pet connection

In a somewhat surprising announcement, the Green Car Journal announced last week at the LA Auto Show that the 2008 Green Car of the Year Award goes to the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid. The new Tahoe looks exactly like the gas-powered model, big and boxy, but from the driver’s seat, you’ll notice a significant reduction in noise – as in total silence when you come to a stop.

The Tahoe’s wide rear stance and spacious cargo area combined with its raised and rugged body, make it a perfect dog car for sure. I’ve always listed the Tahoe as one of my favorite SUVs because it handles so effortlessly for a brute that big. That alone should make the Tahoe a top choice for handlers of multiple dogs.

What made the award announcement so surprising is that the Tahoe hybrid only gets an average of 21 miles per gallon in the city according to the EPA’s 2008 ratings — a 50 percent fuel mileage increase over the standard Tahoe. That’s paltry compared to other hybrids, including some of the other finalists for the award. But fuel mileage was only one of the factors considered by the jury.

Here’s how the Green Car Journal explains it:

Along with the Tahoe Hybrid, the jury considered 2008 Green Car of the Year nominees including the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, Mazda Tribute Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid, and the Saturn Aura Hybrid. Dozens of 2008 model year vehicles using all technologies and fuels were considered by the Green Car Journal staff in narrowing down the field to five nominees.

Along with their considerable achievements in raising the bar in environmental performance, each of those making the final cut had to meet the requirement of being on sale and widely available to the public by Jan. 1, 2008. “Newness” was also a factor in the nomination process, with nominees ideally in the earlier phases of their production cycle rather than near the end. Other factors that weigh in on the decision making include production volume and the likelihood of a candidate vehicle’s environmentally-focused technologies leading to further implementation in other vehicles.

Here’s the full release.

In other words, General Motors won the awards because it is GM, and therefore has the biggest opportunity to spread the hybrid technology into more mainstream models, as it already has done with the Chevrolet Malibu and the Saturn Aura. In fact, combined with GM’s other advances with hydrogen and electric technologies, this award is simply an acknowledgement that General Motors is rolling ahead with alternative fuel options. Finally!