> Toyota PAYS $200 to get them
> back for recycling

But, how much do you pay to get new batteries?
And, what does Toyota do with the waste from the recycling process
(there is no recycling process that is 100% efficient)?

> When the
> batteries die, you could have your Prius converted
> into a plug-in hybrid for about $10-12k which can give
> you 80-100 mpg.

Which is still about $10k

I'm not arguing the reliability of the beast, just the expense of
future repairs.
And slightly arguing the environmental impact.

Sudhir