by 
The Curious Bag
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While there is no question at this point that hybrid cars can offer better fuel economy in city driving, the long-term benefits and environmental impact of hybrid cars versus equivalent gas engine cars are still up in the air.
Hybrid and Gas
A hybrid car combines a gasoline engine with a supplementary electric motor that propels the car at low speeds.
Cost
As of 2010, hybrid-equipped vehicles cost between $2,000 and $8,000 more than a non-hybrid engine car of the same make and model.
Fuel Economy
Hybrid engines are most efficient in stop-and-go city driving, which can improve fuel mileage as much as 50 percent over a standard model. Highway mileage is only slightly increased, as the gas engine does most of the work while on cruise control.
Performance
Since the car's electric motor assists in acceleration, hybrid cars generally have about the same performance as standard cars with larger gasoline engines.
Carbon Footprint
Because of the energy used during the manufacture of their batteries and electric motor, the environmental impact of a Toyota Prius over its lifetime isn't much less than a Hummer H2's, according to Autotropolis.
Source:
TheGoodHuman.com: Honda Civic Hybrid vs. Civic EX
Autotropolis.com: Hybrid Emissions Showdown
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