Hydrogen powered hybrid vehicles demonstrate importance of hybrid technology

You've heard the criticisms of hybrid cars.

They aren't as fuel efficient as the EPA suggests. They don't save you money. Biodiesel is better.

In reality; however, the EPA is off on all vehicles. When push comes to shove, hybrids are significantly more fuel efficient than conventional vehicles, especially in city driving.

Hybrids can save you money over the long haul, but if you drive in the city, in congestion, or in stop-and-go traffic, hybrids CAN be very economical.

Biodiesel does make a good short term case, but it is the potential of hybrids that makes the technology so important. Sure, a biodiesel vehicle might be able to achieve 30 or 40 mpg without oil, but a plug-in biodiesel hybrid vehicle might achieve 200 or 300 mpg.

Moreover, hybrids can help make fuel cell vehicles a reality. Energy Conversion Devices is working on hydrogen electric hybrids that demonstrate that hybrids can lead the way to the hydrogen highway (more).

What all the criticisms of hybrid vehicles miss, is that hybrids are only an emerging technology. Just like computers 20 years ago, the power behind hybrid technology will get lighter, more powerful, more efficient and cheaper.