SUVs Go Hybrid
- added May 11, 2008
- 2 responses
-
-
-
- hynese
- added this
-
-
- related topics
-
- Earth and Science (7154)
- Environment (3751)
- Car Culture (727)
- Cars (675)
- Hybrid Cars (58)
Chrysler's first foray into the hybrid market affects its two full-size SUV twins, the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango. Using a two-mode hybrid system codeveloped with General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW, the hybrid versions of both SUVs purportedly yield 40 percent better city mileage than their gasoline counterparts.
-
I hate to say it's progress, but if you can win over the gas-guzzling soccer moms, maybe it's a good step. However, it's very easy for people to invest in a 'transition' vehicle like this and claim they're doing their part for the environment, which is bullshit. The best step is to either buy a smaller CAR or none at all.
-
This is a promising preliminary step by the manufacturer to address the public's need for a larger vehicle and yet have better fuel mileage.
The next and more important step is to convert / expand these hybrids to PHEVs (So you can plug them into the electric grid to recharge the batteries) Adding this completing step could in the long run allow us to eliminate the need for imported oil at all, and yet not lose range or the independence of our individual vehicles.
Because of the cost of the batteries for making these PHEVs, why not sell a basic vehicle with a minimal electrical extended range (10 mies) that you could add additional battery modules to the vehicle in order to later to expand the extended range up to say 50 miles.
Login/Registration is required to add a response.
