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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg Gov. Schwarzenegger has been a fan of the plug-in Hummer since it debuted at the 2009 SAE World Congress in Detroit. (http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10253734-48.html)

http://tinyurl.com/pv9cq5Liane Yvkoff - CNET (http://reviews.cnet.com) - June 2, 2009

I don't like the choice of vehicle but I have to admit, this is getting a lot of exposure for the company. --Ed.

The Toyota Prius is great and all, but try carrying sheets of plywood or a soccer team around in it. Oy.

Kraig Higginson, Chairman of Raser Technologies, believes there should also be hybrids that can handle some heavy lifting. His sentiment was echoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who invited the energy technology company to California last week to demonstrate its 100 mpg plug-in hybrid Hummer H3 as part of a monthly series promoting alternative-fuel vehicles in the state.

Higginson showed off the series hybrid SUV, which uses a 2.0L EcoTec engine to charge its battery. The 4WD vehicle is powered by a 200kW advanced-AC induction motor, which on an empty battery achieves 33 to 35 mpg. The 2008 Hummer H3 with a conventional gasoline power train receives a combined fuel economy of 15 mpg.

"At its worst it already meets the new CAFE standards announced by Obama," said David West, vice president of marketing for Raser.

However, West said that drivers would be able to achieve unlimited gas mileage if they charged the vehicle's battery using electricity from a standard 110-volt or 220-volt outlet, and drove less than... http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10253734-48.html

"which on an empty battery achieves 33 to 35 MPG ."

I'm rather impressed by this. However, if they can get this giant to do this, what would this tech do in a smaller vehicle?

Ok, quick observation. This hummer supposedly gets 100 MPG, but can go 400 miles on a tank. Does that mean it is only a 4 gallon tank??:eyebrow:

The conversion costs at least $13,000 according to the numbers in the article. That's about what my car cost new, 14 years ago, and it was epa rated 33/38 mpg. This is progress?

It amazes me how incredibly ridiculous elected officials can look. Don't they have staff that review things for them before they stand up and make a speech?!

Let's look at the facts;

PHEV Hummer:
Range - 40 miles all-electric
Battery - 41 kWh

Aptera:
Range -60/100 miles all-electric
Battery - 10/13 kWh

Let's see, half the range with 4 times the energy consumption. Yep, sounds like the logic of a politician.

What amazes me is the lack of any want on the part of manufacturers to make some sort of plug-in hybrid in a 5 passenger family sedan. Seriously, wtf, the aptera is such an economy commuter car that's gonna get labeled for nerds, and this hummer plugin is still a big fat pig.

What would be excellent is if they started using this hybrid tech in a freakin luxury car. You know, those cars that put comfort over sport and economy? But wait, with a hybrid/plugin you get the quietest, smoothest ride ever.

Justin- I am taking this as a statement only. Sort of like a see it can be done, your move type deal.

If you want go get your COMPANY NAME out there and attract Investor Funding to do something PRACTICAL - I can see this as a HUGE WIN for Hybrids everywhere.

If these CLOWNS think that people actually want Hybrid Hummers - HH3?
they have to get a clue.

Schwarzenegger isn't mourning the loss of Hummer (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/06/schwarzenegger-isnt-mourning-the-loss-of-hummer.html)