This is a somewhat rambling response to a comment in my last entry... I hear what you are saying, but I have to disagree on the emissions part: Ford, Mazda, BMW, and a few others are now selling PZEV motors of respectable size and power. From the driveclean.ca.gov site: "the pollution controls are so tight and the burning of fuel is so efficient on these vehicles that they can actually be cleaner than a hybrid or alternate fuel vehicle. PZEVs and AT PZEVs meet the ARB's most stringent tailpipe emission standard (super ultra low emission vehicle), have a 15 year/150,000 mile warranty and have zero evaporative emissions." That last line is the truly amazing part. Manufacturers are being forced to design vehicles that are not only clean today... but will remain clean over the entire designed lifespan of the car. That's revolutionary, and it will have a great impact on overall emissions. So that leaves fuel efficiency as the major factor in evaluating Hybrids. I'm still not convinced that the cost/benefit analysis currently supports hybrids. Unless you are putting a dollar value on feeling self-righteous, or factoring in other currently unaccounted costs in fossil fuel production. I'll bet that hybrids are at best stop-gap, until the next generation of propulsion technology is developed (hint: it's not hydrogen powered internal combustion engines) 20 to 30 years from now. Or at least that the current hybrid design will be short-lived. (gas turbine/electrics maybe?) I have seen some interesting development with psuedo-hybrids. They employ a big ass alternator, and a big-ass battery. The alternator is used not only to charge the battery, but by reversing the current it can be used as a motor too. By assisting the engine at very low revs (where convential IC motors are least efficient), and charging when it's free (engine braking) you can get 10-20% efficiency boost without much extra weight or much added complexity. Add-in variable-displacement (being able to turn-off cylinders during times of low power demand) and I think there is plenty of room for improvement with conventional powerplants.