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GM expands hybrid range

November 2005
 

General Motors has expanded the availability of its full-size hybrid pick-up trucks nationwide beginning with the 2006 model year.

The Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra hybrid pick-ups are the world's first full-size hybrid pick-up trucks, provide the highest estimated city fuel economy of any full-size truck in the market and offer customers the added benefit of a 2400-watt built-in generator. The trucks were previously available in select markets.The hybrid option is available on the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 extended cab pick-ups.

These hybrid pick-ups deliver a 10 per cent fuel economy improvement over regular models, making them the most fuel-efficient full-size trucks on the road. "It's a fully capable V8 powered hybrid pick-up truck that can haul and tow just as much as its rugged gasoline counterpart, along with providing customers a 10 per cent fuel economy savings," said Tom Stephens, group vice president, GM Powertrain.

The hybrid pick-ups achieve extra fuel savings because they automatically stop and restart the engine under different operating circumstances. Instead of a conventional starter motor and alternator, the hybrid pick-ups use a compact 14-kW electric induction motor or starter generator integrated in a patented, space-efficient manner between the engine and transmission.

The starter generator provides fast, quiet starting power and allows automatic engine stops/starts to conserve fuel. It also smoothes out any driveline surges and generates electrical current to charge the batteries.

The electricity generated by the starter generator has plenty of uses. It may be stored in a 42-volt lead-acid battery pack for future use, support on-board electric accessories, or provide 20 amps of 120-volt household-like power through outlets in the cab and pickup bed to operate power tools at a construction site or to run essential home appliances during power outages.