I spotted a Honda Insight in Alcoa yesterday. Even though I could not see any hybrid label I knew by the look (different, weird, ugly, whatever) it had to be a hybrid. Honda stopped making the Insight in 2006.

This summer Honda is introducing the FCX Clarity hydrogen car to the U.S. Initially it will only be available in selected locations in California, i.e. Torrance, Santa Monica and Irvine.

Honda has to make fueling stations readily available. They are also working on home energy stations. Although, I suppose it could be a problem in the future to be dependent on natural gas.

Check out the reviews from The New York Times and USA Today.

What are US car companies doing? I still can't find a Ford Escape Hybrid and they seem to be even less available than they were a couple of months ago in the larger market areas, e.g. Atlanta, Orlando, etc.

No kidding. GM had a big, green, full page ad in the Sunday New York Times entitled "We need to talk." It touts their commitment to the environment and energy efficiency.

It says that because they have a large environmental footprint they have an obligation to change. They say the are one of the leading users of renewable energy, that they have reduced CO2 emissions at their facilities by 80% since 1990, that they have 14 facilities that send no waste from production operations to landfills.

So far so good.

But then they say "there is no greater proof of our commitment to change than the ongoing development of gas-friendly to gas-free fuel solutions by our Chevrolet brand" and that they are "making vehicles with better fuel efficiency than ever before."

Really?

We purchased our 2007 Prius on March 31st of 2007, and it rolled over 10,000 miles sometime during the last weekend of December on a trip to Memphis (trip avg. 52.1 MPG, 95% highway driving).

We have been getting a fairly consistent overall average of about 50 MPG, a little less in the summer (~48 MPG) with the AC running (or when the leadfoot Mrs. is driving) and a little more in mild weather. By my calculations, we have saved approx. $700 in fuel costs.

The only other cost has been the regular 5000 mile service, which was about $90. The only problem we've had (knock on wood) was a power door lock that jammed. Toyota replaced it under warranty at no charge.

So far we love it. Toyota sold 181,221 Prius hybrids in 2007, up 69% over 2006.