Buick eAssist

Buick eAssist GM Buick

Hybrids are expensive, which is why they still represent less than 3 percent of new cars sold. Buick helped remove that barrier by pricing the 2012 LaCrosse with e-Assist at the same level as the conventional V6-powered version. Primarily, e-Assist takes advantage of the dropping cost of lithium-ion batteries; the car’s tiny 0.5-kilowatt-hour battery is affordable but delivers a 25 percent boost in highway mileage, pushing this full-size sedan to 36 mpg. And instead of adding a large electric motor and complicated transmission to match, Buick opted for a cheaper, simpler option, replacing the alternator with a small electric motor. $29,960