Hybrid Cars-A Long Term Solution?

I purchased a Toyota Camry Hybrid 2 years ago and felt that I was doing my part to help the environment. Granted I am a tree hugger but this was an expensive statement to make backing up my tree hugging credentials. Soon after I purchased the car, gas soared to $4.00 a gallon and I was able to really feel self-righteous, watching others burn very expensive gas while waiting at intersections while my hybrid burned no gasoline while I was idling through a red light.
Recently other car manufacturers have brought their hybrids to market, with great fanfare and claims of green products and how they (each manufacturer) is helping the planet. Strong reviews from Consumer Reports and Car and Driver have helped fuel (sorry, poor pun) of the Ford Escape, Honda Insight and other new hybrids for the 2009-2010 model years. However, questions have started to arise about the life span of hybrid batteries, how to dispose of expired hybrid batteries and the environmental damage done by mining for the essential metals needed in the manufacturing of the hybrid batteries. All of this has been enough to make even the most committed tree hugger to look again at the validity of hybrid cars as options to cut oil imports and reduce pollutants put in the atmosphere by gasoline engines. As is the situation with almost every discussion concerning energy usage and environmental issues, there is no clear cut answer to all of the questions.
One of the main benefits of hybrid technology is the ability for cars to run at low speeds or while at a stop without using the gas engine, with the result being no emissions of pollutants into the air. While higher mileage is a nice financial benefit (hybrids usually get 10-15% higher MPG than their gas engined model), this is secondary (from an environmental standpoint) to the reduced emission level. After all, there is no benefit to anyone to have auto emissions, so any reduction is a plus. This benefit tends to get lost in all of the arguments about battery life and disposal. While these are important issues, they can be addressed with proper recycling of batteries. Lower emissions benefit anyone who breathes.
No one technology can solve the myriad of problems presented by oil importation and consumption or the problems of global warming. Hybrid cars, while not the cure-all, are valuable options to help alleviate some of our pollution problems and the world wide issues that arise from importing oil.

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