When will there be a hybrid car from the Big Three?

hrm. If they make a *decent hybrid* it'll probably be recalled and crushed like the EV1s.

Yeah. I'm fairly certain of that.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ May 31 2006, 02:52 PM) [snapback]263508[/snapback]</div>

IMO this is just company spin. The problem for these companies is cost/profit. Honda has been most forthright in their doubt whether the investement is worthwhile.

In fact, only Toyota has good things to say money wise regarding their hybrid platform. Economies of scale might lead Toyota to prevail here, regardless of techno merit (which is not to say they are not leaders, only that it may not matter).

GM has said for years that hybrids are too expensive. What they mean is that **GM** has not figured out how to develop and manufacture them cheap enough. The company has tried to defray some of the dev cost by entering into consortiums with Euro car makers, but they have pushed over-engineered designs meant to preserve the huge vehicle market -- an idea dead from the get go.

 

I just saw an ad for the Chevrolet Silverado hybrid. It's a truck, I admit, but it's a hybrid.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ May 31 2006, 11:52 AM) [snapback]263508[/snapback]</div>

I can understand where he's coming from since I've seen some interviews w/him before. He's very concerned about profitability since the lack of it at Nissan until he turned the ship around almost led to it going under. Bottom line is that all car companies are in it for profits. If it doesn't turn a profit over a long period of time, there's no more company.

Some article about his stance on hybrids:
http://www.aiada.org/article.asp?id=32220
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060412/auto_show_ghosn.html?.v=6
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=100...1jTY&refer=asia

Article about Ghosn and what he pulled off at Nissan:
http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0.../A01-101491.htm

Interesting (but lengthy) article I stumbled across about Ghosn and his role as CEO of both Nissan AND Renault at the same time:
http://www.forbes.com/global/2006/0522/020.html

 

Silverado Hybrid Idiots

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aaf709 @ Jun 3 2006, 05:32 PM) [snapback]265275[/snapback]</div>

It's hard to believe they have the nerve to actually call a system that doesn't provide any electric thrust whatsoever a "hybrid".

There's no combining of propulsion technologies, so how can it possibly qualify?

All they did was enhance existing components, providing an improved starter and battery. That's it! This is nothing but a gimmick, something to muddy the water. You think you are participating in making a better future, but in reality all you are doing is helping save them from further financial disaster. In other words, it's a fantastic example of greenwashing.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(john1701a @ Jun 8 2006, 10:54 PM) [snapback]268416[/snapback]</div>

They probably don't have the room in the truck for the V8 *and* the electric motor large enough to handle the towing. Even if they decided to utilize the V8 for a tow mode and electric for light load cruise they'd still need the V8 to do most of the work until cruise speed is reached.

The Silverado "hybrid" is mostly a truck/generator for someone who needs portable power vs. better fuel economy.