Chevy Silverado hybrid gets official with the EPA 21mpg city/22mpg hwy
The EPA has posted the official mileage numbers for the new Two-Mode hybrid variants of the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickup trucks. The open bed crew-cab hybrid trucks scored the same numbers as their full bodye SUV siblings. The rear wheel drive models came in at 21/22 mpg city/hwy while the four drive models achieved 20/20 mpg. The conventional model with the same 6.0L V8 only manages 14 mpg in town and 19 on the highway in rear wheel drive form. The hardware on the pickups is the same as the existing 2008 hybrid SUVs although the powertrain engineers kept plugging away at the control software after releasing the SUVs. The updated software will also be incorporated into the upcoming Saturn Vue Two-mode and the 2009 Tahoe/Yukon.
Gallery: Chicago 2008: GMC Sierra Hybrid
[Source: EPA]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ignatius 3:14PM (7/18/2008)
Gets 2MPG more than my car in the city... and costs probably 8 times as much...
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EVan 4:05PM (7/18/2008)
In gallons/1000miles the 141 gallon improvement from 606 gal/1000m to 465 gal/100m is pretty substantial considering the Honda Civic Hybrid's rating of 238 gallons/1000m is only a 95 gallon improvement on the regular Civic's 333 gal/1000m.
GoodCheer 4:39PM (7/18/2008)
EVan: I like the -per distance- metric, but do we really want a THIRD format? Do you think Americans are smart enough to get used to l/100km, so we could just read European car specs, rather than needing yet another conversion factor?
who_the 5:04PM (7/18/2008)
And it does things your car can't do, like haul plywood, drywall, kitchen cabinets, you name it. *This* is what trucks are made for, and people who *need* to drive a truck haven't had a choice for better fuel economy -- until now.
CMiller 3:29PM (7/18/2008)
Not certain what the point of this other than proving that most people that buy trucks never use them as they were intended. The two-mode trans kills the tow rating in the Tahoe, so I would think it does the same in this seeing it the same hardware.
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Mbongo 7:53AM (7/21/2008)
Good job GM!
Kudos.
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Duodenum 3:43PM (7/18/2008)
This is a substantial improvement for folks who need a truck. My F150 gets about 15 on the highway. Too bad it'll most likely cost twice as much as a gas-engined equivalent, meaning it'll take years to make up the difference.
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GoodCheer 4:38PM (7/18/2008)
It's probably time to start planning for years.
What will gas cost in 2011? What will that do to the payback rate?
DJL 5:53PM (7/18/2008)
GM added to the cost of the two mode SUVs by using aluminum in the body along with other measures.
Any word on whether they did the same in the pickups?
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Sam Abuelsamid 9:32AM (7/19/2008)
As far as I know so far, only the Tahoe/Yukon got the weight reduction measures. The Escalade and pickups do not.
Casey 7:04PM (7/18/2008)
Kills the towing capacity? The Tahoe hybrid can tow 6200 lbs. That seems pretty good. A Tahoe with the 5.3 and a 3.42 axle ratio can tow 6500 lbs. Doesn't seem like a big difference.
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Nick 8:30PM (7/18/2008)
Very substantial saving indeed !
Now if on top of that they modified the front end slightly by using flush fog lamps (instead of recessed ones), an aerodynamic grille.....and smaller side-view mirrors, along with a suspension drop of a few inches, the saving would be increased further.
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philmcneal 9:45PM (7/18/2008)
i wonder what the software updates consists of, and why it can't be done on pre exsiting 08 tahoes/yukons hybrids?
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Stéphane Dumas 11:37AM (7/19/2008)
I wonder if this system could be use with smaller-engines in the GM pick-up truck line-up like the 4.8L, 5.3L V8s as well as the V6 version?
Also, since the two-mode hybrid done in joint-venture with Chrysler, BMW and Mercedes, it'll be under the hood of the Dodge Ram (and perhaps thanks to a agreement with Nissan http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/04/14/chrysler-and-nissan-play-to-strengths-swap-cars-and-trucks/ under the hood of the Titan as well ), will Dodge will use it with the 4.7L V8 or the Hemi?
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Sam Abuelsamid 12:55PM (7/19/2008)
Chrysler will pair the Two mode with the 5.7L HEMI and it would be a surprise if it doesn't eventually show up in the Titan as well.
BassClef 12:39PM (7/19/2008)
This truck gets the same mileage as my Ram 2500 Cummins but without the rough ride, more expensive fuel, and cold weather starting issues. If I needed a second truck this would be on the top of my list.
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Chris M 4:07AM (7/20/2008)
Good news for those needing a big truck, and a big improvement over the first GM Silverado "start/stop" hybrid pickup.
I'm curious as to whether they included 110 volt AC power outlets - contractors really appreciate that!
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HAL10000 3:32PM (7/20/2008)
Unfortunately for contractors, they will not get the generator feature. Sad, that would have been so handy!