Hybrids are not environmentally responsible when they offer no greater mpg or range than their ICE counterpart - i.e. the GM hybrid truck that is currently advertised.

I rented one of the first Toyota Prius' just to see what it was all about, and I was very impressed. The first gen Prius had everything I needed, and a few things I had never thought of to ask. I ran it flat out on the California freeways and hit 110mph before I decided to back out of it. Twice the legal speed limit in the only state it was designed for, and dead quiet - not to mention safe. Not bad for a first generation vehicle, and then they had to up the size of the engine - why? This car returned 41mpg average in the fashion that I was flogging it - had I merely driven it in the way it was intended I would've certainly hit the 50mpg mark.

The hybrid mark has been made a badge of the environmentally conscious, and yet - as we have seen - they are not always designed for this purpose. Kind of like carrots made into missiles, this badge can be misconstrued.

There are so many things that we should do to improve the way we operate. The problems abound because we do not apply the technology we have at our disposal. Commuter cars are a good idea, but way below the radar in terms of making a difference.

We are not breaking ground with hybrid power, the railroad industry did all of this and more at least 35 years ago with the beginning of the diesel-electric locomotives (which is the standard today).