http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hybrid23-2008may23,0,5437081.story



Although hybrid cars account for only about 3% of U.S. car sales, their share is growing rapidly. Sales of hybrid cars surged 25% during the first four months of this year compared with the same period last year. And the pace accelerated last month, when sales jumped 58%. That outpaced the overall April sales gain of 18% for small fuel-efficient cars and comes as total new-vehicle sales are slumping.

The reason is simple. The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gas topped $4 a gallon in California for the first time Thursday, according to AAA. That’s up 16% from a year earlier, and many analysts expect pump prices to go higher as the summer driving season kicks off over the Memorial Day weekend.