Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Hummer Hybrid Gets 100 MPG


General Motors is in in discussions with three companies to sell the Hummer brand. I suspect that Raser Technologies is one of those companies. Raser Technologies has developed a Hummer H3 Hybrid. Raser Technologies of a Provo, Utah-based builder of geothermal power plants, which tap underground steam to turn generators and produce electricity with less pollution than those fueled by coal or oil.

Raser plans to use an electric technology similar to that in the Chevrolet Volt, which should give the Hummer Hybrid a gas saving 100 MPG.

Raser says, their E-REV (Extended-Range Electric Vehicle) powertrain technology, will give the Hummer Hybrid approximately 100 miles (161 kilometers) per gallon when driven as much as 40 miles a day and can travel 40 miles on electrical power alone.

Raser chose the Hummer for the demonstration because “it’s the worst,” Higginson said in an interview. The company wanted to “show the world that technology can take the worst offender and make it greener than a” Toyota Prius, he said.


A 2008 Hummer H3 gets 14 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway, while a Prius gets 48 mpg in the city and 45 on the highway, according to the E.P.A.

My take is that I am somewhat skeptical that 100 MPG can be achieved with such a heavy vehicle. If they can...they deserve the recognition and sales that this achievement will generate.

This also demonstrates that smaller companies are on the forefront of this technological shift in the automobile powertrains. Then, why cannot the big three generate this kind of technology with all their money and resources?

8 comments:

  1. Now this one we would go for. Even if it did not get the 100 mpg. It is still a lot better than the hummer gets now. Love that color. Keep us posted on this one. We would like to know where Riser is in Provo. We would like to go see it. We are in Provo often. It is nice to know that a Utah company is doing these good things.
    Dan and Deanna "Marketing Unscrambled"

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Dan & Deanna,

    Glad that you like this post! It shows that technology can solve many of the energy problems!

    The electric revolution is just starting! Here is the Raser contact information.

    Raser Technologies, Inc.
    5152 North Edgewood Drive
    Provo, Utah 84604

    Tel: 1-801-765-1200
    Toll Free: 1-888-81-POWER
    Fax: 1-801-374-3314

    info@rasertech.com


    Thanks for commenting!

    Pete Baca
    The Car Enthusiast Online

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you Peter for the address. We will check it out.
    Dan and Deanna "Marketing Unscrambled"

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Dan & Deanna,

    Glad that my post was helpful! Keep me updated on what you think of the the Hummer Hybrid!

    Best Regards

    Pete Baca
    The Car Enthusiast Online

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Pete .. well you got one positive comment .. can't say mine is!! No - I just don't appreciate these kind of cars .. but it's good to know the young companies are at the forefront of these technologies!

    I'll visit Dan & Deanna for a test drive - by the sound of it ..

    Hilary Melton-Butcher
    Positive Letters

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Hilary,

    Interesting comment! SUV's are not my type of cars normally either. But, the point that the CEO made was that if they can do that to a Hummer....they can do that with any heavy vehicle.

    SUV's and heavy truck are a necessity for some large families and organizations. So, if they can make them fuel efficient and cost effective...then the technology will be successful.

    I applaud efforts by these smaller companies Raser and Terla! Thank you for your comments!

    Pete Baca
    The Car Enthusiast Online

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Pete .. jet lag had crept in (my excuse for not reading the post properly!!) .. ok I can see the point now ..

    So these two companies are a couple of the up and coming new kids on the auto block, with their technological improvements ..

    Hilary Melton-Butcher
    Positive Letters

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Hilary,

    Personally, I thought that this company deserves the sales if they can achieve these kind of fuel mileage.

    It also shows how badly managed the big three have been over the years! It is travesty!

    Thanks for your comment!

    Pete Baca
    The Car Enthusiast Online

    ReplyDelete