"...The Feel-Good Phenomenon of the Decade."

From US New & World Report via Eco-Portal, an article on the hybrid phonomenon, including questions about it's longevity. There's no doubt, though, that the Japanese, particularly Toyota, have taken a strong lead on these vehicles. The article suggests that part of that was a consideration of "emotional factors": that while recouping the "premium" cost of a hybrid means a long-term investment in a car, elements of social-consciousness and status have eclipsed merely economic reasons for purchasing hybrids. JD Powers predicts that hybrid sales will peak at 3%, but that's not stopping a number of American and international automakers from jumping on the trend.

Technorati tags: hybrid, market, business