They are the must-have car for everyone from ecologically minded individuals to planet-saving celebrities, so popular that many manufacturers can’t keep up with the demand. So what’s the hybrid hype all about? I decided to find out.
The first thing I discover is that driving a hybrid car would be a great way to get a date. On highways and city streets, heads turn and fingers point. When I pull up at a red light, a bunch of guys in a Monte Carlo holler, “Is that a hybrid? How much does it cost?”
Stopping at the bank, I return to find a group of men circling the car, faces pressed against the windows. Endless questions: “How does it work?” “What’s the mileage like?” “How often do you plug it in?” “What happens if you drain the battery?” The most handsome guy is engaging me in car-talk. “You can’t,” I reply. “The system automatically recharges when the battery runs low.”
Honestly, hybrids should come with a spokesperson or a social convenor. True, you can expect to pay a premium of $4,000 or higher when you buy most hybrids, but the savings on gas mean the extra cash will be paid off in no time. No wonder it’s hip to have a hybrid—not only the environment but your pocketbook love the ride.
by Petrina Gentile
Green Living Blogs
