I've got an electrical socket in my carport and I ain't afraid to use it.

lascauxcaveman

johnnyangelb

And what's with the 10 mile range on battery power alone? Where the hell is that suppose to get me? The gas station so I can fill up and actually get some place?

I call BS, I think this is just marketing BS so GM can scream "LOOK AT US!! WE HAVE A HYBRID PLUG-IN SUV!" when it's really just a regular gas-guzzling SUV that they shoved a few batteries and a worthless electric engine in that does practically nothing for fuel economy

Keep it up Toyota! Keep making GM engineers look like high school drop-outs!

iamjames

problem is the aftermarket kits cost about $10k, most of that being used to replace the Prius's existing crappy NiMH batteries with Lithium-Ion.
http://www.energycs.com/Edrive-FAQ.html

However Gen III Prius's are suppose to come equipped with Li-Ion batteries
http://thefraserdomain.typepad.com/energy/2006/04/200_priu...

that will support ~100mpg factory equipped and the car will be faster since the Li-Ion batteries are much lighter.

So maybe the Gen III Prius's can be made plug-in for less than a grand.

iamjames

First, no matter HOW the electricity is generated, we are reducing use of foreign oil by having a plugin vehicle. How much less important would the mess in the Middle East be if we could tell all those nations we no longer needed their oil, or at least substantially less oil?

Second, you guys ARE aware, I hope, that you could put one or two solar panels on your roof, and use the juice to charge your car. Can't generate the electricity any cleaner than that, and after you pay for the solar panels, the juice is FREE. (hopefully you are also aware that new technology in solar panels is making them much cheaper and much easier to install and use).

I'm the biggest GM critic there is, after the dumb moves they have made over the years, but if they actually produce a plugin VUE - I'll be the first one in line. Hybrids? A useless stopgap measure. Plugins? That's the way to go. Forget improving mpg 20% with a hybrid. How about doubling or tripling it with a plugin.

startmeup

Really, it's a excellent transitional technology.

The problem I see here is that it's GM making this announcement. That means that the vehicle doesn't exist, and never will. Don't forget that it was GM that killed the electric car and failed miserably to even respond to Honda's Insight or Toyota's Prius hybrids. As noted, they've also been trotting around this "fuel cell" vehicle for the past decade, with no plans to produce it. Now, they're about to lose their position as the number one automaker in the world to....Toyota.

Nice try GM. Ain't buying it, but nice try.

VinceDee

I completely disagree. This is the best looking Vue yet! I've never looked their way becuase they have been so god awful ugly, but now(2008), I may have to check one out.

Then again, I don't want an SUV. Or a Saturn. Or a GM.

Nevermind.

highfloydelity

Grifter

"I can see it now:

Neighbors stealing electricity from other neighbors.

or conversely:

Work places install outlets in parking lot for free employee fill ups.

hmm...this could get interesting. Good points Superbad."

Miscellanea

Neighbors stealing electricity from other neighbors.

or conversely:

Work places install outlets in parking lot for free employee fill ups.

hmm...this could get interesting. Good points Superbad.

Miscellanea

Oh, and the Vue's not bad for a cute ute.

Brian E

Oh fuck it, let's just keep burning all the oil! Go status quo!

superbad

Yay for plug-ins!

Seth L

Buckster

nzruss

It's very wise of GM to start where the emissions are at their worse. Why attack the econo-box hybrid, plug-in thingamajigger when the biggest polluters are these ginourmous vehicles?

bob9

ltcmurray

" can't give you a production date for our plug-in hybrid today. But I can tell you that this is a top priority program for GM, given the huge potential it offers for fuel-economy improvement."

top priority like that fuel cell sled car you towed around for a decade with zero improvements... or actually bringing to fruition? unduly harsh yes, but when you're playing catchup you might want to outline a firm time table, especially when your most successful competitor has already beaten you to and owns the market.

zamafir

doofusgumby

Papercutninja

zamafir

Ghost_of_Awesomist

contender