Hybrid SUVs: Live the American Green Dream
No doubt Americans love their SUVs. SUVs have now replaced the mini-van and station wagon as the preferred family vehicle. SUVs are a favorite for those who need the extra cargo space for business and pleasure, or for those who just like driving big, muscle machines.
Chevy Tahoe Hybrid
Until recently, SUVs have also been known as major gas-guzzlers. SUV drivers have traditionally sacrificed serious cash at the pump in exchange for extra room and brawn. However, a wide variety of hybrid SUVs are available now that make it easier for you to live the great American green dream.
There are three major reasons why you should consider a hybrid SUV. The first and most obvious reason is to save money on gas. Hybrid SUVs use 25-50% less gas than their non-hybrid counterparts on average.
It is important to note, however, that the amount of fuel saved in a hybrid SUV depends on how you drive it. Hybrid vehicles achieve maximum fuel efficiency with a light foot on the gas pedal and on the brakes. If you drive hard and fast, you will lose most of your fuel saving potential. If you accelerate and brake smooth and easy, you can often get greater fuel savings than the EPA mpg rating for your new hybrid SUV.
While most hybrids cost a little more upfront, the overall payback period in fuel savings can be significant. This depends, of course, on the model you choose and on the current price of gas. For a 2010 Escalade Hybrid, for example, the current payback period is as short as two months. For other models, the payback period can be longer, but this assumes that the price of gas will remain steady at $3/gallon for years to come. Given current oil industry developments and projected petroleum supply, this is obviously a faulty assumption. If you plan on driving your new SUV for three years or longer, invest now and save later.
The second and less obvious reason to invest in a hybrid SUV is for the health of you, your family, and your community. Full hybrid SUVs come with an automatic start/stop function that turns off the engine when you come to a stop or when traveling at low speeds. The engine kicks back on when you accelerate. This means that you and your children can breathe easy when idling, or cruising through a drive-thru or school pick-up zone, instead of inhaling toxic fumes from your SUV’s tailpipe.
The third reason why you should consider a hybrid SUV is that these cars deliver on power just as well as the non-hybrid versions. The 2010 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid I test drove this past week, for example, has a V-8 engine that delivers 332 horsepower and 367 pounds of torque. This baby had no problem strategically jetting through aggressive New York City traffic or merging onto speeding highway traffic. This is quite significant, given that the car weighs almost 6000 pounds.
Finally, being a hybrid SUV driver is just plain cool. You get the space you need, the mpg you want, and thrill of electric drive as you cruise down the boulevard. Driving a hybrid SUV means you don’t have to sacrifice performance for efficiency. And it shows that you care enough to make intelligent choices when it comes to your wheels.
Dr. Shannon Arvizu is a clean tech educator and consultant in the transportation industry. You can read more at MissElectric.com.
