Fuel economy is only a side effect of hybridization. The major reason for
the change is to correct the fundamental engineering debacle of using a 260
hp engine to move a personal vehicle through city traffic or along a freeway
while we could have *better* performance and economy from a 100 hp engine
running when needed and electric power to do the rest. In effect,
hybridization separates engine power from acceleration performance. Honda
has a good example in their 2001 concept car, the Dualnote (
http://world.honda.com/Tokyo2001/auto/DUALNOTE/index.html ).  4 passengers,
400 combined hp, with off-the-line acceleration comparable to a 600 hp car
(according to Honda engineers interviewed in a Popular Mechanics article a
couple years ago), and fuel economy estimated around 40 mpg. Kinda like a
Super Lupo ;-)

Admittedly, hybrids are in their infancy now (but as an owner I can tell you
the Prius is a really nice infant!) As an engineer I believe it is safe to
say hybrids will be the rule rather than the exception for passenger cars
(but not trucks) within 20 years for very sound design reasons. You may
believe what you wish.

Mike

Pfft, missing the point. The point is that they're ONLY getting
40-45mpg. Many non-hybrids on sale in the EU will easily beat that.
For isntance, n the UK, a VW lupo returned to one of the most
outspoken motoring journalists int he world, an AVERAGE of 65mpg
Hybrids are a Pr stunt only.

The current edition of "Car and Driver" (magazine) has an interesting
article about the dark side of the hybrids on page 26. The date on the
cover is September 2005.

Many of the so called "greenies" have purchased hybrids because they
really care about the environment. I learned about something from the
article that I had never thought about before. What's going to happen to
those millions of batteries in hybrid vehicles after they wear out? They
will be placed in landfills. Imagine the harm that those batteries may do
to the enviroment after they are laying in a landfill for 50 years.

If you own or are planning to buy a hybrid vehicle, I advise you to read
the article.

Jason