The next time you know someone going for a night out on the town, or their high school prom night, be sure to point them in the direction of this monstrosity.
LimeLite CoachWorks of Santa Clara, California, recently stretched a Chevy Tahoe Hybrid more than 13 feet, making it the first hybrid SUV stretch limo ever. The very first Tahoe Hybrid limo was sold to Zbest Limos of Baltimore, Maryland, before the limo was even completed. Limo services for the most part have not paid much attention to its vehicles' fuel economies, but with the higher gas prices of 2008, more limo companies are looking into saving on fill-ups. LimeLite believes using hybrid stretch limos can save up to 80-percent-more fuel compared with limos running only on gas.
On top of saving gas while in motion, the limos also conserve gas by being able to run all electronics and auxiliary functions through the battery. Limo toys such as TVs and Karaoke machines and full-service wet bars (extremely important) would traditionally need the engine to be running to work; that's not the case with the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid limo. To ensure seamless operation, an additional battery and beefed-up alternator are installed, so you can use that wet bar all night long.
LimeLite is currently working on more hybrid SUV limos, including a Cadillac Escalade conversion.
Forget that it's not the world's largest hybrid vehicle (there are hybrid buses and locomotives), nor is it the first hybrid stretch limo (a stretched Prius was the first), but if you want to travel in style while reducing your carbon footprint, then this Tahoe Hybrid is perfect. Be sure to avoid those HUMMER stretch limos, though, you never know what sort of tensions might arise.