted that battery costs were unknown, and that over the life of the car the cost of the batteries might be very substantial. Now that hundreds of thousands of these cars are in use, we see that is not the case.
Industry observers and people who oppose progress also said that recycling the batteries might be an environmental problem. No doubt recycling must be dealt with properly, but it hardly begins to compare to the environmental problems caused by conventional gasoline motors.
Incidentally, the lead acid batteries in my electric bicycle discharge in about one hour, and they take four to six hours to recharge. The bicycle does not have regenerative braking, and it difficult to see how it could, given this performance. The bicycle takes a pair of batteries, shown here:
http://www.pacificbattery.com/eb.html
- Jed
