According to nationwide vehicle registration data compiled by hybridcars.com, U.S. hybrid sales grew by 38 percent in 2007 to 350,000 units, compared with 250,000 units sold in 2006. Toyota dominated other car companies in 2007 with sales of the Prius and Camry Hybrid. Gill Anderson, who is a product trainer at Capitol Toyota, has noticed the increasing sales of hybrids.

"They have less maintenance than your typical gas car and that saves you money.  You then couple that with the kind of mileage numbers that these cars are putting up and it just makes a lot of sense to people."

Some federal and state tax credits are also given as an incentive to green car buyers in hopes of stimulating this still relatively new technology.
General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler are following suit with some green vehicle options of their own. All three are adapting bio-based fuels and new hybrid technology to not only their car line-ups, but also to trucks and truck-based vehicles.

According to GM Vice Chairman of Global Product Development Bob Lutz, these hybrids have been in development for the past three to four years.
"At the time gas was at about $1.50 to $1.80 a gallon, and Americans still demanded predominately large vehicles like sport utilities and pick-up trucks. And we decided, why produce a small car hybrid which is counter to American tastes and desires? If you're going to save 30 to 40 percent in fuel, why not start at the high end with vehicles that use a lot of fuel?"

Green Car Journal presented Chevrolet the "Green Car of the Year Award" at last year's L.A. Auto Show for their 08 Tahoe Hybrid.

What if you want to go fast with a hybrid?  

Students and engineers at Philadelphia's School for Automotive and Mechanical Engineering took that idea and ran with it. What they came up with was the K1 Attack Hybrid. The bio-fuel/electric hybrid can go from 0-60 mph in under four seconds and get 50 miles per gallon while doing it. At this time there are no plans to actually produce the vehicle.

Grassroots movements in this country have started to make some pre-existing hybrids even more efficient. Felix Kramer, founder of calcars.org, is one of the people who has helped usher in newfound efficiency in hybrid technology. He promotes plug-in hybrids, which are retrofitted Toyota Priuses that he claims get 100-plus miles per gallon.

"A plug-in hybrid takes that idea [hybrid technology] and takes it to the logical conclusion. We add a larger battery, and we enable that battery to be fueled by not only gasoline going down hills, but by plugging it in. And you just use a regular 120-volt plug.  It displaces gasoline with electricity, and that's the big winner."

Other small carmakers are claiming even higher numbers than the plug-in hybrid Prius.  The makers of the Aptera claim their three-wheeled vehicle can get up to 300 miles per gallon.

"What we've done is change the way cars are thought of and designed," Aptera co-founder and CEO Steve Fambro said. "This vehicle is different. As different as it looks, as beautiful as it looks, [it] represents really the pinnacle of efficiency and safety. It's something that defines us and helps us launch the brand."
Electric vehicles are nothing new, but recent battery developments are making them a more viable option for short-range commuters.  

"The biggest problem with an electric vehicle is the range," Electric Wheels Inc. owner Larry Dye said.  "Our Zap Xebra, with the lead acid batteries, has a range of about 20 to 25 miles if you know how to drive it right. When we add the optional lithium iron phosphate batteries, we can get almost double that."

According to Dye, in most two-car homes, the second vehicle usually gets driven less than 15 miles round trip.

"With an electric car, the consumer can offset the price of gas for their other gas-powered vehicle by driving electric."