Cadillac ELR Pricing Is Announced

Yes, hybrid-electrics reduce gasoline use. So will hybrid-hydraulics or flywheel ones. Same with direct injection, cooled EGR, wide range valve control, cylinder deactivation, non-hybrid regen braking, etc. Unless they happen to be a bi-fuel engine, any technology used to improve the efficiency of a gasoline ICE will only do that. They can not eliminate its use.

HEVs might be the best way on the market now, but without a plug, they are still tied to gasoline for all their energy requirements. Regardless of the amount of batteries they have put on the road, they do nothing for advancing the electrification of the fleet. Except maybe get someone looking at a true electric vehicle for their next car. But that seems most will leave Toyota then.

Electricity isn't a fuel. It is an energy carrier. The fuel is what produces it. That might be coal, nuclear, oil, natural gas, land fill waste/gas, biomass, hydro, tidal, solar, or wind. You could even use gasoline if you really want to. They have varying pros and cons, but driving an electric car means you could shift to the ones with the most pros and/or least cons. With gasoline, you are stuck with sometime that will steadily get dirtier and more expensive.

 

driving an electric car and having a solar panel at home. Independence!

 

Word that I'm hearing is that Cadillac's sales goal for the ELR is 3000 units for the US, Europe, and China, combined.

This is not a serious effort by Cadillac. It's a styling exercise. I agree that the drivetrain is woefully underpowered for the the category they are playing in though.