GM hybrid trucks in 2008?

Trucks are one of the most important automobile categories in the U.S., and it seems shocking that a hybrid version of a truck or two has yet to hit the U.S. market.

That will surely change before the end of 2008.

In the past, Toyota has acknowledged that a Toyota Tundra hybrid is a possibility. It might be more of a possibility now that GM is entering the hybrid truck space.

GM has confirmed that the Chevy Silverado and the GMC Sierra pickup trucks will be offered with dual-mode hybrid powertrains in late 2008. Some of these hybrid trucks, or all of them, are scheduled to built at the Oshawa Truck Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada.

(Source: Reuters)

Flex-fuel hybrids or plug-in hybrids?

Last week, when I read that Toyota wasn't going to offer the Toyota Tundra hybrid until at least 2010, I posted the article Toyota's huge hybrid vehicle mistake. Essentially, I wondered why Toyota wouldn't offer a hybrid truck much sooner just to steal some truck buzz from GM.

Anyway, Autopia took the same news and spun it into the article flex-fuel hybrids gain speed and suggested that any smart automaker would display flex-fuel hybrids at the Detroit Auto Show in January.

Still, if Toyota isn't going to offer a gasoline-electric version of the Tundra until 2010, then a flex-fuel Tundra hybrid wouldn't be available until 2010 either. By 2010, however, I expect more than a flex-fuel hybrid Tundra, I expect a plug-in Toyota Tundra. Sure it would be nice if that plug-in Tundra hybrid were a flex-fuel hybrid, but I'll take a gasoline plug-in Tundra hybrid over a flex-fuel Tundra hybrid any day.

Consequently, if automakers are smart they will show off plug-in hybrids at the Detroit Auto Show. It already appears GM will be smart - at least from a PR standpoint.

The hybrid show stopper at the Detroit Auto Show, in my opinion, would be a Toyota plug-in hybrid vehicle. Having already produced several hundred thousand hybrid vehicles, Toyota could really kick it up a notch if they went hell-bent-for-leather on plug-in hybrid technology.

While GM has already picked up some positive PR for its potential plug-in hybrid showcase, Toyota could steal their thunder. Inevitably, whom does the world believe more when it comes to hybrid vehicles - Toyota or GM?