A member of the CalCars-News list came upon this story in his quarterly magazine of USAA, http://www.usaa.com, a non-profit integrated financial management association with over five million members/households formed in 1922 to provide services to current and former members of the US military and their families. It's an intro to hybrids and PHEVs and has a very useful table of other ways to save fuel with any car. You can see/download the two-page magazine story (with more readable graphics) at http://www.calcars.org/­usaa-mag-spring06.pdf.

USAA Magazine Spring 2006, pp. 40-41

BEHIND THE WHEEL: What a Ride: Hybrids can help save the environment and your pocketbook -- and now there are more options than ever.

If you think hybrid cars are a fad, think again. They've only been marketed to the public since 1997, but analysts predict more than 750,000 hybrids will be sold by 2012.

Sure, naysayers still gripe about sticker price, promised gas mileage, and that big, expensive battery that powers the gas-electric engine. But most industry experts say this new breed is here to stay, despite conflicting reports about its economic value.

Mixed Reviews Last summer Edmunds.com, an auto research site, reported the price, insurance, and other expenses of most hybrids offset any gas savings consumers might get during the first five years of ownership.

In contrast, the British Columbia Automobile Association issued an analysis that found minimal cost differences between hybrids and conventional cars over a five-year period.

Andy Frank, a University of California, Davis, engineering professor, knows one thing for sure: "Long term, the price of gasoline is not going down," he says. "As gas prices keep going up, the hybrid will become more popular and the demand for even more improvements will increase."

Automakers shift gears And that's precisely why Ford plans to offer hybrids in half the Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury lineup by 2010. Toyota is doubling its hybrid output this year while Honda continues to offer three hybrid models, including a newly redesigned Civic. In addition, General Motors Corp., BMW, and DaimlerChriysler formed an alliance last year to develop hybrid drive systems, as did Volkswagen, Porsche, and Audi.

All of that activity means hybrids will only get better -- and cheaper.

"I think hybrids are certainly a bridge to something else, whether it's fuel-cell technology or whatever," says John Davis, executive producer and host of PBS' "Motorweek."

Mr. Davis still thinks they're too pricey. Also, he says owners would have to drive seven to 10 years to realize a savings. "But there's more working here than just the financial payback," he says. "Consumers want to feel good about themselves, to do the right thing for the environment."

What's next At UC Davis, Mr. Frank predicts the next phase of hybrid cars will be plug-ins -- vehicles that can recharge their batteries from cheap, off-peak power overnight or home solar and wind power. Mr. Frank heads the university's Hybrid Electric Vehicle Center and has been experimenting with hybrids for 25 years.

"If you have a plug-in that goes 50-60 miles on electricity, it's almost a no-brainer," he says. "It's bound to happen."

Pull quote: Hybrids reduce greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, which some scientists believe is responsible for global warming.

Sidebar 1: No hybrid? Here's how to save gas. (This is a reformatting
of a table)
[The following items show:
1. Cents per gallon you can save 2. IF YOU 3. Why]

-21-71 cents: SLOW DOWN: For each 5 mph over 60, you pay an extra 15 cents a gallon. -15-101 cents: DRIVE CONSISTENTLY: Speeding, braking, and quick acceleration waste gas -13 cents: GET A TUNE-UP: Poorly tuned engines burn more gas -Up to 31 cents: REPLACE DIRTY AIR FILTERS Dirt, dust and bugs cause your engine to work harder -Up to 9 cents: PUMP YOUR TIRES: Underinflated tires cause more resistance and wear down more quickly -3 to 6 cents: USE THE RIGHT OIL GRADE: The manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil and one labeled "energy conserving" will reduce friction in the engine

Sidebar 2: Good news: Hybrids have tax benefits Consumers who buy hybrids this year may be eligible for a tax credit rather than a deduction. The amount depends on fuel economy, estimated fuel savings, and other factors. Last year, the government offered a $2,000 tax deduction for hybrids purchased by Dec. 31, 2005. See details at www.fueleconomy.gov.

Thanks to the always-willing Greg Wiley for transcription.