Hybrid Shortcomings Hinder It From Entering Presidential Service

“I asked can we make these cars hybrids,” Obama said at a town hall in Charlotte, North Carolina today. “Secret Service said no. Now, the reason is not because Secret Service are bad guys.  It's because the cars that I'm in are like tanks.”

The president explained because his limo – nicknamed “the beast” is reinforced for security reasons, and weighs over two times the normal weight of cars, “they just couldn't get the performance in terms of acceleration using a hybrid engine.”



 
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jeffy210 - 4/9/2010 1:01:30 PM

+6 Boost

No, but I bet you it's a perfect candidate for diesel.

Agent009 - 4/9/2010 1:09:57 PM

+3 Boost

True but his request for a Hybrid and nothing else tends to indicate a single focused attempt.

bmwdrvr - 4/9/2010 1:35:43 PM

+2 Boost

Im sure there is a hybrid that could work and deliver enough power its just that there isnt really an American alternative this is something Cadillac should look into developing. The hybrid powerplants in the LS, 7 series, and several high powered concepts im sure could power such a massive vehicle and still save fuel when large amounts of power really isnt needed to move it and utilize all the engines power when it is.

Agent009 - 4/9/2010 3:42:57 PM

+3 Boost

The question is the power in a 10,000 lb SUV or Limo.

bfghemicuda - 4/9/2010 4:15:51 PM

+4 Boost

Very simple. Cummins I-6 turbo Diesel Hybrid. Gobs of torque and horsepower with great mileage still does not need urea.

dumpsty - 4/9/2010 4:33:09 PM

+2 Boost

Umm. The regular Cadillac DTS is as heavy or heavier than the LS, 7-series and can weigh as much a Phantom or Arnage in secured-bullet-proof form. The Presidential limo weighs as much as 2 Escalade ESVs. That weight is like the largest SUV pulling a 40-60ft boat trying to speed down the road at a moments notice --- not gonna happen.

uaw_lax - 4/10/2010 8:09:27 AM

+1 Boost

Sorry BMWdriver there are NO Hybrds that could move the limo fast enough to get out of danger nobody makes it and to develope it would not be cost effective for one car.

truckman - 4/9/2010 4:13:49 PM

+1 Boost

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car/07q1/pml_flightlink_electric_mini_cooper-car_news
Obamma takes orders, commander and chief is only an allusion. This car would almost definatly have more power than the Obamma mobile, although I would hope that they would just leave it alone, it would take 100 years to pay its self off if it were made into a hybrid.

Joe_Limon - 4/9/2010 11:29:04 PM

+2 Boost

Since when was getting 25mpg out of a 425hp car considered a gas pig?

thetruth01 - 4/11/2010 2:49:10 PM

+1 Boost

The hybrid intrinsically does not have this "limitation" your headline alludes to. Have you been in a hybrid bus? Escalade? The system just could not be figured for that particular application of the pres limo. But nice flame-baiting as usual.

I haven't mentioned this in a while, but the Euros have sure jumped full throttle into hybrids in the past couple years, no? Hmmmm, was Toyota actually on to something???

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 4/11/2010 7:47:12 PM

+2 Boost

They had a slight advantage as they did not have to pay for congestion in London.

That advantage is going to be removed sometime this year so we will see what the sales numbers a like for 2011.