Alternatively fueled vehicles are becoming more common among roads all over the world. The year 2000 brought to the United States hybrid-electric vehicles from two major producers. Toyota's small sedan - the Prius, and the Honda Insight- a Civicesque hatchback style vehicle. Though the Prius gets only slightly better mileage than its gasoline counterpart, the Echo, they both offer increased efficiency. Both of these models have been very successful in a wide range of markets; this represents a benchmark change in the way of thinking of American vehicle producers, as well as consumers.

Many other companies are following suit, and bringing hybrid and purely electric vehicles to the market. Other companies and organizations are springing up in the wake of this new interest, as several areas for research and development.