vehicles like the Nissan Leaf , which can costs up to $10,000 more than a comparable gas-powered vehicle, and requires another $1,000 for the charging technology at home or work.

A typical commuter would see a payback in gas savings within two years, according to U.S. Department of Energy gas pricing and consumption data. Consumers now have dozens of hybrid vehicle options from which to choose, with almost every carmaker, from luxury marquees Porsche andto mass market makers Ford Motor and Honda , making at least one "full" hybrid.These new models include plug-in electric vehicles with gas engines to extend their range, like GM's Chevy Volt , or non-plug-in versions that have both electric and gas-powered motors, like the Toyota Prius .But analysts say the real market penetration for hybrid technology will be in vehicles whose owners may think they're buying a fossil fuel-powered engine.

Pike's Gartner says SSVs are unlikely to cannibalize the existing hybrid market, but he adds that these micro-hybrids will instead do battle with smaller, more fuel-efficient gas-powered vehicles."They'll most directly face competition from smaller compact vehicles that can offer similar fuel efficiency by reductions in weight and in other technologies" like fuel injection and aerodynamic improvements, he says.

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