Market and regulatory forces are exerting pressure on higher gas prices, but whether or not the coming hikes will turn new car buyers to green autos still remains to be seen. With drillers curtailing new wells, and President-elect Barack Obama’s pick for energy secretary, Dr. Steven Chu, mouthing off about raising fossil-fuel surcharges, the weakness of the overall economy could deter consumers from paying the green-car premium at their local dealerships.

It’s the end of an era in Detroit… At Wednesday’s General Motors (GM) shareholders meeting, the company threw its business strategy into reverse gear. GM will chuck its heavy dependence on the truck, and go green instead…giving its alternative hybrid-electric car the go-ahead.