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2005 Chevy Silverado Hybrid Preview

The Right Truck for the Right Time

Doing the "right thing" and opting for a hybrid vehicle (HEV) doesnt have to mean giving up practicality, even if you need the use of a truck. At least this will be true once the summer is over and the annual barrage of new vehicles start to go on sale across the nation.

At this time Honda and Toyota wont only be joined by Ford in the race for hybrid gasoline-electric buyers this fall, with the introduction of its long anticipated Escape Hybrid, but General Motors will be the worlds first to market with a full-size HEV pickup truck.

If there ever was an automotive application that needed hybrid power, the light truck category is it. GM introduced its "FlexPower" hybrid

General Motors will be the worlds first to market with a full-size hybrid pickup truck. (Photo: General Motors)

powertrain to the media at the 10th National Clean Cities Conference and Expo in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Since the introduction the domestic automaker delivered fifty new Chevrolet Silverado extended cab hybrid pickups to Miami-Dade County for fleet use. No doubt this will just be the first of such orders, with governments and environmentally conscious corporations quick to pick up on trends that prove popular in the public eye.

But the Silverado

GM Director of Fleet Marketing John P. Gaydash (l to r) hands the keys to Miami-Dade Fleet Services Manager Olga Diaz and Equipment Services Manager Martin Dareff. (Photo: Gary I. Rothstein, General Motors)

hybrid isnt just a way for politicians and corporate execs to get on the good side of environmentalists. Its also a much more efficient hauler than its gasoline-only powered equivalent. Starting with a 5.3-liter V8 and 4-speed automatic transmission, the addition of an electric motor and battery power storage allows it to garner from 10 to 12 percent better fuel economy over the standard GM 1500 pickup. A hybrid Sierra will also be offered, capable of boasting "best fuel economy of any full-size truck" specifications

In the hybrid truck, GM replaces the conventional electric starter and alternator with a compact electric motor. (Photo: General Motors)

as well.

"These hybrid pickups will save more fuel than gasoline-powered pickup trucks, with no compromise in performance or utility. In addition, Miami-Dade [and all those that purchase a Silverado HEV] will now have the flexibility and productivity of generating wall-quality electrical power from the GM pickup truck when in remote locations," commented John Gaydash, GM Fleet and Commercial marketing director.

How does it work? GM replaces the conventional electric starter and alternator with a compact electric motor, itself integrated between the engine and transmission in a patented, space-efficient manner. Unfortunately

GM hybrid pickups take advantage of regenerative braking, which uses the kinetic energy developed by braking to recharge the batteries. (Photo: General Motors)

there isnt any added torque provided by the electric motor to help out when towing heavy loads, but nevertheless the electric motor does supply power to the transmission that in-turn delivers torque smoothing to the drivetrain. Up to 14,000 watts of continuous electric power is generated.

Those used to the regular rumble of a big V8 at idle, or an even louder diesel, will find the hybrid a bit of a shock when the engine stops running when the truck is stationary. Releasing the brake pedal will immediately spark the V8 engine to life and full power is restored.

Unlike Toyotas full-hybrid technology, also adapted by Ford and soon Nissan, the Silverado and Sierra trucks make use of a less sophisticated partial or mild-hybrid system - much

Two 120-volt, 20 amp (2,400 watt) electrical auxiliary power outlets are found under the rear bench seat and two in the pickup bed. (General Motors)

the same as used by Honda. The jury is out as to which is better over the long haul, but partial systems are not considered quite as efficient as full-hybrid systems, as the gasoline engine needs to be running while under way - unless coasting. Full-hybrid systems can drive on electric power alone, until the batteries need recharging at which time the gasoline engine restarts.

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