Hybrid technology has the potential to provide us with cleaner, more fuel-efficient options in every vehicle class, as exemplified by the Ford Escape Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid, and Toyota Prius.
On March 20, General Motors (GM) vice chairman Bob Lutz admitted at the New York Auto Show that not making a vehicle like the Prius was "a mistake."
Yet GM continues to make that same mistake. Its new "two mode" hybrid SUVs, the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon Hybrids, actually feature larger gasoline engines than most conventional versions of these models. The electric motor provides an additional power boost but only a modest gain in overall fuel economy.
Please write to chairman and chief executive officer, Richard Wagoner. Let him know that General Motors can only be a true market leader if his company uses hybrid technology to its fullest potential.
Dear Mr. Wagoner:
Your company recently launched an online initiative to solicit dialogue with consumers. With that in mind, I am writing to express my concerns regarding General Motors' use of hybrid technologies.
As gas prices continue to skyrocket, and we face the threat of dangerous global warming, I am disappointed that GM has decided to use its hybrid technology to boost vehicle power instead of boosting fuel economy. By attaching hybrid technology to larger, gas-thirsty gasoline engines on your Yukon and Tahoe Hybrid models, GM has chosen to boost muscle instead of miles.
GM vice chairman Bob Lutz recently admitted at the New York Auto Show that not making a vehicle like the Prius was "a mistake." Yet GM continues to make that same mistake with its current hybrid models by focusing today's technology on power instead of fuel economy. If GM instead focused on giving consumers efficient options in every vehicle class using both conventional and hybrid technologies, it could emerge once again as a genuine automotive leader.
[Your Comments]
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
