Hybrid Cars
A hybrid car is a car that has two power sources, usually a gasoline engine along with an electric motor to improve fuel economy. Hybrids achieve higher fuel efficiency by having a smaller gasoline engine that is assisted by the electric motor, by recharging the battery with energy captured during braking, and by shutting off the gasoline engine when the vehicle is stopped. In some cases, the hybrid can run on solely electric power at low speeds, further increasing fuel efficiency. There are several hybrid vehicles currently being sold, and they will likely become more common with gas prices increasing as they are. The Toyota Prius is one example of a hybrid that is currently being sold.
Hybrids are beneficial because of their higher efficiency, which reduces fuel costs and environmental impact. Some downsides are that they are more expensive to purchase, long term reliability is unknown, and total operating costs may actually be higher than the equivalent non-hybrid vehicle. As more research goes into the development of hybrids, costs should come down and any reliablilty issues should be dealt with, making hybrids more appealing as gasoline prices increase.