The Chevy Car Report

There were two stories about cars out recently, both concerning Chevy.  As you may or may not know, Chevy has been working on the Volt car.  Its one of the first commercially-made PHEVs (plugin hybrid electric vehicles) in the States.   They’ve been wanting to get this on the market by 2010 if not sooner, but as with a lot of technology there are setbacks.  The setback hinges on the lithium-ion batteries.  They have engineers working on perfecting a battery system for the car.  It’s not simple to just go out and get new ones like you would for a kids toy, so they kinda need to get it right the first time. 

There are some sexy factors going in to the Volt (I never thought I’d call an American car sexy, but hey, as Dylan says, “Time’s are a changin’”).   I’ll start off with the smaller factors - the PHEV.  Third-parties make kits for cars like the Prius to make them PHEV.  Those kits get the Prius over 100+ mpg.  The way their system will work is that you’ll go the first 40 miles off of battery power from the electric-side.  Then the engine would recharge the battery while driving on fuel.  Here’s a sexy factor, but its still fuel-dependent.  Chevy is making what they are calling the “E-Flex” system.  This system will allow the car to be fueled with diesel, E85, regular gas, and even hydrogen. 

We’ll see when it really comes out and by the time it does hit the market, how many other manufacturers will be right there with them…


The other Chevrolet announcement is about the new Chevy Tahoe Hybrid.  It kinda makes me throw-up in my mouth a little bit just talking about it.  The new Tahoe will get 21mpg city and 22mpg highway.  That’s almost double what it gets now - so that’s an improvement, right?  The price different is about $8,000 to get the hybrid drive versus the standard Tahoe. 

I’m sure it drives like a dream and feels like sitting in the lap of luxury.  It’s great that they are working towards making more vehicles hybrids, but I see this car like putting lipstick on a pig.   The pig is just prettier and eats a little less now.  Maybe I’m pointing the finger in the wrong direction, though.  Maybe its the public who buys these cars who are the pigs?  I’m not saying all SUVs are horrendous.  Some are very practical for families.  But the ones that could be in the Macy’s Day Parade and  make monster trucks look normal aren’t necessary but American’s think they need them so they can take home half of Costco with them each time they go. 

Source: Detroit News and Seattle Times