Australia on the hybrid road

They are hybrids and the best-known is the Toyota Prius, though there is a range of Lexus hybrids up to the flagship LS600hL.

And Honda has the Civic hybrid.

The number of hybrids will increase dramatically in coming years.

GM Holden has already promised to join the rush with a petrol-electric version of the Captiva four-wheel-drive wagon.

Toyota is working hard to make a Camry hybrid at Altona, though the sums do not make a workable business case yet.

Toyota is also working on a born-again Supra hybrid, to be displayed as a concept car at the Melbourne Motor Show this month.

Honda is close to putting a CR-Z sports hybrid on the road.

Plenty of other companies will have similar machines in coming years.

Mercedes-Benz will have its first hybrid when it launches its next S-Class flagship.

Even Hyundai has plans for petrol-electric power.

The GMC Denali XT concept, unveiled at last month's Chicago Motor Show, uses the same mechanical package developed for the VE Commodore.

This means the Holden could pick up the hybrid package used in the show car.