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Podcasts Take Two
How green are the batteries in electric cars?
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Jul 1, 2013
Listen • 5:33
How green are the batteries in electric cars?
The ever-increasing number of Californians who are embracing battery electric vehicles can ignore rising gas prices, but they might want to think a little harder about those batteries.
An electric car rechrages its battery from a stand at the parking of Better Place, a electric vehicle services provider, in Glilot north of Tel Aviv on January 17, 2011.
An electric car rechrages its battery from a stand at the parking of Better Place, a electric vehicle services provider, in Glilot north of Tel Aviv on January 17, 2011.
(
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
)

The ever-increasing number of Californians who are embracing battery electric vehicles can ignore rising gas prices, but they might want to think a little harder about those batteries.

Gas prices have gone up a bit in California, but don't blame supply and demand, or a refinery shutdown. A 3.5 cent tax hike went into effect today.

The statewide average for a gallon of regular is now at just over four bucks. The ever-increasing number of Californians who are embracing battery electric vehicles can ignore that news, but they might want to think a little harder about those batteries. 

They have a finite lifespan, so what will happen to them when they need to be replaced? Are they toxic? Can they be recycled, or are we on the verge of creating an entire new class of hazardous waste?

Here with answers, Mike Millikin, editor of the online publication Green Car Congress.