Death By Hybrid Car

November 6, 2009 at 5:17 pm

If there’s one thing sanctimonious eco-zealots will never run short of, it’s pernicious unintended consequences. From Israel:

The Environmental Protection Ministry confirmed to The Jerusalem Post this week that it has launched an independent study of exposure to electromagnetic radiation from hybrid car batteries.

There have been concerns raised both here and abroad that the batteries might generate worrying amounts of electromagnetic radiation over long periods of time. …

Ministry Director-General Yossi Inbar first turned to the hybrid vehicle importers, and through them to the manufacturers themselves, the ministry said, asking for information about exposure to electromagnetic fields in the cars. However, it soon became clear that the manufacturers did not have the requested information, the ministry said.

Fortunately, this health threat isn’t necessarily a problem for us. If California goes through with plans that could effectively impose metallic reflective window glazing on the entire American car market, the idea might spread to this side of the Pond as soon as the elf’n’safety Nazis get hold of it. The shielding could keep in not only radio signals from wireless safety features, but also potentially harmful radiation. That way, only the people in the car will be affected – and they deserve it for not taking public transportation.  The important thing is that the polar bears will be safe.