I would ask your brother why he's pulling your leg. It just does not eat through things that way. It's exactly the same stuff that's in your rechargable shaver and telephone handset, NiMH. Have you ever heard of a telphone leaking and eating a hole in the floor? I haven't.
The special training is so they recognize the simple fact that you don't grab the high voltage wires if they are torn lose. The circuitry at the battery pack will disconnect the voltage, but they need to be safe.
Daniel
It doesn't ring true. The hydroxide electrolyte is fairly innocuous on steel and concrete. Acids from lead-acid batteries is much worse on both.
Mike
It's a total CLANG! These are just nickel metal hydride cells - NiMH - identical physics as to what you buy in every drug store, hardware store, etc. etc. The warning label should say "Don't eat more than two of them at a time, or crush them into powder and breath it for more than an hour." It's really very safe compared to other battery physics. Eat through a truck bed, then a concrete roadway? Another urban legend...
I would suggest that you read the Emergency Response Guides (freely available from Toyota) at:
The vast majority of the Emergency Response Guides teaches how to recognize a Toyota Prius, and how to make sure it is off.
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