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Hybrid Vehicles Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon Hybrid Article Comments - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe First Drive and Follow-Up Test
62 messages, Last post on Jun 05, 2008 at 3:32 PM
You are in the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon Hybrid Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
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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Replying to: chadx (Aug 02, 2007 11:30 am) I agree with you. They should go for the mileage not the 0-60 times with the hybrids. If you look at Toyota the leader of the hybrid pack. Four out of six hybrids are built for performance. Only two for good mileage. I think it destroys the whole idea of being environmentally astute. Why give folks that want to race and waste gas a false green image? |
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Replying to: gagrice (Aug 02, 2007 3:54 pm) Is that to just be ignored? |
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Replying to: larsb (Aug 03, 2007 6:13 am)
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Replying to: larsb (Aug 03, 2007 6:13 am) I like performance as much as the next person but when the majority of hybrid advertisements are geared more around "same performance as non-hybrid" or, like my response from GM when I asked a few questions about the Tahoe hybrid "great 0-60 times", I am left only to say "Who cares!" I, like most, would give up a bit of performance for better gas mileage. I'd do that with my current 2003 Avalanche. It 'only' made 285hp. The current line-up has 300 - 330hp and, gets the same or a little worse gas mileage as my truck. If the technological advancements (variable valvetrain, etc) would have been used to increase mileage rather than performance, the mpg would probably be similar to their new hybrid Tahoe. When I bought my truck, the 5.3liter was the smallest engine available. I tow occasionally and must say I've never been left wanting for hp. How often do people actually drive Wide Open Throttle (WOT)? Which is what is necessary to hit the RPM that achieves max hp rating anyway. Think of how many times you drive WOT in a month. More than 5 or 10? Probably not. And if so, then you probably don't care about a hybrid and/or mileage anyway. It's sad that consumers demand (as shown by their buying power) more hp and performance, yet then they complain about gas mileage and prices. Manufactures would focus more on mileage rather than power if that is what people bought. But they sell so few of their models with the smallest, least powerful but best mileage engines, that they keep cranking out higher and higher hp engines. We, the consumer, send mixed signals.
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Replying to: chadx (Aug 04, 2007 3:24 pm) To me it is just as hypocritical to try and look green in a high powered performance car as someone that flies around in a private jet. Then they hand out fluorescent bulbs to cover up their carbon foot prints. I think GM should have used a 6 cylinder diesel in their new hybrids. They could have blown the competition out the window. Let Toyota build the gas guzzling hybrids.
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Replying to: gagrice (Aug 03, 2007 4:22 pm) Not only does the LS600h get worse mileage than the LS460, but it is also no faster! In a New York Times article, they found that "Spurred from a stop to 60 miles an hour, the LS 600h L clocks a swift 5.5 seconds, according to Lexus’s own testing. Yet the gas-only LS 460 L, with a mere 380 horsepower from a smaller V-8, reaches 60 in 5.4 seconds, nosing out the more powerful hybrid." The LS600h costs much more than the LS460. It is no faster and no more economical. It is, however 700 lbs heavier. Toyota really messed up on this one. |
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Replying to: gagrice (Aug 05, 2007 5:12 am) And to answer the question, "Is the point of a hybrid lost?", I say no. The point of a hybrid is so you can get better gas milage and not pollute without driving an econobox. There is a REASON why we have alternative energy; it's so you can still be green and still keep your lifestyle, something we're trying to fight to save.
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Some misc. comments: Ethanol costs about the same as gasoline, but produces 15-20% LOWER mpg; hence, the cost for any given trip is substantially increased. The extra cost for the Toyota hybrid system is $3K-$5K whereas estimated cost (per an auto analyst ~2 months ago) for the GM dual-mode system is $6K-$10K (note that GM has yet to publisize the real cost). Note also that GM has proposed (and is seriously considering) the option of RENTING the necessary large battery for their electric systems by the month in order to keep upfront costs to a minimum. The GM claimed mileage for their pickups is 15/22 for city/highway, yet Edmunds last report on their long-term tests has only achieved ~14.7 mpg overall for the Silverado. If that is any indication, the GM claims of 25% better mileage should be carefully scrutinized. In contrast, the Edmunds blog on the 2007 5.7 liter Tundra pickup is indicating excellent mileage (some as high as 20.25 mpg) for this highest HP, highest torque pickup engine. My own 2006 4.7 liter Tundra DC 4x4 Limited is rated at 14/18 mpg, but after 12 months, my overall average is 18.3 mpg, although I haven't done any towing yet. Go figure.
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I've posted elsewhere that there seems to be a large gap in the fuel miser product world. One can buy a small car or an SUV, now even a full size SUV with hybrid but nothing in between. Small diesels in SUV's are being announced by more and more brands too. Some of us need vehicles capable of seating 6-8 people but there is a complete lack of energy efficient options. Highlander hybrid (yet to be released to dealers and a poor excuse for a rear seat) or MB R320 diesel (expensive and doesn't use the clean diesel found in the C series) are the only ones I know of. Hybrid minivans would seem a no-brainer to me. I am aware that minivans are dying off as they are no longer hip, but the likely practical minded consumers still buying them would probably also appreciate a hybrid or small efficient diesel option. The Highlander and Sienna shared the same V6 why couldn't they put the hybrid in too?
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Replying to: volkov (Nov 01, 2007 11:20 am) The Lexus 400h would have to be considered a mid-sized hybrid SUV. |
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