How hybrid vehicles can save America

"At some point the love affair with horsepower will run out of gas. If it doesn't, we will." (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Gas guzzling is the root of all evil. O.K., I'm just kidding. Still, gas-guzzling is causing massive problems throughout the world. Let's face it, the geopolitical scene in the Middle East revolves entirely around oil, and very important glaciers are probably melting due to gas-guzzling global warming emissions. Of course, most Americans simply tune these issues out of every day consciousness.

The only thing that really gets Americans emotionally engaged is $3.00 gas, but still not enough to stop our love affair with gas-guzzling. In reality, $3.00 gas isn't that expensive, it just isn't dirt cheap.

Year after year America consumes more and more gas and more and more of it comes from countries that perceive America as enemy, not friend.

While huge SUVs, for example, aren't as popular as they have been, they are still selling extremely well. More alarming, if these gas hogs do not sell well, the American auto industry will almost certainly collapse.

Therefore, hybrid vehicles have become absolutely essential for America's survival. Inevitably, Americans want power and they want speed, but this combination is synonymous with gas-guzzling. Only hybrid technology can provide this combination, while also reducing gas consumption.

While others might speak of ethanol or bio-fuel, which are excellent options, they will not go far enough. If ethanol is someday cheaper than gasoline for all Americans, demand will just keep increasing, creating the need for more and more ethanol. Then one day, a drought or some other disaster, will wipe out a significant percent of our ethanol supplies.

Conservation might the best solution, at least in the short term, but such a topic seems offensive to many Americans, and might also bring down Detroit.

Inevitably, America and the world needs significantly more fuel efficient automobiles and hybrid technology can cross that bridge. Along the way, any number of hybrid breakthroughs just might result in even more efficient, fuel cell hybrid vehicles - available at cost-effective prices.

While I wouldn't mind a ban on any vehicle that doesn't achieve, say 30 mpg, most Americans simply aren't going to support such a move in the near term. Thus, it is vitally important that Americans who demand large vehicles and other performance autos, to embrace hybrid vehicles.

Likewise, the Big 3 automakers, especially GM, must also embrace hybrid technology and one can only hope that GM's Two Mode Hybrids live up to expectations. If GM can be successful selling these vehicles in America, the future could be much brighter not just for consumers, but for GM and America as well.

Ultimately, America must embrace technology, especially clean and green technology, if the economy is to remain strong. Otherwise, America will quickly become but a footnote in the history of 21st Century Superpowers.