When first introduced, hybrid electric technology was met with skepticism by many consumers regarding reliability and concerns about maintenance costs. Others saw hybrid electric vehicles as an environmentalist "badge," and not the average person's vehicle. Consumers would also cite the unusual shape of hybrids as a reason to not consider this type of vehicle. Still, there were many who were interested in hybrid electrics and were not discouraged or negatively swayed by any of these issues, but the cost premium was often more than they were willing to absorb.