General Motors has attempted to thrust itself to the forefront of advanced vehicle technology with its innovative Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid concept. While hurdles remain, GM is maintaining that it may have limited numbers of these vehicles, which could run up to 40 miles on battery power alone, on the market by the end of the decade.

As exciting as that potential is, if GM is to truly be a part of a clean vehicle future, it must focus on the technologies it already has to give drivers more efficient options in every vehicle class. One promising new GM technology is its “two-mode” hybrid drivetrain. GM’s new system is among the most sophisticated hybrid drivetrains now available on the market, as it can adjust the use of the vehicle’s electric motor and gasoline engine to optimize operating efficiency during both highway and city travel.

GM’s impressive engineering achievement has unfortunately been stymied by a “business as usual” application. GM and its two-mode development partners are betting that big hybrids will be popular among consumers who want to save fuel without compromising on storage space or towing capability—not a bad bet with gas prices where they are. What makes the Tahoe and Yukon Hybrids a wasted opportunity is the fact that they are “muscle hybrids,” with a 6.0 liter engine that is actually larger than the standard Tahoe and Yukon 5.3 liter V8 engine

The great thing about hybrid technology is the fact that you can downsize the gas engine and have the electric motor compensate. GM could have replaced the V8 with a turbocharged V6 engine (something Ford is doing more of) then attached it to the two-mode system. They also have a smaller 4.8 liter engine on some Yukon and Tahoe models, but chose not to use it for their hybrids. They did not even use the standard 5.3 liter V8. Instead, they strapped some great technology to an even thirstier engine, which robs large SUV consumers of a great opportunity—a big SUV with standard sedan-level fuel economy.

If GM truly wants to live up to its “American Revolution” moniker, it must put the innovative technologies its engineers have developed into widespread, more innovative use. As GM vice chairman Bob Lutz said himself at the New York Auto Show, "I think the whole company has learned when you step out and do bold things, you win and when you're cautious and let other people do the bold things, you lose." Richard Wagoner now needs to make those words into reality. If he does so . . . truly does so . . . we all stand to benefit.