Hybrid vehicle sales grew by almost 50 percent during the first 7 months of this year, according to a survey by R. L. Polk & Co. Can you say rising gas prices?

New hybrid vehicle registrations grew the most in the Midwest (news always travels slower there than at the coasts) at nearly 57 percent, while the South had the slowest growth in hybrid sales. Oklahoma (home to climate change denier Senator Inhofe) saw hybrid registrations rise 143 percent, while Hawaii saw hybrid registrations actually go down by 5 percent.

Toyota continues to own (78 percent) the hybrid market, with the Prius (88 percent increase) and Camry (215 percent) continuing to clean up. The Civic Hybrid and continues to do well, while the hybrid SUVs (Mercury Mariner and Saturn Green Vue) are barely on the radar. It is amazing that none of the Big 3 auto companies have directly taken on Toyota and Honda in the compact hybrid sector. Are they waving the white flag?

"While the overall U.S. vehicle market is down, hybrids are a bright spot in the automotive industry with this category projected to easily exceed 300,000 vehicles this year. At this point, hybrids account for more than two percent of the total U.S. vehicle market, which is supported by the regional growth we've seen," said Lonnie Miller, Polk director of industry analysis.

Yes, two percent may sound like a small number, but hybrids are driving much of the growth in new vehicle sales. The introduction of two-mode hybrids from GM and BMW, which have been optimized for city and highway driving, will accelerate the adoption of hybrids into the mainstream.