How far will big hybrid SUVs go?

In a previous post about AFS Trinity’s 150 mile per gallon vehicle, we highlighted one company’s rage about the popularity of hybrid SUVs that get only a few more miles to the gallon than their standard fuel counterparts. This article from the San Mateo Daily Journal takes a closer look at the offenders and inspired this blog post.

Both the 2009 Dodge Durango and 2009 Chrysler Aspen will be ending production after this year. While competitive in terms of price, comfort, fuel economy, and hauling capability (both hybrid SUVs featured a Hemi engine – the only two hybrid vehicles to do so), Chrysler has been forced to stop production. The Delaware plant where the two hybrid SUVs are manufactured is being shut down due to lagging sales and Chrysler has no plans to move production of the two vehicles elsewhere.

The hybrids SUVs were on the market a few short months before it was announced that production would be stopped. While Chrysler has no plans to continue these two large hybrids, they say they are committed to introducing other hybrids to the market.

Between the AFS Trinity squabble and Chrysler stopping production on the only two hybrids with Hemi power, I wonder if the days of large SUVs as the “every man” car are coming to a close. Some people are saying that they don’t need all that space just for day to day driving and that it is wasteful (in terms of money and the environment) when they drive big, empty SUVs – even if they are hybrids.

I am interested in what you all think. Are big SUVs a thing of the past, or will they return with lower fuel prices? Would you buy a 150 mile per gallon SUV or car if it were available?

I hope that this news gets people thinking. We are starting to hear more about ways to cut waste from our lives and transportation in America is one area that really needs the waste cut out. Stopping production of big hybrid SUVs might end up being one of Chrysler’s company saving moves. Optimistically, I say maybe they are looking further ahead than we realize. Maybe now they will apply their two-mode hybrid technology in smaller, more affordable vehicles. More realistically, they are just trying to save every cent they can while they wait for the government to step in and help them pay their bills. Those answers will come soon enough.