Is There a Hybrid Vehicle in Your Future?

They're here! Many auto companies are now offering "hybrids"...i.e., vehicles powered by gasoline and/or electricity. Of course, these vehicles are in no way close to being like your grandfather's wheels! Back in the day, your grandpa and grandma could drive around all day in their full-sized V-8 Coupe de Ginormous, for less than the cost of one gallon of today's gasoline!

Let's see:
Today's average price of gas: $2.80 per gallon
Grandpa & grandma's (estimated) price of gas: 28 CENTS per gallon

That means for $2.80 back then, grandpa and grandma could buy 10 gallons of gas. A big V-8 Coupe de Ginormous probably got only about 10 miles per gallon, so grandpa and grandma could drive about 100 miles on $2.80 worth of gas!

Ok, so what does all this have to do with hybrids, you ask?

Well, I think it is all about the economics. And we are seeing people get more and more frustrated every day, with ever increasing gas prices. Indeed, people are spearheading grassroots movements to boycott gas buying, or boycott driving, in attempts to drive down costs by conserving the supply.

Many people are buying these hybrid vehicles, too. Some states offer tax incentives on hybrid vehicle purchases to encourage more buyers to choose hybrids, thereby helping to reduce energy consumption and thus greenhouse gases.

What I am continually amazed at is the apparent ignorance of American auto buyers, as well as the audacity of our auto makers over the past 30 years or so.

Back in the 1970's gas-shortage (so-called), auto manufacturers were forced to downsize their gas-guzzling behemoths that were so very popular in earlier times (like that V-8 Coupe de Ginormous) when gas cost that 28 cents per gallon or even less.

Along with the gas-shortage came frequent and strong reminders that energy consumption was out of control, and the world would one day suffer if we did not do everything in our power to begin conserving. No longer should Americans keep burning up all the worlds' gasoline driving around in 2-3 tons of those typical Ginormous boats of the era.