Why hybrid vehicles are the real deal.

Yesterday, John McCormick of the Detroit News, a regular hybrid naysayer stated, "Overall, the public is still amazingly ignorant about hybrids," arguing that the costs of hybrid vehicles do not justify their fuel efficiency gains.

Maybe.

Overall, the Detroit auto establishment, including writers, is still amazingly ignorant about the costs of foreign oil and oil's environmental destruction. Governors, CIA directors, and National Security officials have all preached the dangers of oil dependency, many even calling it one of the greatest threats to American security.

In response, fuel cells and hydrogen, the hybrid naysayers tell us, are the answer. Hmmm?

Hybrid cars cost a few extra thousand, fuel cell cars cost a few extra hundred thousand. Now, that's cost effective.

If hybrids are not cost effective to consumers, then hybrids will disappear without any negative press. Why would consumers pay extra for nothing? Yet, the Toyota Prius has the highest consumer rating of any automobile. The fact that hybrids cause so much fear in the American auto establishment demonstrates that hybrids are incredibly viable.

If new inventions can make fuel cells more cost-effective, certainly new inventions could also make hybrids more cost-effective. More important hybrids can have an impact today, rather than having to wait 10, 20, 30 years or more for fuel cells.

Don't let Detroit ignorance fool you, hybrid cars are the real deal.