Fuel prices are reaching all-time highs and drivers are infuriated. Are hybrid cars the answer to this economic crisis?

(PRWEB) September 23, 2005 -- "Consumers are buying hybrids," reports NBC news correspondent, Anne Thompson. "Some because of high gasoline prices, others because gas/electric vehicles are kinder to the environment. Either way, Americans are getting into hybrid vehicles."

With gasoline prices setting all-time records and rapidly approaching $3 gallon in many US cities, motorists are outraged and looking for some relief. Though reluctant to embrace hybrid cars because of their higher price and relative short time on the market, these new breed of autos may be the best solution to the surging gasoline prices dilemma.

However, are they all they are proposed to be? Are they getting better mileage than typical cars? How do they work and do they need to be recharged? These and many other questions are still on the minds of those who are hesitant to take the plunge and venture into territory unknown.

Andy Grant and Taylor Reid, authors of the eBook, All About Hybrid cars: Maximum Performance/Minimum Impact, saw the compelling need for education on gas/electric vehicles, so they wrote the book and launched the companion Website: http://www.AllAboutHybridCars.com.

"We ran a study and saw there was a tremendous demand for information on hybrids, but very little out there to educate buyers," said Reid, an Internet marketing consultant. So she partnered with Grant, a professional writer and award-winning author. "I had to do a lot of research, because there was no one place that had all the facts," Grant said. "We wanted to provide clear, current information that anyone who was curious about hybrid powered vehicles could understand."

In their eBook, they explain that increased fuel conservation is one of the primary benefits of purchasing a hybrid powered vehicle. With continually escalating gas prices, gas/electric cars seem like a sure antidote. "Along with better mileage and lower fuel costs comes another savings in the form of tax rebates," Reid said.

The new federal energy bill recently signed into law by President Bush encourages the use of fuel-efficient, low-emission autos and offers substantial tax breaks. A report by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Conservation indicates that the bill states that high-resourcefulness cars, either hybrid or diesel, will receive credits on a sliding scale based on effectiveness; the maximum credit for light-duty cars is expected to be about $3,400 for Prius-level performance.

"We put a calculator on our Website," said Grant, "so potential hybrid car owners could estimate the total savings if they bought an [hybrid-electric car] HEV, since the automobile costs more, but the savings in gas is substantial." The calculator and a comparison chart of all the current gas/electric vehicles can be found at http://www.allabouthybridcars.com/comparison-chart.htm.

"I don't think there's any other chart like this available," Reid said. "Any time a new hybrid comes on the market, we add it to the mix. This way, Website visitors can quickly compare one model to the other."

Although the initial cost of buying a hybrid car over a traditional one is higher, the long-term savings will depend on how long the consumer keeps the auto and what kind of actual mileage is achieved.

Phil Reed, consumer advice editor at Edmunds.com suggests, "Anyone shopping for a automobile now should make the question of fuel economy a big issue, because the availability of oil in the future is uncertain. Don't buy a vehicle thinking it's acceptable today; one day it could be your hedge against high fuel costs."

For an introduction to the basic facts about gas/electric vehicles, Reid and Grant offer the free report: "7 Critical Facts Everyone Should Know Before Buying a Gas/electric car." To order the report, go to: http://www.AllAboutHybridCars.com/eBook.htm.