MagicMtnDan
10-29-2003, 10:40 PM
GMC Sierra/Chevy Silverado
While Honda and Toyota concentrate on compact-sized hybrids, General Motors is pursuing a "bigger" approach - one that it believes makes more sense, both from an economic viewpoint as well as from a practical one: full-size trucks and SUVs that incorporate the latest hybrid technologies, but which don't require their owners to drive smaller vehicles that can't be used to haul or tow things.
Later this year, GM will begin selling hybrid versions of the full-size Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra pickup - first to commercial fleets, then later to anyone who wants one. These trucks will be identical in most respects to non-hybrid Silverados and Sierras; same 9000-lb. towing capacity capability, same 5.3 liter, 285-hp "Vortec" V-8 engine.
You'd have to put on some overalls and climb underneath to see the electric motor that's been integrated into the drivetrain between the engine and the transmission. The electric motor replaces the conventional alternator and flywheel starter used on normal Sierras and Silverados. There's also a 42-volt lead-acid battery pack to store the electricity generated by the system, up to a sparky 4.8 kilowatts.
The interesting thing about this system and the major departure from the approach taken by Honda and Toyota is that the electrical motor and batteries are not there to "boost" or even supplement the power output of the gasoline engine. In fact, the only time the electric gear makes its presence known is when you are idling in traffic or when you need to run your drill, Saws-all, or other power equipment.
Fuel economy savings of up to fifteen percent are realized by the simple expedient of automatically turning off the gasoline engine when it's not needed - such as when you're stuck sitting in a traffic jam, or parked by the side of the road jabber-jawing with your cronies. But the moment you need power, the V-8 instantaneously comes to life and you are on your way.
Meanwhile, the electrical power created by "regenerative braking" - the process whereby the energy used to slow the vehicle is transfomed into volts and amps - is stored in the batteries, and can be accessed to run your power tools at either of the handy 110 Volt, 20-amp outlets in the cab and bed. As such, the Sierra/Silverado concept is a vehicle any contractor, handyman, outdoor enthusiast, or fix-it-up guy would drool over.
Another twist is that certain accessories such as the power steering and the air conditioning system are either operated electrically, or are designed so that they remain fully functional even when the gasoline engine has turned itself off. The driver doesn't notice anything, other than the unusual quiet and the improved fuel economy.
GM engineers argue there's a limited market for compact-sized cars that can seat only two passengers (the Insight), or which are still so small that they are really useful only as commuter cars or for small families as a secondary car (the Prius and Civic hybrid).
(GM is also working on "Displacement On Demand" powertrains which allow a gas-thirsty V-8 engine to operate with the frugality of a much smaller four-cylinder engine.)
While Honda and Toyota concentrate on compact-sized hybrids, General Motors is pursuing a "bigger" approach - one that it believes makes more sense, both from an economic viewpoint as well as from a practical one: full-size trucks and SUVs that incorporate the latest hybrid technologies, but which don't require their owners to drive smaller vehicles that can't be used to haul or tow things.
Later this year, GM will begin selling hybrid versions of the full-size Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra pickup - first to commercial fleets, then later to anyone who wants one. These trucks will be identical in most respects to non-hybrid Silverados and Sierras; same 9000-lb. towing capacity capability, same 5.3 liter, 285-hp "Vortec" V-8 engine.
You'd have to put on some overalls and climb underneath to see the electric motor that's been integrated into the drivetrain between the engine and the transmission. The electric motor replaces the conventional alternator and flywheel starter used on normal Sierras and Silverados. There's also a 42-volt lead-acid battery pack to store the electricity generated by the system, up to a sparky 4.8 kilowatts.
The interesting thing about this system and the major departure from the approach taken by Honda and Toyota is that the electrical motor and batteries are not there to "boost" or even supplement the power output of the gasoline engine. In fact, the only time the electric gear makes its presence known is when you are idling in traffic or when you need to run your drill, Saws-all, or other power equipment.
Fuel economy savings of up to fifteen percent are realized by the simple expedient of automatically turning off the gasoline engine when it's not needed - such as when you're stuck sitting in a traffic jam, or parked by the side of the road jabber-jawing with your cronies. But the moment you need power, the V-8 instantaneously comes to life and you are on your way.
Meanwhile, the electrical power created by "regenerative braking" - the process whereby the energy used to slow the vehicle is transfomed into volts and amps - is stored in the batteries, and can be accessed to run your power tools at either of the handy 110 Volt, 20-amp outlets in the cab and bed. As such, the Sierra/Silverado concept is a vehicle any contractor, handyman, outdoor enthusiast, or fix-it-up guy would drool over.
Another twist is that certain accessories such as the power steering and the air conditioning system are either operated electrically, or are designed so that they remain fully functional even when the gasoline engine has turned itself off. The driver doesn't notice anything, other than the unusual quiet and the improved fuel economy.
GM engineers argue there's a limited market for compact-sized cars that can seat only two passengers (the Insight), or which are still so small that they are really useful only as commuter cars or for small families as a secondary car (the Prius and Civic hybrid).
(GM is also working on "Displacement On Demand" powertrains which allow a gas-thirsty V-8 engine to operate with the frugality of a much smaller four-cylinder engine.)