The recent spike in gas prices is not anything to be surprised about. We all knew it was coming. The 1970’s put the writing on the wall. Ask any kinder gardener and they can tell you the difference between a renewable and non-renewable resource. Thats why it kills me to see GM crushing EV1’s when they were years ahead of their time. That event solidifies in my mind the karma ridden demise of the strength of American car companies. They made an accounting profit choice when they should have done what Toyota did, make an economic profit choice. When GM saw the price of gas go up, and California’s tightening emission controls they did two things; 1). They played the green card and started the EV1 project incase the standards were passed, and 2). They lobbied to have the standards removed. When the standards were removed, they no longer justified the EV1 Project and ended it. Toyota on the other hand saw the writing on the wall and continued their investment in hybrid technology. Their decision to do so is the reason why the Prius is one of the best selling cars on the market. Its why Toyota is in the midst of windfall profits making money hand over fist while GM and Ford are cutting production, laying off employees, and looking for government help. I say, let them fail. They didn’t make a good decision for the American public, they made a decision for themselves so why should the American public bail them out now that they are dealing with the consequences of their greed? GM, Ford, and Chevy hardly have half a brain between the three of them. case in point, the all new Chevy Tahoe Hybrid.
I’m sitting in a movie theater and up comes this commercial for the new Chevy Tahoe Hybrid. An employee is driving this monstrocity around town explaining its features. There is no one else in the car, so he is by himself in what amounts to a 16 passenger personal bus, driving down a suburban neighborhood. This commercial exactly represents whats wrong with these companies. They are losing the old game of gas guzzling suv’s because Prius is sockin’ it to them, so what do they do, they keep the SUV, but they make it slightly more fuel effecient! I see this and I feel like I’m taking crazy pills! Chevy is polishing the brass on the Titanic by all measures but they don’t get it so if by the grace of god a Chevy, Ford, or GM employee is reading this, let me spell it out:
Dear American Car Companies,
You can not make an SUV economically fuel efficient. Americans now know that they can’t afford to drive around in a 8 passenger, tank sized, gas guzzling SUV by themselves anymore. Driving a family around is one thing, but the average American can’t afford to drive themselves in a Tahoe, hybrid or not. Go down town, Gas is $4 a gallon and its going to go higher. STOP making SUV’s. START making electric/Flex-Fuel hybrids (100% gas, 100% ethanol, or any mix of the two) CARS (Key word, CARS) before you go bankrupt and ruin America!
