With gasoline prices being astronomically out of control, consumers are turning to other forms of transportation. Most of society works away from the home so the need for a vehicle for commuting is a priority. Larger cars and SUV’s are being replaced with smaller, more economical vehicles and now the auto industry has the technology to go even further with saving consumers big money. The hybrid is reasonably priced when compared to other vehicles. They combine the best features of the internal combustion engine with an electric motor and can significantly improve fuel economy without sacrificing performance or driving range. Hybrids are the ultimate alternative fuel vehicles because their energy comes from the source fuels used to generate electricity. Hybrids are primarily propelled by an internal combustion engine, just like conventional vehicles. However, they also convert energy normally wasted during coasting and braking into electricity, which is stored in a battery until needed by the electric motor. The electric motor is used to assist the engine when accelerating or hill climbing and in low-speed driving conditions where internal combustion engines are least efficient. Some hybrids automatically shut off the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop and restart it when the accelerator is pressed. This prevents wasted energy from idling. Unlike all electric vehicles, some hybrids on the market do not need to be plugged into an external source of electricity to be recharged. There are now many types of hybrids available, including SUV’s.