Article Comments - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe First Drive and Follow-Up Test

62 messages, Last post on Jun 05, 2008 at 3:32 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, Hybrid Cars, SUV

Article comments for First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Two-Mode Hybrid - Two-mode hybrids aren't exactly new. GM has had the two-mode hybrid system working in transit buses since 2003. Today, about 700 of those buses are operating in 60 cities in North America and have just been introduced in Europe. (more)

Follow-Up Test: 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid - Bottom Line: It's better, but whether it's $9,100 better is up to you. (more)

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#23 of 62 Re: Stevedebi, VW will be first out with clean diesel... [gagrice] by stevedebi May 22, 2007 (5:02 pm)
Replying to: gagrice (May 14, 2007 12:34 pm) Thanks for the URL. It's good to know that someone other that Honda is developing such a system. Personally, I think diesel is the future, not hybrids, and I see little point in a hybrid diesel.
#24 of 62 Why Not a CNG Hybrid... by dylgeah May 24, 2007 (10:58 am)
Someone asked about Diesel hybrids...but why couldn't this new Tahoe (or anything for that matter,) be a Natural Gas Hybrid... The efficiency of the hybrid combined with the convenience (home fueling) and greenness (I know that's not a word) of natural gas. Anyone? Replies to this message: nedzel (Jun 05, 2007 10:34 am)
#25 of 62 Re: Why Not a CNG Hybrid... [dylgeah] by nedzel Jun 05, 2007 (10:34 am)
Replying to: dylgeah (May 24, 2007 10:58 am) The energy density of natural gas is too low. You need a lot more space than that used by a gasoline tank to provide the same range using natural gas. In addition, the natural gas tank has to be support higher pressure, so it is heavier. So add one heavy, space-gobbling natural gas tank to a 400+ pounds of heavy, space-gobbling batteries and you've got a mess on your hands. Furthermore, there are hardly any places in the US where you can refuel with natural gas. As for a diesel hybrid, don't hold your breath. The hybrid powertrain adds $3000-$4000 in cost to a vehicle. A clean diesel capable of meeting CARB and the upcoming EPA regulations adds $2000 to the cost of a vehicle. Put the two together and it just isn't economical. You can buy an awful lot of gasoline for $6000. Furthermore, hybrids don't add as much to a diesel as they do to a gasoline engine. Diesel engines are much more efficient when idling than gasoline engines. Much of the efficiency of gasoline hybrids is that it shuts down the gasoline engine when idling. But a diesel engine uses so little fuel when idling that this doesn't save you much. And you still have to haul around 400 lbs of batteries. You will see a number of new diesels here in the US in the coming years. Mercedes and VW will both have 50-state legal diesels in the 2008 model year. Ford is said to be working on a diesel of about 4 liter displacement for the F150, but no word on when it will arrive. Honda has announced a diesel for the coming Accord, but that won't arrive for a couple years.
#26 of 62 Re: Diesel Hybrid Not for NOW [ledfoot1] by kdhspyder Jun 19, 2007 (12:07 pm)
Replying to: ledfoot1 (May 12, 2007 1:01 pm) Oh and for Toyota-freak above, this dual mode hybrid system is a vast improvement over the one that Toyota currently offers. This is what competition is all about. When it finally does get to market the 2-Mode vs HSD will generate great blogger fodder. The forums will be 'smokin' with the speed of the back and forth regarding the merits of one over the other. But that is 9-12 months off at present. When the 2-Modes debut in the Fall it will be very interesting to see how the public actually receives them. IMO it would be a shame on us if we ignored GM's accomplishment. As noted previously this, heavy vehicles, is the sector that needs the most work in terms of increasing fuel efficiency. GM has stolen a march now by going to it's strength and put a working hybrid technology in it's mainline products. Toyota had stolen a march on the market by putting it's hybrid technology in its mainline products, midsized autos. Honda got there first with its technology which works best in small auto's. To GM's credit it can 'migrate' its technology to midsized vehicles easily according to reports. But will it perform as well and be as cost effective as the HSD in the Camry for example? To be determined. Toyota, barring some new advance, doesn't seem interested or able to 'migrate' its HSD to heavy vehicles.
#27 of 62 Re: Diesel Hybrid YES its Coming [galvang] by kdhspyder Jun 19, 2007 (12:13 pm)
