Ok, it’s time to get real here people. The guy filling up his Hybrid vehicle does so at the same pump that I do. What makes it clean? Hell if I know. Sure, he might be burning less gas, which results in less waste hitting the atmosphere, but what if he isn’t?<br/><br/>The guy who isn’t is the one who spurred this rant. A big ole’ SUV with a hybrid logo on it (Lexus RX400h), and a <a href=”http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/exemptvehicleshov/images/figure3.jpg” target=”_blank”>Clean Fuel license plate</a>. Surely at a bazillion pounds, that thing can’t be <span style=”font-style: italic;”>that</span> efficient. I get to work, do a quick <a href=”http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/22549.shtml” target=”_blank”>googling</a> and sure enough, 25/27mpg of REGULAR GAS. Not “Clean Fuel,” but the same damn earth-eating fossil fuel that I pump in to my cars. Do I get a tax break? Nope. Do I get a free pass in HOV lanes? Nope. It doesn’t add up.<br/><br/>It <span style=”font-style: italic;”>really</span> doesn’t add up when you take a non-hybrid, but highly efficient vehicle in to account. Is it really fair that the guy in his <a href=”http://automobiles.honda.com/models/model_overview.asp?ModelName=Fit” target=”_blank”>Honda Fit</a>, <a href=”http://www.toyota.com/yaris/” target=”_blank”>Toyota Yaris</a> or <a href=”http://www.toyota.com/corolla/index.html” target=”_blank”>Corolla</a>, or <a href=”http://www.nissanusa.com/versa/” target=”_blank”>Nissan Versa</a> not only beat, but demolish the efficiency of the Lexus, but reap no rewards for doing so? Hell, even my fifteen year old civic that is all race-prepped up gets 40mpg on my way to events. Do I get any sort of break for nearly being 50% more efficient than the guy in his SUV? Nope.<br/><br/>It could be argued that the gentleman did the right thing since he could have just as easily bought a non-hybrid version of the car, but even that is flawed. Why does a 55 year old man need a luxury SUV? To tote his dogs around? The Lord knows his kids already have kids of their own… The above linked cars ALL come in wagon form, and they cost a fraction of the price. Does he need to carry large items from the home-improvement store once or twice a year? Renting a truck or buying a crappy old pickup would be much cheaper and he wouldn’t have to worry about damaging his leather seats!<br/><br/>Someone, please share with me why by adding a little electric motor to a vehicle, it is considered “clean.” I can’t wait until they start making Hummer hybrids that get 16/18…<br/>