I think the best way to sum up my feelings on hybrids would be to quote one of my favorite automotive columnists, Arthur St. Antoine of Motor Trend, “For many buyers, a hybrid car is nothing more than the four-wheeled equivalent of a yellow LiveStrong wristband-a conspicuous, self-satisfying, effort-free membership card into the “I Care” club”.

It is almost unheard of to criticize a hybrid vehicle. From all points of view a hybrid just seems to make sense, they are more fuel-efficient and are better for the planet. There are some tidbits, however, that should be taken into consideration.

First off, economically speaking, a hybrid just does not make a great deal of sense. The difference between a standard and hybrid version of a car is typically around the $10,000 range, yet the average amount of money saved on gas, depending on how often the car is driven, is in the upper-hundreds of dollars per year. Following the math, a hybrid would only begin saving someone money if it was consistently driven for about 15 years.

Now I know there’s the argument that a hybrid isn’t necessarily for saving money but is better for the environment. Its true hybrids do release less emissions than their standard counterparts, but the truth is many non-hybrid cars fare well when it comes to cutting down on pollution. The most iconic hybrid, the Toyota Prius, is held to the same Partial zero-emissions vehicles (PZEV) standards as cars like the Ford Focus, Chevrolet Cobalt, and Pontiac G5, all of which are far cheaper.

So if hybrids are unnecessarily expensive with minimal reductions in emissions, what is their appeal? I don’t mean to sound cynical, but the “going green” phenomenon can arguably be considered a fad, a passing craze. Pay close attention to any industrial advertisement and you’ll see what I mean. When even coal power plant companies are talking about working to be greener, it’s a sign of a powerful trend in action. Going green is popular and industries are constantly touting themselves as the greenest in their class. Why? Because it’s what’s popular. It’s what people are “in to”.

I don’t want to insinuate that every hybrid driver made the wrong decision in choosing a hybrid, but for many people a hybrid is little more than contemporary flash. They are the acceptable dream cars, an iconic vehicle that shows wealth, prosperity, and environmental consciousness. A small “HYBRID” plaque on your bumper is, for the most part, a vain display of your concern for the environment without actually caring.

Practical solutions to prevent global warming should be implemented. More should be done and more people should care about the fate of our fragile plant. I praise the efforts of auto industries for creating greener, cleaner technologies. My problem is with the consumers that buy hybrids for the wrong reasons. If people truly do want to make a viable difference to cut down on their carbon footprint, why not just ride a bike?