A new study from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) asked gasoline-electric hybrid owners and non-hybrid owners their thoughts on the increasingly popular vehicle.

In one of the key findings from the study, 31 percent of current non-hybrid owners intend to buy a hybrid as their next vehicle. Also, 33 percent of current hybrid users said the number one reason they purchased the car was the environmental impact. Eighty-three percent of these current users said they would buy a hybrid as their next vehicle as well.

A very small percentage of hybrid users pointed out hybrid-specific issues such as battery problems. Seventeen percent of those polled said they wouldn't purchase another hybrid, but plan on buying a battery-electric vehicle.

The most popular reason for not buying a hybrid is the initial cost that comes along with the vehicle. The study polled 1,002 hybrid owners and 1,038 non-hybrid car owners.