Hybrid SUVs

The Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid has a full size V-8 engine, unusual for a hybrid. It also retains it's size and power so that it can function as well as an SUV that is running on an internal combustion engine.

It looks very much like the traditional Tahoe, almost impossible to tell the two apart externally. Internally it is another matter. The hybrid Tahoe has a two mode hybrid power train combined with GM's patented Active Fuel Management Technology. Because of this the Tahoe can run exclusively on electricity, exclusively on fuel, or on a combination of both, depending on the circumstances involved. The company claims that is has a 25% fuels savings over a traditional Tahoe with the same equipment.

The Tahoe performs very well in crash test ratings, scoring 5 stars in each category. This SUV was developed in a joint effort by GM, BMW, and Chrysler. The hood is made of aluminum to make the vehicle lighter, the downside of that being a weaker hood in case of a crash.

The GMC Yukon has one of the best gas mileage ratings of any of the hybrid SUVs. It has the same options as the Tahoe, but is priced a little higher. It is available in a four wheel drive version.

The Saturn Vue is supposed to be the worlds most fuel efficient SUV. Tests are showing a sixty percent improvement on highway driving and at least fifty percent in town over comparative, fossil fuel driven V-6 SUVs. This should work out to nearly 35 mpg while driving in highway situations, unheard of up to now in this size and power vehicle.

While it will not tow the 6,000 pounds that the Tahoe will, the Vue will tow 3,500 pounds easily. It is on the small side, with 56 cubic feet of cargo space and room to seat five. There is more space for passengers in the view than other, similar hybrid SUVs, with good legroom in all areas.

If you are in the market for a luxury SUV but still want to feel somewhat green then the Lexus RX400 may be just the vehicle you are looking for. It has a sweet exterior, with a luxury leather interior. Brushed aluminum accents give it a high tech look.

Lexus has some of the top rated safety scores of any of the manufacturers and the RX is no exception. Standard safety features include side curtain airbags, optional or nonexistent on other vehicles, and knee air bags as an added measure of safety.

It also sports all wheel drive with a rear electric motor for more control in more situations. The Lexus RX has a patented system that constantly monitors different sensors and anticipates the vehicle sliding or skidding by slightly tightening the seat belt, getting brakes ready, and modulating the throttle totally automatically.

The Toyota Highlander is the most popular of the hybrids. It is more inexpensive than the Lexus, has great style, more fuel efficient than the GM's and more powerful than Ford. Is it any wonder that has been the consistent top selling hybrid SUV on the market?

One of the functions of the Highlander allows the driver to push an EV button on the dashboard and drive, completely silently, on just electricity for one mile. Speeds are as high as 25 mph in this mode, which is excellent. The Highlander has a 208 hp motor which decreases it's overall fuel efficiency. When all components of the gas/electric technology are combined the overall power of the Highlander's engine is 270 hp. The Highlander is also a four wheel drive vehicle.

Comparatively the Highlander is $10,000 less than the Lexus or about $5,000 more than the Ford.

The Porsche Cayenne is still in development and will be available in the fall of 2009 by most estimates. It is the luxury manufacturers first nod to the environment and eco-friendly vehicles.

Over-all it's performance will be average, about 24 mpg compared to the 18 for the conventional SUV. But it is a start in the right direction even if it is mostly to counteract the negative publicity the company has garnered for it's laissez-faire attitudes about the environment in the past. The SUV is being developed in partnership with Volkswagon.

It will retain the Porsche 3.6 liter direct fuel injection system and combine with an electric motor and battery pack. The pack will be housed where the spare tire normally has been stored beneath the luggage compartment.

Interestingly, one of the first hybrids to ever have been made was produced by Porsche in 1900.

The 2009 Cadillac Escalade is a breakthrough vehicle for Cadillac. It is considered the company's flagship, and they will be using the slogan "intelligent indulgence" for this vehicle.

