In our routinely congested traffic, now virtually an all-day condition, going from 12 to 20 mpg in the 405 tap-and-go is going to be attractive to a lot of people who can easily bite down on the $50+Large. And then there’s the Green guilt crowd on the West Side, wishing to reconcile its gluttony with its conscience.

The real issue is going to be making the right market aware of 2Mode Hybrid trucks. Can GM effectively communicate 2Mode for mass comprehension? Will they even try?

A lot of big SUVs are going to continue to be bought in the US. The vehicle type is just too convenient for an entrenched lifestyle and psyche. So we ought to be glad to see this technology come to market ASAP, and offered in a variety of products. I’ll consider it when it’s in a pickup. Forget about CO2. Burning less fuel at idle will improve local air quality.

In the late 1990s, GM and Ford took the position that improving fuel economy incrementally on the volume categories of SUVs and Pickups would have greater and more rapid environmental impact than selling a limited volume hybrid or electric car. They’re right, of course, but they didn’t factor in the marketing leverage to be had by an icon like Prius. But really, at a time when even the General’s 6.2L eight is nudging up in efficiency with more power to boot, increasing the mix of powertrain options in volume vehicles can make GM environmentally friendlier than Toyota in real world impact, even if the emotional cachet remains elusive.

Yup, make those 2Mode Hybrid logos big, bright and green.

Phil

And good luck buying a new Tahoe AND a new Uplander for $50K. Maybe if you can find leftover 2007 2wd strippers at a desperate dealer. I doubt it though.

At $50K you could buy a Tahoe and an Uplander for each purpose and I would bet average better MPG between them than just one of these hybrids. And you’ll get way less than 20/20 with 7 more passengers. The additional benefits are just out of line with the additional cost.

But the truth remains that 20/20 mpg is not bad for a vehicle with these capabilities.

I suppose I could drive a Camry V6 auto rated 19/28, and never be able to tow anything more than a small utility trailer, let alone my boat. And have no room take my kid to college or my family of 5 on vacation with luggage without renting a van. Or maybe I could buy a V8 Toyota 4Runner, which is smaller in every way, and only gets 14/17.

This argument about MPG per person only works if you are using it as a shuttle bus. Most of these things are going to be used most of the time for one person commuting.

So much for everyone who were saying the Two-Modes would be a big success. On price alone, the Two-Modes will fall flat on their faces.

Also, GM won’t be able to afford offering big incentives on the hybrid trucks because the Two-Mode system is expensive and offering big incentives would just devour GM’s profits.

The usefulness of the Tahoe hybrid is not that the MPG will be great while towing, no vehicle’s is. But 20 MPG for daily commutes AND the ability to tow a big trailer with the same vehicle on weekends is a great advantage. Doesn’t that take away the “I never see these trucks and suvs doing what they are designed for” argument? Who cares if it ever tows, but can haul 8 people and get 20 MPG? Way better MPG-per-person than most cars.

Expensive or not, it will be a slick package for those greenies that need to haul a bunch of kids & stuff around.

As for me, I’ll stick with spending $2-3K every 5 years on a quality used car (currently rock ‘94 Roadmaster). And have plenty of $ left over for flourescent light bulbs, programmable thermostats, and things of that nature.

The coming 4.5 liter diesel will be a better choice for the way most of these vehicles are used (towing/highway).

Five grand more and I can have an Escalade! With incentives, I bet a lease on an Escalade will turn the same monthly payment. And if you really cared about fuel economy…

Chevrolet Tahoe Two-Mode Hybrid 4×4
MPG: 20/20
Towing capacity: 6,000 lbs
Base MSRP: More than $50,720

How about that? A Mercedes and a Chevrolet now compete with each other.

Trucks is supposed to be simple, rugged, and cost effective. Not complimicated, pricey, and technowizzy.

I don’t doubt that a hybrid SUV or truck could do well, but it would have to be designed as a hybrid from the start.

BTW, the 2-mode hybrid transmissions are just now rolling off the assembly lines:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bay_environment/bal-hybrid1029,0,7423183.story?coll=bal_tab01_layout