My parents are not your typical candidates for owning a hybrid car. They’ve been loyal owners of gas-guzzling Volvos for at least 20 years, replacing one trusty, sensible Volvo with another about once a decade. So it was quite a pleasant surprise when they announced 8 months ago that they were going to turn in their 14 year old Volvo station wagon for a Prius.

And 8 months later they’re considering replacing their other Volvo for a Prius, too.

My mom initially considered buying a Prius because her place of work had moved an extra 20 minutes away and she figured that with the extra commute, a more fuel efficient car would make sense. My dad wasn’t having it. It took some convincing to get him to change his old Volvo ways, but once he saw that the Prius was not only a fuel efficient car but a car with some “oomph” (his term, not mine) they decided to check it out.

The small (yet surprisingly roomy), powerful (yet quiet), and fuel efficient Prius prevailed. Now the two of them always use the Prius as their vehicle of choice.

Driving a hybrid car is definitely better for the environment than a regular car, but my parents’ reasons for purchasing a Prius weren’t entirely green.

The gas prices in Israel (which are currently around $9 a gallon) and a tax benefit for buying a hybrid gave them that extra push. The tax on new automobiles is a whopping 100% percent in Israel (yeah, that’s right) and if you’re considering buying a new car, whatever tax benefit you can get helps. And as for the fuel efficiency? Well, like my mother says, she fills the car up with gas around once every two weeks – and even then, it’s only because she feels sorry for the poor little Prius. Not because it really needs it.

Maybe it’s only because I’m more aware of them now than I was before, but I do see more and more hybrid cars on the streets. Between hybrids, electric cars, and public transportation, I hope to keep seeing fewer and fewer gas guzzlers out there.

See also:: Hybrid Cab Fleet Taking Over Tel Aviv? and The Electric Car Hype Intensifies