Hybrid vehicles have not been a disappointment to consumers, manufacturers or environmentalists, and the Sun Journal’s recent editorial implying otherwise is a disservice to your readers.

The Natural Resources Council of Maine surveyed Maine hybrid car owners last year, and 229 of the 230 respondents said they’d recommend a hybrid to their friends. Toyota Prius, rated No. 1 in Consumer Reports’ national satisfaction survey, was named the “most reliable family car” and “unbeatable for its combination of economy, acceleration, and interior room.” CR ranked the Honda Civic hybrid the second-most satisfying vehicle.

No wonder there are waiting lists for hybrid cars.

Manufacturers are embracing hybrids too: Ford, Chrysler, General Motors, Nissan, Honda, Toyota and others are ramping up hybrid production in a big way.

Hybrids are far kinder to our environment. For example, a 2005 Toyota Prius emits half as much global warming pollution as a 2005 Ford Taurus, which pours 15,000 pounds into our air each year.

Hybrid drivers save money. Some hybrids cost more up front, but they all cost less to drive. An owner could save more than $800 per year on gasoline driving the Toyota Prius instead of the Ford Taurus, and they cost about the same. With state and federal tax incentives, hybrid owners save even more.

While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s system for determining fuel economy is flawed, it creates a level playing field and shows that hybrids get the best mileage on the road.

Jennifer Andersen, clean energy outreach coordinator

Natural Resources Council of Maine, Augusta