Rebuttals to common myths about "environmental" harm/unfriendliness of the Prius or hybrids:

• Sierra Club: Prius Versus Hummer: A Nickel for Your Thoughts
• Toyota: Heard the one about the Hummer?
• MailOnline: Retraction about the Sudbury nickel factory
• Pacific Institute: Hummer versus Prius: “Dust to Dust” Report Misleads the Media and Public with Bad Science
• Pacific Institute: Hummer vs. Prius Redux: Prius (Still) Leaves Hummer in the Dust
• The Car Connection: Prius Versus HUMMER: Exploding the Myth
• Slate: Is it possible that a Hummer's better for the environment than a Prius is?
• Cwerdna's analysis (linked to from slate article) of CNW's "junk science" spreadsheets
• Giving Directions: No, the Hummer Actually Isn't More Energy Efficient Than A Prius, Let's Put This "Debate" To Rest

Related links:

• Prius Green Report: Prius cuts CO2 throughout its life cycle for the good health of our planet
• Prius Life Cycle video
• Video from Nat Geo showing where parts and materials of a Ford Crown Vic come from
• Nat Geo page w/American driving stats and list of where many components of Ford Crown Vic came from
• Nickel and its Uses
• Emission Facts: Average Carbon Dioxide Emissions Resulting from Gasoline and Diesel Fuel - use when calculating CO2 emissions as a result of burning fuel on a higher mpg vehicle vs. lower mpg one
• How can 6.3 pounds of gasoline produce 20 pounds of carbon dioxide?
• 2nd gen Prius ERG - mentions weights, including HV battery pack weight
• 3rd gen Prius ERG - mentions weights, including HV battery pack weight

Misc calculations/examples:

• Top Gear Prius vs. M3 "junk science":
  • MailOnline: Retraction about the Sudbury nickel factory
    08 BMW M3 is EPA rated 16 mpg combined vs. 46 mpg for 08 Prius per http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm. Over 150K miles, M3 would've used 6114 more gallons of gas (38519 lbs extra) and emitted 122K lbs. of extra CO2. That 38519 lbs. of extra fuel comes from oil that needs to be found, drilled for, shipped, and refined. The refined product (gasoline) needs to be shipped and then carried as dead weight in the car.
    
    The Prius' NiMH battery only weighs ~100 lbs. and has 32 lbs of nickel. Makes one wonder about the logic and how much thinking people do when they make/spread such claims. Just because a car is made in North America doesn't mean its parts and raw materials are local. See Video from Nat Geo showing where parts and materials of a Ford Crown Vic come from.