On European roads, most petrol-hybrids reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions (per mile) by around 25% compared to an equivalent petrol car. Astounding as these figures are, the two-seater Honda Insight goes one better achieving CO2 emissions of 80g/km - with lifecycle carbon emissions around half of those for the average conventional petrol car.

All regulated emissions are significantly reduced for a petrol-hybrid passenger car as compared to a conventional petrol vehicle. These include reductions in carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and NOx of up to 90%.

Unlike other green cars, the future of hybrids is not threatened by the improving fuel and emissions performance of conventional cars. This is because a hybridized engine will always outperform its non-hybrid equivalent. The second reason, and the most telling, is that all conventional engines may have to be hybridized if they are to conform to future emission standards. In other words, the future conventional and hybrid car may be one and the same.