American Dream

High fuel prices created a buzz around buying hybrid vehicles, but as consumers do the math, the cars are becoming a tougher sell. Auto makers are seeing some cracks in consumer demand as more people question hybrids' financial payback. If the auto industry would instead market the decline in pollution, rather than gas efficiency, they might be able to maintain a steady demand for the hybrids. Due to a simple device designed to insure that the catalytic converter runs at its optimal temperature at all times, hybrids cause less than 10 percent as much pollution as do regular cars.