GM doesn't have to develop a new hybrid... they already made the electric car. Why doesn't GM just simply remarket the electric car?

 

Someone mentioned law enforcement and GM.

I doubt we'd ever see hybrid's among the police. Most cars in the force I would think need the the ability to be able to run down and pull over the average speeded. I don't think the basic hybrid would cut it. They would need a more powerful sports hybrid which going into costly territory.

In NYC or other metro areas small hybrid cars or SUV's might work, but in the endless stretch of suburbia a you need a bit more of the V8 power of the vic. Or those new Chargers. I'm seeing those wearing the CT staties dark blue.

 

What about AS in Crown Victorias? Since cops are always sitting there idling their engines....

 

That's useful progress on the part of GM. Obviously, hybrid busses will save significant fuel for a transit agency, just as the electric engines, made by GM, used by MARC and Amtrak for their trains in the northeast do. GM obviously has the potential...

Now if they could just do the same beyond a 2-mode Tahoe, we'd be in business...

 

I can't see hybrids working as LEO vehicles outside of dense urban areas. In fact, when I was in Krakow, Poland last year the police did have several Prius patrol cars.

I can see diesel patrol cars in the US, however. The Germans have been doing this for years.

 

Performance based Hybrids would work very well for police/emergency cars in the States. The fact that they do sit idle for long periods of time would save a lot of gas. But one problem hybrids have right now is, if you put the car in park, the engine starts back up and stays on. GM needs to work on a way to have the engine cut off during long idle times...

 

But the cost issue?

Comparing a performance hybrid to a Vic I don't think every district can afford to replace with a hybrid fleet.

And if your just using autostop I'm not sure how well that will help. The Malibu gets only +1 mpg with AS.

 

Exxon Mobile!

 

@ SunGod18,
1 MPG saving multipled by (x) number of cruisers would equal savings in the long run. 14 cars would save 14 mpgs....

With bulk (fleet) orders, the cost should be closer to non-hybrid pricing

@ Artodetoo,
Electric only cars still cost a lot of money to produce. The Telsa is an example of this. It is a $100,000 - $150,000 car. It is a performace car because it was the only "real" way to market it to the target group.

 

This is just a question of programming.