Hybrids safe

Dawn Gagnon’s Dec. 28 article on electrical danger from hybrid cars made vehicles such as the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius sound more dangerous than necessary.

I have owned a Toyota Prius for 14 months and 37,000 miles. I started and moderate the largest Prius-devoted email group (groups.yahoo.com/group/toyota-prius) which has more than 3,000 members, and I have reviewed Toyota’s official brochure for emergency personnel dealing with a Prius in an accident.

The Prius and Insight batteries pose minimal danger to emergency workers. The energy they store is barely any more than a large truck battery. The high voltage is thoroughly insulated, and extremely unlikely to be exposed in any accident. Neither water, nor any of the other chemicals commonly used in firefighting will have any dangerous effect on the battery.

If the batteries are crushed, the sodium hydroxide electrolyte inside is relatively dilute, and held in what amounts to sponges inside the battery. If burned, the cases will melt. The batteries don’t burn, and won’t fuel a fire.

In the Prius, the battery pack is securely encased in steel behind the rear passenger seat. The gas tank is actually a flexible bag, also encased in a steel outer tank under the rear passenger seat. The ordinary dangers of leaking gasoline are much more significant than accidental electrocution by the battery. I encourage anyone who wants a new car with reduced gas usage and toxic emissions to consider a hybrid vehicle.

Eric W. Metzler, M.D.

Enfield