The V-8 engine has 360 hp with technology that shuts the engine down to 4 cylinders when less power is required, thereby maintaining a powerful engine that can be very fuel efficient. One trusts that they have overcome the technological problems that they had with the 4-6-8 cylinder engine that was attempted in the 1980's. Fuel savings for this type of engine is anticipated at 50% over it's gas powered version. It has an expected highway performance of 22 mpg. The Escalade comes in a two or four wheel drive version to handle any circumstance.

The cabin is large and roomy, as Cadillac has attempted to maintain the aura of luxury this company has been known for. Price has not been released at this time.

Of course there are many SUVs on drawing tables and being made in prototype right now. The 2011 Ford Edge is one of those. The powertrain's structure is a hydrogen fuel-cell-powered series hybrid powertrain. The prototype weighs 5,400 pounds! There are five basic parts to the 2011 Edge powertrain consisting of a fuel cell, a hydrogen tank, two electric motors and a lithium-ion battery pack. When the batteries are fully charged, the Edge prototype can go 25 miles on just electricity. Once the batteries have used up 60 percent of their charge, the fuel cell switches on to power the electric motors and recharge the battery pack which gives the vehicle another 200 miles of range. Ford says it will deliver a combined city/highway gas equivalent fuel economy rating of 41 mpg. When driving under 50 miles per day, the average will jump to the equivalent of 80 mpg or more.

The Mercury Mariner doesn't do so well in the comparison of the SUV Hybrids. It does not have the cool gadgetry that the other vehicles in it's class do, it doesn't perform as well as the Toyota, and it is small. Because of these issues it ranks 16 out of 26 in Affordable Compact SUVs.

The Mariner is a bit more sophisticated, but often compared to the Ford Escape. Because of this it is near the top of it's class for styling details. It does have an excellent storage capacity in the cabin as well.

Performance wise it is mediocre at best, lagging in the trials behind the other SUVs in it's class. The Mariner is described as having a decent acceleration but nothing to write home about. The front wheel drive delivers an EPA of 30/34 miles highway/city.

With the introduction of the Durango and Aspen Hybrids Chrysler/Dodge will seek to create a juxtaposition of two seemingly incompatible things- the gas electric system with a powerful Hemi engine. Controversial to say the least. They should have about 350 hp but will probably not get more than 20 mpg.

The Durango and the Aspen will use cylinder deactivation which will shut down from eight to four cylinders during highway cruising. The benefit of the bigger and more powerful hybrid SUVs will be in their ability to work hard while using smaller amounts of fuel.

With Dodge and Chrysler adding Hemis to their hybrids the hybrid's ablity to haul things has made it more desireable for those who really do need the size and power of an SUV.

Another question that is raised is how are electrically run cars going to affect a power grid that is all ready over taxed by blow dryers, nonstop t.v watching and air conditioners set on 60 degrees? What happens when thousands of people come home from work and plug in their cars? The Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle may be part of the answer. A beautiful, production-ready fuel cell car that achieves around 275 miles per filling and produces the equivalent of 68 mpg. One of the primary problems with fuel cell vehicles, is the use hydrogen and the lack of hydrogen filling stations. Honda is currently developing solar powered filling stations that would solve this issue.

Interestingly, we have technology to create solar powered vehicles.The Solar-Electric Vehicle System generates energy from sunlight, as does any solar power system, and converts it to high a voltage which is used to charge the supplemental battery and the Hybrid Vehicle (HV) battery pack on the solar-electric hybrid. . This allows the vehicle to operate longer giving it more driving range when using the electric mode.This can improve fuel economy another 29% over a standard vehicle.

Looking ahead, the future seems to be bright for hybrid technology. Even in the next year the dual mode hybrid system promises even more fuel economy that what is currently available. With technological advances almost hourly in solar technology it seems that alternative energy and clean running cars is no longer a dream of the future but a possibility of the here and now. With gasoline prices forecast to reach $4.00 a gallon by the end of 2008 it is likely that even consumers that are not ecologically minded will begin to take hybrid vehicles and the energy savings they produce more seriously.