Conservationists are spruiking costly green car technology as a solution to soaring oil prices with petrol tipped to reach $8 a litre by 2018.
The warnings come from a CSIRO report showing that motorists will pay up to $220 a week extra for fuel, as demand outstrips supply.
Brad Shone from Alternative Technologies Australia said with the right investment ordinary Australians would be able to afford hybrid and electronic cars.
"The price of these vehicles... will come down over time, if we put some money into it now," he said.