JM9777

Let's try this again (hopefully) for a final time. The 2-Mode Hybrid is NOT a 4-speed automatic. The system behaves as a continuously variable transmission. When you accelerate, power is routed through the electric motors and the vehicle behaves as any other hybrid vehicle does. From what I understand, the 4 speeds that everyone seems to get caught up on refer to are fixed gear ratios that the system can use when cruising (mostly at highway speeds). These fixed ratios route power to the wheels through a direct mechanical path, which is more efficient than routing power through the electric motors (as the 2-Mode does at lower speeds, and as all other hybrids do 100% of the time). This is one way that the 2-Mode System provides superior highway fuel economy compared to other hybrid systems. The system does not behave like a conventional automatic transmission. GM's explanation of it on that link is very poor, but I suppose they are trying to make it easier to understand for the average person. There is not necessarily any fuel economy advantage to be gained by adding more of these fixed ratios. It's time to stop the spread of the myth that this is somehow a 4-speed automatic. It behaves like a CVT.

Further proof that the vast majority of the auto-buying public are idiots: The bottle holders molded into the door panels of the new Toyota Tundra have warning labels....no kidding....that say "No hot beverages." I'm just waiting for the day that the logo in the steering wheel is replaced with a five-paragraph, CYA warning label about how driving a car is dangerous to your health.

Yes, for all those here who are bashing President Bush for this, just think what joys will come when Democrats control the White House AND Congress. Believe me, I definitely don't agree with Bush's proposal. This is the problem with government intervention in this (or any other issue): they think that if they mandate something be done, that it will be able to happen without any further consequences. "If only we mandate higher fuel economy, the manufacturers will provide it." They don't stop to think of the consequences of their actions. The technology to meet these fuel economy mandates may exist, but at prohibitive costs that must be borne by somebody: either the company who sells the car or the person who buys the car (since the majority of government mandates are partially funded or unfunded). This isn't something that can be met just by offering a direct-injection engine or a hybrid model. This is a 4% increase every year. This means that, with a typical five-year model cycle, the replacement for any car currently on sale must get about 22% better fuel economy than the model for sale today. When you consider that a hybrid powertrain increases fuel efficiency by about 25%, you realize that there is a big problem in meeting this mandate. Needless to say, the government would be much better served by dumping the CAFE standards and providing funding to private companies (car manufacturers, suppliers, etc.) for lightweight materials research, alternative fuels research, hydrogen research, etc. When the technologies exist and are cost-effective, customers will demand that their cars have them, and manufacturers will include them. We can already see this: people are more willing to pay for fuel economy today than five years ago, and every manufacturer is now focusing on ways to improve fuel economy. What do you know...the free market works. I could write a novel about this topic, but I'll spare everyone here. A delay to Zeta is just the tip of the iceberg if this fuel economy proposal (or any other) passes.