Silverado: A very smart GM hybrid
Finally, a hybrid truckI just finished reading an InsideLine review of the GM Silverado hybrid. Basically, the Silverado hybrid is going to use the same dual mode hybrid technology powering the Chevy Tahoe hybrid and the GMC Yukon hybrid, which means fuel economy in the low 20's, depending on wheel drive - either two or 4 wheel drive. Most important, the Silverado maintains full size truck towing and payload capabilities.
So what? So what, unless you're a contractor, a construction worker, or a farmer, for instance. Such hybrid trucks can double city fuel economy, while still providing nice gains in highway fuel economy, even when towing or carrying large payloads. This isn't a big hybrid that eases big vehicle guilt, this is a big hybrid that provides much needed fuel economy gains in a vehicle segment much needed by many American workers.
Now that's an American revolution. Too bad this new Chevy hybrid truck still won't hit the streets until mid 2009.
Labels: chevy silverado hybrid, hybrid trucks
posted by Dahcredyns at
9:11 AM
12 Comments:
and don't forget, that the math shows that MPG improvements in low MPG vehicles disproportionally reduce gas usage.
A 5 mpg improvement in a 20 mpg car, is a much bigger reduction in gas usage than a 5 mpg improvement in a 50 mpg car.
1000 miles @ 20 mpg = 50 gallons
1000 miles @ 25 mpg = 40 gallons
10 gallon savings
25% mpg improvement = 20% less gas
1000 miles @ 50 mpg = 20 gallons
1000 miles @ 55 mpg = 18.2 gallons
1.8 gallon savings
10% mpg improvement = 9% less gas
Can anyone give some mpg numbers for the Accord, Prius, Siverado, and Silverado Hybrid to run a real world scenario? Who reduces their carbon footprint more? A typical Accord driving commuter going to a Prius, or a Siverado driving worker going to a Silverado Hybrid? Notice I'm not talking about useless SUV type commuters, just workers who need trucks. Should be interesting.
I think it would easily be the Silverado hybrid, especially one utilized in more urban areas.
I know a guy in the construction industry. He has to have a truck, but gas prices are killing him because many of his job sites are cross town, or out in the suburbs. Right now he spends about $3000/mos on gas. Imagine just cutting a third off that bill? That's a huge number.
These "hybrids" are half-assed at best and the product of limited imagination and lame engineering.
Professor Andrew Frank knows how to make much more fuel efficient hybrids that he can build using only his own students.
GM is stuck in the "Not Invented Here World" and is giving us more CO2 than we need with minimal fuel savings. They should be building hybrids with gas engines 1/3 the size of the ones they're using and much more advanced drive trains.
These "hybrids" will be DOA and add to the useless inventory filling GM sales lots all across the USA.
Thanks for NOTHING GM. Can't wait to see how they screw up the Volt concept.
I know of many in the construction/farming business that will likely purchase a hybrid truck - at this time any gas saved is money back in their pocket. When a truck is needed, as mentioned above by alcatholic, and not just for "show" it makes more sense to use a hybrid.
I wonder about the towing and hauling - can you tell a difference with a hybrid engine?
shyronn-
you can barely tell the difference. these hybrid trucks were built for full truck functionality and can tow and haul almost as much as their non-hybrid counterparts with much better fuel economy.
creative genius-
So, such a truck, with a third the size of the engine, could travel 300 miles and tow a 6000 lb trailer up the Rockies?
Please!?
I don't disagree that dual mode hybrid technology is largely a waste in most large SUVs, but not large work trucks.
This is a great application of hybrid technology for a specific function. More important, I'll bet Andrew Frank would agree.
Seems CreativeNot's pantys are in a bunch as usual. NIce job, GM, finaly a hybrid not built for trolls!
The problem is that the vast majority of people use pickups as commuter vehicles, they sometimes need a truck so the buy one for the rare occasion. Logic has no place in the car business, we don't buy based on logic, it pure emotion. Look at the pickups, virually all of them are jacked up tall and are built for the penis envy set. Anyone who buys any vehicle needs to weight all of the features and benefits, one of the cost people frequently don't consider is residual value, if they did you would see more Toyota Tundras, which is a far better truck than the domestics. And Toyota is bringing out a hybrid gas and a hybrid diesel within a few years.
By the way, when I need a truck, I rent one from Home Depot!
i don't disagree that there are many pickup drivers that don't need pickups. i'm just stating that there are many pickup drivers that legitimately need the functionality of a full sized pickup. i know this because i know many people in the construction business. for these people, i think the silverado hybrid is a fantastic vehicle.
ps - forget the home depot truck. go to uhaul instead and get the truck for the day.
also, re: Toyota's hybrid Tundra. The hybrid synergy drive is not as well optimized to provide fuel efficient towing and payloads compared to the dual mode hybrid powertrain. I think this is the main reason that toyota has delayed such vehicles. for now at least, this is one area where gm could actually have a distinct advantage.
Hey, it's a start, at least it's going to be one of the first...unlike the Volt ('the game changer'), which may not even be the first out with it's technology. The fiskar is coming soon and other companies are already using the range extended. This company even uses the Hub motors which I love. From the article you can go to the companies website too, with more good info on the vehicle(s).
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/08/the_hybrid_mini.php
Looks like the right combination. Enough power with the 6L for when you need it and good gas mileage in the city. Of course if you just want a truck for the looks you could by a Toyota but a lot of people need a truck for what a truck is meant to do. Haul stuff. The electric motor should be great for towing because you get 100% torque at 0 rpm. Can't do that with any internal combustion engine. The only down side is GM decision to force people to buy unneeded options. Like the big hybrid decal. I don't want to be put in the same category as smug prius owners
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