is that they're too expensive to produce. I've read that Honda is losing thousands of dollars on every Insight they sell. I doubt if Toyota is able to make them any cheaper than Honda.

Several automakers have announced plans to put hybrid technology in ordinary vehicles. I'm pretty sure I read tha Ford plans on selling a hybrid powered SUV in 2004 or 2005. Of course, we've subsidized their R&D by over a billion dollars.

Fuel cells can work but the key is the fuel source. Pure hydrogen is great except there isn't an infrastructure to produce it in large quantities, distribute it all over the country, and sell it to customers.

Ballard Corporation has a better idea, IMO. They've developed fuel cells with catalysts that can split the hydrogen from fuels like gasoline, natural gas, or an alcohol. It isn't a pure solution but could be a good transitional strategy until a true hydrogen infrastructure can be established. Anyone who thinks we can go straight to widespread use of hydrogen fuel obviously hasn't thought out the infrastructure issue. That alone will cost tens (perhaps hundreds) of billions and take years to establish.