If you’re keeping close tabs on what’s happening as the auto industry continues to flirt with greener cars and suv’s, you’re likely hearing about several upcoming vehicles that might someday challenge hybrids for fuel efficient supremacy.  Only a couple of months ago, Congress passed the 35 MPG Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard to require car manufacturers to dramatically improve new vehicle fuel efficiencies by 2020.  Judging by the concept cars and suvs we’re seeing at the most recent auto shows, it’s officially “Game On”.

Today’s Hybrid Competitors

There are quite a few vehicles on the market in 2008 that already beat the pants off some hybrids, at least in terms of how many miles they can be driven on a gallon of gas.  While the Prius and hybrid Honda Civic are the current gas saving leaders (40-50 mpg), some non-hybrids aren’t far behind, including the Smart Fortwo (33 city/41 hwy), Toyota Yaris (29/36), Honda Fit (28/34), and Toyota Corolla (28/37).  Maybe the most impressive fact is that several new suv hybrids are able to do better than some of the compact and subcompacts (i.e. the hybrid Escape at 34/30).

Tomorrow’s Potential Contenders

On the horizon there are a number of vehicles that might someday compete with hybrids in terms of reducing our dependence on oil and gasoline.  Hardly a day passes when we don’t hear the buzz about flexible fuel vehicles (aka flex fuels or FFV’s), hydrogen vehicles (here), fuel cell vehicles (think Honda’s FCX), clean green diesels, compressed air cars (aptly named), plug-in or electric cars (think Chevy Volt), and several others.  The question is - will any of these hybrid alternatives ever be parked in your garage or mine?  With crude now heading over the $100/barrel mark, I hope the answer is yes!