The Case for Hybrid Performance

Advancing technology often requires a trade-off between the ideal and what will be accepted. To gain mass appeal, green vehicles need to provide more than high fuel economy and lower emissions. They need to deliver a quality ownership experience and be fun to drive.

While fuel economy is certainly an important cornerstone of the green car marketplace, the backlash within some environmental circles that criticizes several of the most technologically advanced green vehicles – just because they perform too well – is troublesome. Good examples are provided by the Honda Accord Hybrid and Toyota Highlander Hybrid, which start with their standard V-6 gasoline engines and add electric drive, offering performance better than the standard models. Their fuel efficiency enjoys a good bump upward because of their hybrid powerplants. Still, some aren’t satisfied with that, and instead wonder if they wouldn’t be better off by starting with a smaller and more fuel efficient engine.

This rationale works for compact, lightweight, and already efficient cars, but the equation changes with larger platforms designed to carry more passengers and cargo. A heavily laden vehicle will actually deliver less fuel economy with a smaller engine because it will be working far too hard, while a larger engine may allow it to loaf along. Given the size and functionality of Toyota’s Highlander Hybrid – plus its goal of seating seven and providing up to 3,500 pound towing capability – it’s easy to understand why this hybrid’s designers incorporated a V-6 rather than a smaller engine.

Growing acceptance of hybrids across the landscape will come with diversity. As central as they are to the hybrid movement, not everyone wants to drive a Prius, Insight, or Civic Hybrid, simply because they can’t be all things to all people. Many prefer the versatility of a hybrid SUV or will elect to go upscale to a larger car with more luxurious appointments. To make these vehicles palatable, given the added cost of the technology and hardware, automakers need to balance the green side of the performance envelope with more visceral needs of those buyers.

Fortunately, hybrid technology is very flexible and will deliver significant improvements in both fuel economy and emissions across the board. Production hybrids like the Lexus GS 450h and RX 400h, and concepts like the Audi Q7 Quattro and BMW X3 hybrids, illustrate how seamlessly hybrid technology integrates into higher-end luxury and performance products. Clearly, the added cost of the technology is easier to absorb at their price points.

The Saturn Vue Green Line SUV is a prime example of how additional performance might sway a mainstream buyer to choose a greener vehicle. The Green Line mild hybrid offers 27 additional horsepower compared to the base 2.2-liter four cylinder Vue. When you mix the 20 percent increase in fuel economy and lower overall emissions with the superior driving experience that comes with this hybrid’s better acceleration, the $2,000 price premium becomes easier to justify.

Looking at the big picture, gasoline-electric hybrids aren’t the only answer to tomorrow’s transportation needs, but they are a crucial step...and performance hybrids will be an integral part.