NBC25 NEWS - Pain at the pump has people looking for cheaper ways to get around - and that has car makers boosting hybrid production.

Once a luxury for environmentalists with a deep pocket, hybrids are now becoming more affordable.

Hybrids aren’t just for the ultra-green any more.  They're for anyone looking to stretch a budget.

"I liked it in the beginning because of the gas mileage, and we take long trips in the summertime, so thought that might help," says Christina Gaston, a hybrid owner.

There are currently less than twenty hybrid models on the market, but sales are soaring.

"The big thing is the gas electric engine combination.  It does very well.  The fuel economy is averaging 55 miles to the gallon, which is a big selling motivation for dealers and a good buying tool for customers," says Moses Reyna, a hybrid salesperson.

With gas prices going up and hybrid prices coming down, the math is pretty easy to figure out.

Reyna adds, "The price range that the Prius is in definitely appeals to most every typical family household."

There's no doubt hybrids are now being targeted at mainstream America.

This year Saturn introduced a hybrid SUV that was priced in the low $20,000s.

Eight years ago only 9,000 hybrids were sold in this country.

Last year that number jumped to more than a quarter of a million.

Carmakers say the demand for hybrids will grow exponentially over the next decade.

The hybrid market isn't just expanding to more affordable models.  More and more high-end luxury vehicles also have hybrid versions.