IMO there should be no mud slung at GM on its first real entry into the Hybrid Derby. This technology is every bit as effective as Toyota's or Ford's or Honda's.

I've noted it here several times ( parrotted by the author as well ) that for an SUV driver this vehicle does save more fuel than moving from a Civic to an HCH or a Camry to a TCH. Remember no other vehicle makers has been able to make a 6000# hybrid yet. As noted previously it is far far more important to solve our biggest problem first; i.e. improving the least efficient vehicles. Much more fuel will be saved, less money will be spent and less emissions will be generated if we address SUVs and trucks as the primary problems today.

The two really important issues facing us as a driving population are improving the City driving mode of all vehicles ( the least efficient mode ) and improving the least efficient vehicles as a group. These first 2-Modes do both admirably. Both of these are far more important than increasing the Prius from 48 mpg to 60 mpg.

BTW the market for fuel prices will take care of the problem of too many 'image' owners of trucks and SUVs. Since the end of 2003 more than 1 million buyers annually have already 'parked' their gas guzzlers in favor of buying something more efficient. As fuel goes to $4 or $6 or $10 a gallon in the next 5-15 yrs these big rigs will naturally die out like dinosaurs. What will be left are those few big rigs that are needed imperatively. Those vehiclles will be very very efficient by today's standards ( 26-30 mpg? ).

Lifetime fuel usage: 2.1 GPC ( 1.99 recent )