[jason]

We are, without a doubt, in the throes of a massive fuel crisis. With gas approaching five dollars a gallon in some states and it perpetually over three dollars per gallon in others, many folks are looking for a viable alternative. Hybrid vehicles have been identified as “the” solution. Sales of these hybrid cars have continued to rise substantially over the last several months and they continue to rise as consumers and manufacturers alike pour money in into this technology. However, there are indications that hybrid vehicles may not be everything that they are cracked up to be.
Hybrid vehicles generally cost substantially more than a normal internal combustion car. There are many people who believe that these extra costs are more than offset by the annual savings in fuel costs associated with driving a hybrid vehicle. This is almost always not true. Purchasing a hybrid vehicle based on fuel savings alone can be a costly mistake, especially if fuel costs begin to drop or even plateau.
Every driver is different and this can and certainly does impact the performance of a hybrid vehicle. The condition of the roads and highways in different areas also has a serious impact on the usefulness of a hybrid vehicle. Since there are so many different factors that impact the usefulness of a hybrid car when compared to a normal car, there may be instances where the difference between these two types of vehicles is virtually impossible to recognize. If you are contemplating the purchase of a hybrid car, you should keep this in mind during the buying process.
Another not so great fact about hybrids is the limited selection. There are only so many different makes and models that are available in the hybrid flavor. This means that although you may get to drive a hybrid car, you may not get to drive the one you prefer to drive. Personally, I value variety and freedom of choice. More importantly, purchasing an expensive hybrid vehicle can actually be a bad financial decision. Assuming fuel prices do not continue to rise, it is quite possible that it can become more expensive to operate a hybrid than it is to operate a normal car in the future.
Even if hybrid vehicles make sense financially, they are generally viewed as ugly and too small for many families. There are usually limitations with hybrids that make them much less useful than their normal gasoline powered cousins. These types of cars are usually much weaker and slower than gas powered vehicles and that is certainly a problem for lots of people. Imagine trying to tow a boat or trailer with a tiny hybrid vehicle? It would never work.
When all is said and done, the use of hybrids will almost certainly become the norm at some point in the not too distant future once the technologies that these vehicles are built on mature a bit. However, in the meantime, consumers should be wary of purchasing such vehicles unless they are absolutely sure it makes good financial sense.