Press goes Ga-Ga over hybrid sales

Over the past few days media outlets around the nation are priasing the 83% increase in hybrid vehicle saled in recent years, but James Joyner points out that the real reason may not be that we've become environmentalists all of a sudden:

More people are buying hybrids because they've finally more-or-less caught up to regular cars as reliable transportation and offer several advantages like lower gasoline bills and the ability to drive in carpool lanes alone.

The fact that these cars are finally catering to the demands of American consumers other than the granola munching, sandal wearing hippy holdover crowd is the key.