The average car contains more than a ton of iron and steel, 240 pounds of aluminum, 50 pounds of carbon, 42 pounds of copper, 41 pounds of silicon, 22 pounds of zinc, and more than thirty (30) other minerals , including titanium , platinum and gold Now consider that hybrid cars contain MORE minerals than the average car. For example , hybrids use twice as much copper than gasoline powered cars . Minerals must be mined , extracted from Earth , and mining minerals produces environment pollutants and degradation just as drilling for oil does . How then do we justify the benefits of hybrid cars over gasoline powered cars?