Originally Posted by JCL

I do think, though, that people should understand the energy it takes to produce the car, and dispose of it, not just drive it. There are reports of the Accord hybrid having a lifetime energy consumption (from manufacturing, through shipping, fuel consumed by the owner, and then energy to dispose of the vehicle) significantly above the non-hybrid Accord. Same issues with the Pious. Consumers focusing only on their cost of filling the tank may be deluding themselves. Yes, the hybrid can be more fuel efficient than a larger vehicle, but the technology itself consumes a lot of energy.