Where
is my American-made hybrid vehicle?
Monday,
June 26, 2007
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.
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.
Comments
|
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.