Replying to: galvang (May 13, 2007 7:41 pm) This new H-Yukon is nice and so far its in the top my list for a new vehicle at the end of the year. We'll see, price will play s role on this. They better be dealing!!! Not to pick on you galvang because you have every right to purchase at the best price and protect your assets, but here are a few key questions for the GM faithful. 'Would you pay full sticker for the new GM Yukon 2-Mode ( Y2M ?)? No rebates.' 'Would you wait 60-90 days with a deposit holding your place as GM ramps up production?' 'Would you pay $3000-$4000 more for a Y2M than for a non-hybrid version of same?'
#28 of 62 Re: Yukons and Wind-mills?? Ha! [rsrtampaa3] by kdhspyder Jun 19, 2007 (12:23 pm)
Replying to: rsrtampaa3 (May 14, 2007 4:36 am) While I drive a Prius I do have to laud GM for what they are doing here. The only reason GM is putting its Hybrid technology in it's SU-Blunders is to convince people that they're not SO bad and you dont have to feel HORRIBLE for ruining the air your kids will breath in the future, just maybe a teeny bit bad. SUV's are a fact of life in our society now. Do they use more fuel, Yes they do. Do they pollute more, Yes. However for those that need an SUV not having a fuel efficient option is grossly wasteful. But moving from an ICE Yukon to a hybrid version likely will save the same amount of fuel as going from a ICE Camry to a hybrid Camry; from an ICE Escape to an FEH; from an ICE Civic to an HCH. Each 'conversion' saves about 170-200 gal of gas per annually.
#29 of 62 Re: Diesel Hybrid YES its Coming [ledfoot1] by kdhspyder Jun 19, 2007 (12:38 pm)
Replying to: ledfoot1 (May 14, 2007 11:44 am) Government intervention / support / incentivization I think that there is a 'confluence of interests' here from parties on opposite sides of most issues. Parties A: Reduce dependence on 'international fossil fuels' Parties B: Reduece the effects of burning fossil fuels as an environmental concern. Parties C: Save money. In this particular issue all three parties benefit by the government encouraging ( by tax incentives ) the use of hybrids or more efficient fuel systems.
#30 of 62 VW Tiguan by feliciatwo Jun 27, 2007 (10:59 am)
Does anyone know the timeline for the arrival of the Volkswagon Tiguan Diesel (2008); When do their new models usually arrive in the USA?
#31 of 62 Is the point of a hybrid lost? by chadx Aug 02, 2007 (11:30 am)
I love the idea of the new Hybrid Tahoe. I drive a 2003 Avalanche and am excited that GM has decided to make a full size SUV Hybrid. What I don't understand is why they are using a 6.0 liter engine in the hybrid rather than the 5.3 liter in the non-hybrid. Yes the 6.0L is aluminim and saves weight, but why not use a 5.3 or 4.8 liter aluminum blocked engine. And over 300 horsepower? What is the point? If the hp rating were reduced to 260, which is still plenty for this vehicle (after all, it's a hybrid and supposed to get great mileage not win quarter mile acceleration test), you would have a winner because the mileage could be much better. I guess I don't understand the horsepower wars. In the late 70s and 80s, 200 hp was plenty (granted those half-ton trucks weighed considerably less). Come on GM and use a reasonable engine (maybe even a V6 or your inline 5-cylinder) and get a usable and great mileage vehicle. The 285hp in my 03 Avalanche has been plenty even when towing heavy loads. Give me a Hybrid Avalanche/Tahoe/Suburban with a V6 or inline-5 that gets better highway mileage and not just better city mileage and we will buy. Don't stay caught up in the unfortunate "horsepower wars" that manufactures love so much. Gear your hybrid toward better mileage rather than worrying about it still accelerating like the non-hybrid Tahoe. If I wanted that, I'd buy that. Make a hybrid that holds to the original spirit of a hybrid. Good mileage. Replies to this message: gagrice (Aug 02, 2007 3:54 pm) larsb (Aug 03, 2007 6:13 am) gagrice (Aug 03, 2007 4:22 pm) and 2 more... chadx (Aug 04, 2007 3:24 pm) and 3 more...
#32 of 62 diesel by chadx Aug 02, 2007 (11:35 am)
Let's all keep in mind that diesel costs MORE than gasoline currently. At least in the midwest and northwest. $.40 more a gallon. Better mileage is offset by higher price per gallon. Same as driving a gas vehicle with higher compression that requires premium fuel rather than regular. They get better mileage and better performance, but at the cost of an extra $.20 per gallon. Just factor that in when comparing gas mileage between vehicles. On a side note, diesel costing more than gasoline is crazy. It is refined less and therefore much cheaper to 'make'. It always used to be cheaper than gasoline (and more efficient). Now that it's more expensive (due to demand?), that is a hurtle worth considering when comparing mileage, etc.