Dear Conscientious:
Kudos to you for using transit for your commute and looking at other ways you can reduce your impact on the environment. More and more consumers just like you are considering the switch to hybrid vehicles for personal use. Hybrid vehicles not only lower your overall fuel costs because of their fuel efficiency, they also are among the cleanest running vehicles on the market. With the price of gas on the rise, now is a great time to consider trading that gas-guzzling behemoth for a fuel-efficient vehicle.

You are probably already familiar with the Honda Civic Hybrid and Honda Insight as well as the Toyota Prius. The 2005 model year will add a couple new hybrids to the mix. Honda will be releasing the Accord Hybrid which boasts a V-6 engine and 255 horsepower, while Ford will debut the new Escape hybrid which, at 36 mpg in the city, will be the low emissions leader of the SUV class.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a variety of resources to help you in your vehicle search. The agency recently released its 2005 Fuel Economy Guide which provides detailed fuel economy information on vehicles going back to 1978. The EPA’s web site www.fueleconomy.gov includes a link to this guide as well as information on auto emissions and safety data for 2005 model year vehicles. A Green Vehicle Guide is also available at www.epa.gov/greenvehicles, providing consumers with a resource to help them identify those vehicles that are both the cleanest running and most fuel efficient while meeting their overall private transportation needs.
HOV