Mini rant:
GM fails to understand human nature relative to the hybrid electric market. The article below says that the new plug-in electric Buick Crossover will not run on electricity alone, but will use it to make the engine more efficient.
Damn it - that misses the point! Electric car buyers WANT the car to run on electricity alone. This is where Honda screws up with the Insight, and where Toyota gets it partially right with the Prius.
How many car buyers are going to buy an SUV that they have to gas up & plug in every day? And those that do will soon stop plugging them in... They'll forget one day, then a few days in a row while on vacation, and soon realize that the car still runs fine without using the plug in, then they'll get...I don't want to say lazy, but if they don't HAVE to do it for the car to run, many won't do it for long.
Now, if the car ran on only electric for say 40 miles a charge then went to gas, that would motivate people to charge up every day - most people wouldn't use any gas during the week that way, and the technology is front and center to the driving experience. But no - GM will have them both to run at the same time.
This is a clear example of failed product development from GM again...
What do you think? Will this guy sell or be another iron anchor on GM's financials?
Sorry for the rant.
As always, IMHO.
Sid.
UPDATE: Per the Wall Street Journal: "The crossover, set to go on sale next year, will be able to travel 10 miles on pure electric power and achieve better fuel economy than a conventional crossover vehicle or sport-utility vehicle." (SP - Still...10 miles ain't much & my point still stands)
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