Gas prices are rising, so it's a good thing some vehicles are secretly hybrids

With gas prices gas prices passing $5 a gallon in many places, drivers may wish they had a hybrid vehicle. In fact, many owners of newer vehicle could already be driving hybrids and not even know it. Hybrid technology is finding its way into all sorts of vehicles that aren't advertised as hybrids.

For automakers, that's often part of the point.

Electric vehicle sales continue to grow every year, and more companies announce plans to ditch gasoline engines altogether. But high fuel costs and the relatively high prices of fully electric car have meant that hybrids can still help drivers save money. And customers are purchasing hybrids in high numbers, even if they don't always recognize they're buying a hybrid.