Where is my American-made hybrid?
Chevy's foreign oil dependency fighter?Many SUV fans believe that hybrid SUVs are more important than hybrid cars. These SUV advocates argue that converting the most inefficient vehicles into hybrids results in the greatest fuel savings.
While I see the logic in this belief, I don't agree. Yes, hybrid SUVs are extremely important, but they are not more important than smaller hybrid cars.
For instance, if I'm single, and I want to have the greatest impact on foreign oil dependency, it is far better to buy a Toyota Prius or a Civic hybrid, rather than a Tahoe hybrid.
--> Finish: Where is my American-made hybrid?
Labels: CAFE, Chevy Volt electric vehicle concept, Foreign Oil Dependency, FT-HS hybrid, honda civic hybrid, hybrid suvs, Hybrid Vehicles, tahoe hybrid, toyota prius
posted by Dahcredyns at
11:10 AM
5 Comments:
Complete Story
Many SUV fans believe that hybrid SUVs are more important than hybrid cars. These SUV advocates argue that converting the most inefficient vehicles into hybrids results in the greatest fuel savings.
While I see the logic in this belief, I don't agree. Yes, hybrid SUVs are extremely important, but they are not more important than smaller hybrid cars.
For instance, if I'm single, and I want to have the greatest impact on foreign oil dependency, it is far better to buy a Toyota Prius or a Civic hybrid, rather than a Tahoe hybrid.
Additionally, too many large SUV drivers don't have a large family, or even a family for that matter, nor do they tow a boat or a camper. For these SUV drivers, downsizing to a smaller SUV or crossover vehicle - let alone a car - would also have a huge impact on American fuel economy - without hybrid technology.
Ultimately, it comes down to efficiency, and you can never be too efficient, can you?
Say I'm wasting $2.00 dollars every day through inefficiency, and I cut that waste in half by being more efficient. I just saved $1.00 every day. On the other hand, say you've been wasting $10.00 every day and you also cut your waste in half utilizing the same efficiency plan, saving $5.00 every day.
Even though your savings are greater, you are still wasting more money.
It's all about kaizen
Toyota's entire business philosophy is built around this principle of efficiency, or kaizen - though I would argue Toyota has lost some sense of this philosophy. Case in point, the Tundra.
Stunningly, while Toyota's hybrid section at the LA Auto Show drew large, constant crowds, and while the FT-HS hybrid concept wowed the NAIAS crowds, despite the launch of GM's Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid, Toyota seemed far more interested in showing off its new line of inefficient, large, gas-guzzling trucks.
Suddenly, Toyota is in danger of becoming too American and losing sight of kaizen.
Does fuel efficiency and some arbitrary CAFE number really matter?
Does trying to end foreign oil dependency matter? If so, then you have to have some kind of benchmark.
If every American drives a 35 mpg hybrid SUV by 2020, America will be significantly more dependent upon foreign oil than today, SIGNIFICANTLY more dependent - even though SUVs would have become significantly more fuel efficient.
If foreign oil dependency is dangerous today, imagine 10 years from now when America is even more dependent upon foreign oil.
Besides isn't it time to accept the fact that oil is becoming today's whale blubber?
Ultimately, the world's energy consumption is rapidly, almost exponentially, growing. Fossil fuels cannot keep pace, and the leaders of next generation technologies stand to profit handsomely from moving beyond oil and other fossil fuels.
Consequently, even though I agree that hybrid SUVs are better than conventional SUVs - I'll even call them a good step forward - they are not better than hybrid cars.
My American-made hybrid
Yet, hybrid SUVs are going to be the only American-made full hybrids for some time. This needs to change.
For those whom really need a large SUV, I'm happy that GM and Chrysler are going to offer a dual mode hybrid option. Still, what about those of us whom want to do more? Those of us trying to be as efficient as possible today?
Are we just green wackos that Detroit should ignore? Are we simply crazy because we think ending foreign oil dependency is the greatest issue facing America?
Sorry for standing up for national security.
Thus, I have to ask, GM for example, if you are going to sell a dual mode Tahoe hybrid, why not a Malibu dual mode hybrid at the same time? That's my kind of American-made hybrid, and I believe that it's the kind of American-made hybrid that could convert many Americans into purchasing an American-made vehicle.
Even better would be an American hybrid-only brand. Call it the Freedom Hybrid - a real American revolution.
If you build them, they will come.
While I agree that more car companies should add hybrid cars to their lineup, I would have to agree with the SUV fans.
There is a divide, people who drive small cars, and the people who drive trucks and SUVs. While its great if people switch from their gas guzzling SUV down to a small Prius-sized hybrid (also becoming the biggest savers on gas money) there are plenty of people who drive the vehicle they do for their various reasons. EVEN IF someone doesn't have a family to tote around in their SUV, that may the vehicle of their choice. I personally drive a truck. I also own a 1966 Rambler. Both aren't great on gas, I recognize this point. But there are a number of factors that keep me from buying a hybrid --all of them personal reasons.
So someone may drive an SUV for status, the height it provides (which is refreshing over a small vehicle), the hauling capabilities (whether its friends to the game or lumber from Lowes), or even sometimes for feeling "safer." These people will always want to drive an SUV for those reasons. So I wholeheartedly praise Chevy for trying to boost the fuel economy on its biggest selling produts.
Brian-
I fully understand that some need large vehicles and I appreciate GM's efforts to enable these consumers to buy a more fuel efficient vehicle. I'm simply arguing that its not enough. GM needs to offer small hybrids as well.
I'm not aware of one single mass-produced vehicle made by the American Big 3 that - if all Americans drove them - provide the kind of fuel efficiency that could end foreign oil dependency.
To me, that's a huge problem. More important, it underscores the absolute need for more fuel efficient vehicles of all sizes.
If America wants to end foreign oil dependency, we can't do this fast enough.
Just as there are many SUV fans, there are many car fans, and Detroit has ignored these consumers, to a large extent, for decades.
For American automakers to be more successful in the U.S. market - via increased marketshare - hybrid cars, not SUVs, I believe, are more important.
Personally, and I'm not yet a hybrid owner, it would seem to make more sense to me that if the auto manufacturing companies really wanted to sell hybrid vehicles, then they shouldn't bother to offer a specific vehicle in both options, i.e. if you're going to make Tahoe a hybrid, make it available ONLY in hybrid rather than giving people the choice. If they truly want a Tahoe, they'll buy the hybrid. I am willing to sacrifice storage for gas mileage (I haul a lot of stuff) and purchase a car rather than an SUV, but I'd also rather it be completely US rather than have a foreign name. I rode in a Prius, I found it amazing, but IN MY FAMILY, if I were to even consider purchasing a foreign vehicle, ANY foreign vehicle, I'd probably be disowned, divorced and shot dead.
I did buy a foreign car and I was partially disowned and almost shot, so I understand the sentiment. At the time, my only American option was a Ford Escape hybrid, which just didn't meet my needs.
In the next few years, there will be a significant uptick in American hybrid production, so that's a good thing. Unfortunately, most won't be unique hybrid models. That might be OK in the long run, but in the short term, I absolutely agree with you, US automakers need to focus on more hybrid-only models.
And, they need to do it soon, I have some family bridges that need mending and an American hybrid would be my best chance!
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