Hybrid Hype

Hybrids at the Frankfurt Auto show

"Record fuel costs pushed hybrid cars to center stage at the world's biggest car show this week but automakers argued over whether the rising popularity of petrol-electric vehicles was just the result of marketing hype.

Long sniffed at as a fad by European carmakers enamoured of modern diesel motors that can be just as fuel efficient, hybrids are on the ascendancy as even erstwhile skeptics fall into line and rush to offer products with an environmental halo. "

9/15/05 Add. - More coverage at Forbes.