One of the most popular ways to go green now a days is to go hybrid. People all around the country are shoveling over $20,000 plus for an eco-friendly car in hopes of doing their part.

"Hybrids are taking over the road," said local Prius-owner Karen Hla.

The reasons to buy a hybrid usually varies per person, but generally people say one of two things, said Chris Howard, hybrid specialist and sales representative at Desert Toyota, 7150 East 22nd Street.

People either want to save money or save the environment, Howard said.

Before future buyers pull out their wallets, Joe White, the Detroit Bureau Chief of The Wall Street Journal said saving money may not be the realistic outcome.

In an interview with NPR in 2005, White said the overall costs of hybrid vehicles compared to the same non-hybrid models outweighs the money a buyer might save on gas.

“You save about $700 or more in gas a year, but a [Toyota] Prius costs about $8,000 more than the non-hybrids in its class,” said White.

He said at $3 a gallon for gas most hybrid cars would save the driver about $746 a year. Another plus is that hybrid owners get tax deductions of $2,000 as a result of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT).

Hla said she received a $700 tax deduction last year for her hybrid.

Despite the tax breaks and the annual money saved in gas, White was apprehensive on the significance of the overall savings. He agreed that if a future hybrid owner plans on making their car a lifetime investment, and if the gas rates keep going up then a hybrid is a good choice.

“Buying a Prius is a statement,” White said about the popularity of the hybrid movement.

It’s a statement a lot of people are trying to make. According to a study done by Greencarcongress.com, hybrid sales have steadily increased since 2004.
Property of Green Car Congress

“Sales of light-duty hybrid electric vehicles in the US set a new mark in May at more than 45,000 units sold, up 91% from May 2006,” according to the Web site.

There are currently 13 different hybrids to choose from excluding concept-hybrids or others expected to come out in 2008.

To become part of the hybrid family the cost ranges from $12,000 to more than $100,000. According to the Smartusa Web site. The new Smart Car from the Mercedes Car Group is the cheapest while the Lexus LS 600hl is the most expensive.

Whether it is luxury or gas mileage that interests the future hybrid owner, each hybrid will have its pro’s and con’s.

Generally speaking, the Toyota Prius is the most environmentally friendly and most affordable in the compact cars catagory, according to the Hybrid Cars Web site.

Photo taken by Lauren Browder

“Toyota has sold more Priuses than all other hybrids combined, and for good reason. Since the debut of the second generation Prius in 2003 (as a 2004 model), the midsize hatchback sedan has racked up award after award,” according to the website.

Not only has the Prius out-sold any other hybrid, but also at 60 miles per gallon in the city, and 51 miles per gallon on the highway, it has the best mileage of all the available hybrids. Currently a new Prius will cost around $23,000 according to the Toyota Web site.

The most luxurious hybrid SUV option, and one of the most popular, is the Lexus RX 400h. On the higher end of $42,000, the Lexus has the lower gas mileage of the SUV’s at 30 miles per gallon. At a much lower cost of about $25,000, the best gas mileage for an SUV is being held by the Ford Escape, the “most fuel economic SUV” available, according to the Hybrid Cars Web site.