typical really.

most people hate change. they get comfortable with something and dont want to change even if its something better.

i remember reading an article about cars when they first got power steering. many people thought that the power controls had a chance of malfunctioning causing a loss of control and an accident.

well, its pretty obvious that that concern never materialized and even die-hards have to admit that power steering is much much safer in nearly all cases.

after there are more hybrids, i think people will realize that the danger is no more than electricity anywhere. most electrical circuits cut off before they render a lethal shock if the wire is cut.

i have cut live 110 volt (by accident) power cords before without even a shock. after the wire is cut the current wont flow. there is also GFI (ground fault interuptors) that are required in all areas where moisture may be present that also cuts power when it senses surges. so its strange to me that people think the same safeguards are not instituted in cars where cars have the reputation of being much safer than nearly anything in the home. after all, when is the last time you saw seatbelts on your barcalounger??

As far as I know, GFCIs are only available for AC circuits. The orange cable is a DC circuit between the traction batteries (in the back) and the inverter (in the front) that is energized through a relay as soon as the READY light comes on. If there is an accident and the car has to be cut open, the emergency technicians have to check to make sure the car is powered down. They have to be educated about how the car can still be powered even though the ICE is not running.

It is true that Honda and Toyota have marked the cables and have run them in the safest path available, but there is still a new hazard that EMTs have to be aware of. This is not to say that hybrids are too dangerous and should be banned, it just requires some additional safety procedures for some new technology.

you maybe right, but its a simple matter to install sensors on all dangerous conductors that carry enough power to hurt someone and that is what Toyota has done. that is why the traction battery is in a electrically isolated case with switches designed to shut down the circuit when sensing any interuption of power including a sudden high current draw that would occur should a human being become part of the circuit.

so as you see, the additional safety features were designed and installed waaay before the car hit the road. i think we all fail to understand that the Prius was on the road in Japan for 3 years before coming here. 3 years provides a huge amount of data that was used to tie up loose ends. the 2004 is not the 2nd generation vehicle but the 3rd. the early Prius' did have problems and the 2004 is the culmination of 12 years of effort (starting in 1992 when the design phase started for the Prius) and 7 years of real life road testing by a company that has proven itself to be the best at bringing safe new technology to the masses.