Toyota on Monday reported that over 100 million gallons of gasoline have been saved by hybrid vehicles in the United States since the first Toyota Prius went on sale in 2000. The company has a billboard, located beside the 405 Freeway in El Segundo, Calif., that forward every four seconds to estimate the number of gallons of gas saved (worldwide sales of Toyota hybrids recently topped 500,000). It’s clear hybrids burn less gas — do they really save money? According to Kiplinger’s, the answer is no. But for some people, the feel-good factor is, if not priceless, at least worth a few grand. “people buy a car for the emotional component, and they buy it for the bundle of features it offers them,” says Bradley Berman of HybridCars.com. Tax incentives may also help make the math more friendly. If you buy a hybrid in 2005, you can claim a $2,000 one-time deduction on your tax return. If you buy a hybrid in 2006, you’re eligible for a tax credit based. However, some lobbyists are pushing for increased tax on hybrid vehicles to support the highway infrastructure.
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