Tahoe hybrid in the wild

Ok,

So we were all in a two-lane, left turn and I noticed an SUV, a flex fuel Ford 150, and the Tahoe hybrid pulled up. Then I noticed the word "hybrid" on the side and when the light turned, on the back. It was subtle as if trying to merge into the paint job but there it was and I remember my friend, a GM product design engineer.

He was working on a two-mode, Saturn VUE and gave us a test drive. But he mentioned one big management decision was the word "hybrid" would be painted on the doors. Then I remembered how Lutz and CNW Marketing were so convienced that hybrid buyers were overly interested in 'image' and it all came together. Their hubris, their delusions, their rank stupidity . . .

The Tahoe two-mode had Mississippi plates but I had just lost any interest. I looked at that shack on wheels and realized, 'I don't care.'

Bob Wilson

 

Lutz is gone and over time, his direct reports and hires will also disappear or 'get a clue.' I was listening to the AutoLine podcast and they proposed "Fritz Henderson" as an ideal candidate to run GM instead of the current guy who came from telecommunications. I was about to post that he could not be more 'tone deaf' than Lutz but yesterday I fired AT&T's DSL service.

It isn't a question of skill or background but audio accuity . . . does the manager listen to their customers?

By attitude, Lutz didn't want hybrid owners and subscribed to 'hairy legged hippy women' image of us (aka., late night TV show, Letterman?) Having decided hybrid owners were not 'the right sort of people,' it was easy for him to insist on the worst possible products.

Understand I think hybrid technology belongs in vehicles of all sizes and classes. However, a 6,000 pound vehicle needs a hydraulic system more than electrical to handle inertial losses. Regardless, the problem remains and at least one generation is finally leaving the field.

Bob Wilson

 

Not all hybrids succeed.

Hybrid In Name Only has characterized GM's hybrid efforts:

• "mild hybrids" - the belt assisted line ended the month Lutz retired. They were expensive and didn't do much for mileage, 1-2 MPG in city, nothing on the highway. The only one that made a little sense were the contruction pickups that could generate a couple of kilowatts of power for tools.
• Tahoe (and equivalent) two-modes - advertised as this great answer to the Toyota Prius, they really are competing only with Toyota's largest hybrids, typically Lexus, only not as nice but just as expensive.
• Saturn VUE two-mode - canceled

So Toyota still sells 2/3ds of all hybrids and GM remains a 'footnote.' Their Tahoe based hybrids are all they have to show for a decade of foolishness. Over priced and under performing, I don't see it lasting much longer.

Bob Wilson