derek sollows

I'm not impressed with the silverado that I just test drove- but the
price is pretty inviting. the hybrid crap makes this vehicle a loser
compared to my present silverado

so can i take this extra crap out of the hybrid??

whitelightning

If you have enough money you can do anything. The electric motors are
internal to the tranny, the control system is intergrated with the fuel
management system and ecm as it will run on battery, engine or combination,
not to mention it can cut out cylinders if they arent needed.
Not that I am hyped up about hybrids, but what exactly is it about it you
dont like since GM is adding to its hybrid models? Fuel mileage rating for
highway wasnt that much better than non hybrid, but the city mileage was
pretty impressive for a full size truck.

Whitelightning

perfectreign

That's the - um - allure of hybrids. City driving is much better. Peopl who
drive mostly city swear by them.

However, highway driving provides little to no mpg gain over any other
car/truck.


--
www.perfectreign.com
linux - because friends don't let friends use windows
www.opensuse.org

whitelightning

In this particular case I will agree with you. But in the case of the cars
out there,
there is an increase in highway mileage over thier non hybrid counterparts.
Its just not
as great as Toyota/Honda were claiming in the beginning. Honda Civic
gasoline rated at
34 mpg highway vrs 45 mpg for the hybrid model. which in reality is 32 mpg
gasoline,
40 mpg hybrid. IF Chevy could come out with a comprable system on say the
Malibu,
Cobalt, or better yet for me, the HHR Panel and it was dependable I would go
for it. But
then I drive on average 43,000 miles a year. That would save me about $1,200
a year in gasoline. My biggest issue is no body is discussing what we are
going to do with all the batteries when they croak. Typical look at today,
and worry about tomorrow when it gets here. It's not like asbestos when it
was being used and no one knew the hazzards.

Whitelightning

derek sollows

the points that did not impress were 'subjective' but here they are:

in 20 minutes of city driving the engine stopped only once - and then
only for a few seconds. this cannot amount to any measurable saving of fuel

the engine size is larger than my 4.8 and I speculate that this is
because the truck is hauling significant extra weight in batteries

the use of 'coasting' to recharge the batteries has the effect of a
Jacobs Brake. It IS an alternative to using the brake pedal if you want
to slow the vehicle - but sometimes I like to coast with the throttle
off. In this truck I will need to maintain a little throttle in order
to coast - which cannot be cheaper on fuel.

those were the only points - but I would point out that no one trusts
'mileage ratings' AND that the GM reps at a major HVAC trade show in
Toronto a couple of years ago (where they were showinhg these off for
the first time) really soft-pedaled the likihood of any significant
savings in fuel.

likewise the GM sales guy the other day was skeptical of savings,
suggesting that I "wait a year or two for the new diesels that will
'replace' these hybrids". The dealer is basically 'dumping' this vehicle
- and with a payback of 14 years on machinery that will inevitably die
sooner than that - the true payback period becomes NEVER. So perhaps
these GM guys are just being honest about a failed experiment and
looking to cut their losses

derek sollows

Good point about those batteries. probably a factor in the looong
payback numbers

D

troy sigwing

pretty sure that GM never marketed this hybrid as a huge fuel savings, more
for the 4 dedicated 20a 120v receptacles that are available in the bed, more
for a contractor than for a the average person

eugene

IIRC engine has to get up to normal temperature to meet emissions by warming
up the cat so that might explain some of the running.
The engine is the 5.3 which is standard in the extended cab 4x4 trucks. Its
only slightly larger than the 4.8 and a more refined engine and gets
within .5 mpg of the 4.9 even without the hybrid. Its a 'mild hybrid' so
it only has a few batteries, that box under the back seat is it, about as
much as a fiberglass tonneau or cap so not much more weight at all.
Its not a failed experiment, that same hybrid technology will be in the full
size suv's soon.
I'm hitting 20.5mpg from a 2004 5.3L extended cab 4x4 and 17 city, I'd like
to see what it would do if I had the cylinder deactivation and hybrid tech.

eugene

The hybrid Silverado is what it being called a 'mild hybrid'. It only does
the zero engine idle and does not move the truck under battery power.
Therefore there are much less batteries, just whats in that box under the
back seat, so your not looking at all that big of replacement cost. I've
seen server room UPS's with more batteries.