To provide solution to the ever increasing gasoline prices General Motors has presented the hybrid versions of the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado pickups.
The Silverado Hybrid is sold with a price of $30,040 inclusive of shipping fee and about $3,000 higher than a V-8 powered Silverado with the same size engine and same trim. The Silverado Hybrid and the more upscale Sierra Hybrid were launched in late 2004. They were also the very first GM's gasoline-electric hybrids. Unfortunately, neither truck received much promotion resulting to their slow sales.
According to GM the total production run of both trucks was about 3,000. Chevrolet spokesman Brian Gobel said that there are also few unsold models of both trucks in dealer inventory. The production of the two trucks ended in December.
None of the trucks have generated much interest, basically because the hybrid system wasn’t able to drive the vehicles on electric power alone. Aside from that, the fuel economy increase by 2 mpg compared with a standard Silverado or Sierra and was not significant enough to attract buyers the way Toyota Prius did.
But in fairness to GM the two trucks was able to offer several unique features, including an onboard 2,400-watt generator and four 120-volt outlets. They also gave GM the right to brag about having the most fuel-efficient V-8-powered full-sized pickup.
In inactive mode, the trucks could generate enough electricity that could be used to power a house. GM officials are hoping that the hybrid Silverado and Sierra would be able to find a market with campers, construction workers, and others who needed electricity in remote places.
Sadly, the trucks were phased out when production of the classic version of the Silverado and Sierra stopped in December. GM officials have decided not to introduce a new version of the hybrid trucks using the previous model's GMT 800 powertrain on the current GMT 900 platform.
However instead they plan of producing new hybrid versions of the Sierra and Silverado which are scheduled to be launched in late 2008. The said trucks will be equipped with a two-mode hybrid system that GM is developing with DaimlerChrysler and BMW.
The two-mode hybrid system provides electric drive and a huge increase in fuel economy explained GM. Early testing done showed remarkable results--- a fuel economy gain of about 25 percent, that is according to GM engineers working on the project. Corbett further stated that there are no plans at the moment to equip the new versions with the power-generating feature of the original models. But like the previous hybrid trucks the new Sierra and Silverado, these new pickups are perfect for any type of exterior improvements such as the addition of push bar for instance to further enhance the front of the pickups.
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