For those of you who are considering purchasing a Prius or comparable hybrid, I applaud your decision. And I'd like to thank those of you who have written 'guides' forcing the economics behind buying and driving a hybrid. The simple math included in your postings is accurate and helpful, however some information is in error, and there's some serious points that have been left out.

Claiming Hybrids are not good for the environment because they use batteries is simply an unfounded leap of logic. What do you think is under the hood of 100% of existing vehicles currently in operation? You guessed it - batteries. And where do most of these batteries end up? In recycling facilities because, among other reasons, the lead used in the battery is a valuable metal that is 100% recyclable. This is why Auto Stores will happily give you some cash to trade in your old battery when purchasing a new one, and many states require dealerships to accept old batteries.

But here's where Hybrid's are better for the environment, and if you're running the math on owning a Hybrid, you won't want to leave these numbers out: Hybrids emit up to 45% less carbon dioxide than any other car in it's weight class, including cars which get comparable MPG such as the Toyota Yaris and Echo. While it's true this isn't a number that puts green directly in your wallet, it is a number that might keep some green in your front yard. How much is that worth?

And it seems to me the 'latest craze' is breathing increasingly polluted air and watching the atmosphere heat up like a preacher on Sunday Morning and then simply ignoring these problems. This is the point behind Hybrids, while they may not pencil out as the ultimate saving grace from high gas prices, they do go a long way to help stem the results of burning all this gas out of your tailpipe.