Well I suppose if one is looking for the silver lining in the cloud of skyrocketing fuel prices, a new study suggesting consumers are becoming more fuel efficient may be a small comfort.

Edmunds.com, an industry tracking service, found that as gas prices have gone up, the number of gas-guzzling SUVs and pickup trucks on the road has gone down, although the decline is also partially blamed on the fledgling credit and housing markets in the U.S. Another survey conducted by the Civil Society Institute found that if the unthinkable should happen and the cost of gas reaches $4 per gallon this year, drivers would reduce holiday travel and personal spending. With the threat of $4 for a gallon of fuel hanging over Americans' heads, the Edmunds study found that consumers would be five times more likely to consider switiching to a hybrid vehicle.

As positive as it is to see consumers considering the idea of driving hybrids, is it a good thing that the motivation is simply financial strain rather than environmental concern?

» Reuters Environment