There's certainly enough evidence that auto companies have had "hidden
warranties" to fix problems they do not want the public to know about.
And that they usually fight any effort of the consumer groups on class
actions concerning major auto problems.(like wheels falling off)

So,one should blindly trust the auto companies??

Mike,
It's difficult for most of us to conduct that sort of research. Perhaps a
disgruntled (sp??) employee might eventually sneak data out of the company
and release it to the news media. If that never happens, we will probably
never learn the true facts related to this issue. A Federal investigation
might also force them to release the true facts. On the other hand,
perhaps Toyota is being totally honest related to the data that they
release to the news media and post on the internet. Do you really believe
that any company is totally honest related to information they release to
the news media or post on the internet? I doubt it. There is a conflict of
interest involved.
Jason

Well, since Toyota has put their side in black and white, it's up to you to
to do the investigating and come up with something concrete. So far the
assertion that they are lying through their teeth (as they must if the claim
they are recycling the batteries is false) is weaker than the "who shot
Kennedy" conspiracy theories. Give us something we can use. Either you can
catch them in a huge lie or you are blowing smoke.

Mike

They have an agenda--sell more cars.

I don't.  I simply don't like being spoon-fed by people who have an
agenda.

If you enjoy being spoon-fed by people who have an agenda--and
everything you say points that direction--that's your problem.

Is it, then, your assertion that they are NOT spinning?

Hmmmmmm.....I don't think I ever said that one way or another.

I simply said "beware, and investigate it more".  You, on the other
hand, appear to be saying that there's no need to investigate it
more--that everything they say in that PR piece is 100% the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

One wonders why you would say that.

I see, so far, no evidence to support the press release.  Toyota said
some things.  I say, that's nice--but investigate further.  You say, "if
they said it, I assume that it's 100% true and you have to prove
otherwise."  That's your problem.

is spinning their side of the story very hard in order to sell more stuff.
By that token, you shouldn't simply believe it wholesale without
investigating it more.<<

Congratulations.  You've just won the grand prize for missing the point.
They have data.  You don't.  You just assume that they're "spinning" because
they're a big, bad company with an axe to grind.  YOU made the allegation
that they're "spinning."  Where's your proof?  Show us your data to prove
their data wrong.  We're waiting.

be 100% correct and truthful?<<

Add to the above cited prize another one for putting words in someone's
mouth.  I decided no such thing.  I see, so far, no evidence to contradict
the press release, but that doesn't mean the evidence does or does not
exist.  You, OTOH, just assume it's a lie.

Still waiting for that proof.

Hmmmmmm.  I'm not saying to believe or disbelieve; I'm simply pointing
out that, like any good corporate PR machine, Toyota is spinning their
side of the story very hard in order to sell more stuff.  By that token,
you shouldn't simply believe it wholesale without investigating it more.

But because I'm saying that, you decide that Toyota's press release must
be 100% correct and truthful?

You lead an interesting life.

hard...In other words, never listen to a car salesman.  And that's all that
PR piece is.<<

Right.  However, according to you we should believe any yahoo who posts
under an assumed name in a newsgroup, without any proof whatsoever.

Thanks.  I needed a good laugh today.

All I'm saying is, Toyota is spinning their side of the story very hard.

Don't accept it at face value.  You're a fool if you do.  They have an
axe to grind, and they'll spin it however they have to in order to make
themselves look as good as possible and sell as many cars as possible.

In other words, never listen to a car salesman.  And that's all that PR
piece is.

....and?
That's it?

Please enlighten us with your wisdom on the subject.

Spun like a member of the Clinton family.

If you believe Toyota's PR spin 100%, you're in for a big surprise.

Maybe the author of the article should have done a little actual
research.  Here is what Toyota has to say about battery replacement
and recycling:

http://pressroom.toyota.com/photo_library/display_release.html?id=20040623

How long does the Prius battery last and what is the replacement cost?

The Prius battery (and the battery-power management system) has been
designed to maximize battery life. In part this is done by keeping the
battery at an optimum charge level - never fully draining it and never
fully recharging it. As a result, the Prius battery leads a pretty
easy life. We have lab data showing the equivalent of 180,000 miles
with no deterioration and expect it to last the life of the vehicle.
We also expect battery technology to continue to improve: the
second-generation model battery is 15% smaller, 25% lighter, and has
35% more specific power than the first. This is true of price as well.
Between the 2003 and 2004 models, service battery costs came down 36%
and we expect them to continue to drop so that by the time
replacements may be needed it won't be a much of an issue. Since the
car went on sale in 2000, Toyota has not replaced a single battery for
wear and tear.

Is there a recycling plan in place for nickel-metal hydride batteries?

Toyota has a comprehensive battery recycling program in place and has
been recycling nickel-metal hydride batteries since the RAV4 Electric
Vehicle was introduced in 1998. Every part of the battery, from the
precious metals to the plastic, plates, steel case and the wiring, is
recycled. To ensure that batteries come back to Toyota, each battery
has a phone number on it to call for recycling information and dealers
are paid a $200 "bounty" for each battery.

Elliot Richmond
Freelance Science Writer and Editor

The current edition of "Car and Driver" (magazine) has an interesting
article about the dark side of the hybrids on page 26. The date on the
cover is September 2005.

Many of the so called "greenies" have purchased hybrids because they
really care about the environment. I learned about something from the
article that I had never thought about before. What's going to happen to
those millions of batteries in hybrid vehicles after they wear out? They
will be placed in landfills. Imagine the harm that those batteries may do
to the enviroment after they are laying in a landfill for 50 years.

If you own or are planning to buy a hybrid vehicle, I advise you to read
the article.

Jason