[jimfree]

“Sustainable” has never really been rigorously modeled. These morons add what looks good to the denominator and ignore what doesn’t help from the numerator. Until they are willing to weigh all costs and all benefits I don’t want to talk to them.

What is the carbon footprint of producing a Prius battery?

What is the hazmat disposal cost of replacing a Prius battery?

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Apparently we're running out of the Rare Earth Elements needed to make the batteries, too. So mining the elements needed to be "green" doesn't appear to be very sustainable. And the mercury used in Chinese sweat shops to make CFLs is killing workers, so that may not be very "sustainable" to them. Of course, the people are probably an inexhaustible and expendable workforce, so maybe that is "sustainable."

Shortage of Rare Earths Used in Hybrids, TVs May Loom in China.

Energy-Efficient Lightbulbs Poison Hundreds of Chinese Workers.