Flexfuel. Plug-in hybrids. Chevrolet Volt. Signs of General Motors (re)newed interest in the environment?

Flexfuel. Plug-in hybrids. Chevrolet Volt. Signs of General Motors (re)newed interest in the environment?

Well, maybe. Jeff Sabatini of Automotive Design and Production writes on the General’s attempts to sell itself as a more environmentally-friendly company. Case in point: its line-up of full-sized pickups. Disgarding the size of these things and how much wear they put on the environment by their very existence, they were developed with the environment in mind according to Carl Freeman, GM’s executive director of the Truck Integration Engineering Center. Changes to make them green-friendly included less weight to improve fuel-economy, recycled parts from old Saturns vehicles (new ones are strictly steel), and less toxic mercury through redesigned switches.

But is this enough to show GM’s change of heart? Sabatini goes on to discuss other automakers efforts to minimize their impact in the environment. Personally, we continue to join the legions of enthusiasts and the public who roll their eyes at GM’s latest marketing ploy.

Why? The trucks, no matter how they’re developed or sold, continue to be massive (and how!) pollutants to the environment. Its massive tires alone accelerate wear and tear of roads. While the gasoline versions may be more fuel-efficent and, as the argument goes, use less gasoline, there are the diesel versions which are barely regulated outside a few states. And what about the numerous owners who use them as their regular vehicle. One driver for a 20′, and larger, vehicle?

No, GM, like all corporations, manipulates the media to make high-profit pickups palatable. And it’s not alone. Toyota, with its so-called “green image” based off its successful hybrids, is worse due to the existence of its truck and SUV lines. Can you spell hypocrite?

Before you start calling us GM-bashers, we interrupt to let you know that we like its line-up, including its trucks (for the most part). Both have their place in society. However, we object to when companies try to portray their products and, thus, their companies, in such lies. Build high-quality pickups that get great gas mileage while consuming less fuel. Just don’t imply you’re part of the Sierra Club.