[.38sw]

From what I understand, hybrids are best in stop and go traffic, where the electric engine kicks in while stopped, then is recharged by the gasoline engine while driving. I've heard that if you do most of your driving on the freeway, you are using the gasline engine far more, and your gasoline savings are minimal. Yes? No?

[novacation]

Makes sense.But alot of cars spend time stuck in traffic, so I would have to say they are good idea, if they weren't so small.I'm waiting for the Hummer Hybrid.

[luckystarmom]

We have one. My husband drives 40 miles each way to work. About 30 miles is on the highway. He gets about 55-60 mpg for his Prius.

The battery recharges whenever you put on the break.

If you drive under 20 mph than you don't even need the gas engine. However, most people drive over 20 mph.

[Publius6961]

From what I understand, hybrids are best in stop and go traffic, where the electric engine kicks in while stopped, then is recharged by the gasoline engine while driving. I've heard that if you do most of your driving on the freeway, you are using the gasline engine far more, and your gasoline savings are minimal. Yes? No?

Yes and no.

When, after 17 years, I had to replace my last bought-new car, I said what the hell. I commute in the Sacramento valley, no hills to speak of and the only other serious factor is wind.
I have had the Toyota Prius hybrid a bit over 5 months now and the improvement in efficiency is about 1/3 for my commute 37 miles each way, from 30 MPG (2-seater) to 40 MPG (5-seater).

But...

I have noticed that on a round trip to San Francisco, going over a major coastal range and a few minor ones, that the efficiency increases to about 46 MPG. Same thing happened on a trip to Lake Tahoe.
All were at normal highway speeds, albeit the "mountain" trips of necessity had much more time at reduced speeds. But, the "mountain" trips also involved long periods of climbs and downhills.

I have no explanation for it, Yet.
And yes, within town the efficiency also seems to improve, but I don't do enough of that type of driving to have a good feel for the improvement.