A new report predicts that the sale of hybrid vehicles will increase 20 percent between now and 2015. Some of the reasons: they’re better for the environment, governments and other groups will be promoting them more heavily in the coming years and they don’t use as much oil.

However the cost of a hybrid vehicle has traditionally been cost-prohibitive. But that could all be changing. The latest model Toyota Prius splashes across its homepage that it starts at $24,000. A 2012 Chevrolet Volt is priced at $31,465.

But there are other hybrid vehicles coming to the market, and competition breeds lower prices. The C-MAX Energi from Ford, a plug-in hybrid, is coming to market at a lower price than others in the same category, once you take into account the tax credits you’re eligible for when you purchase one. And a new Lincoln MKZ luxury hybrid vehicle is going to be sold at the same price as the gas guzzling version of the same model.

The cost of the batteries that the cars use has also been a typical gripe. But analysts predict that the price of that is going to go down as well. And then, of course, there’s the money you’ll be saving on gas, though you will have to make arrangements for charging the vehicle.

So will you be considering a hybrid in the near future?