At the November 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show, General Motors unveiled the 2009 Chevrolet
Silverado Two-Mode Hybrid, which will arrive at dealerships in late 2008.
GM says the
Silverado Hybrid will get 40 percent better mileage in city driving and 25 percent greater
fuel efficiency overall. A conventional Silverado gets an estimated 15/19 mpg in
city/highway driving. Silverado Hybrids use an electrically variable transmission and a
300-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery with a 6.0L V-8 gasoline engine with cylinder
deactivation.
At low speeds, the Silverado Hybrid runs on electricity alone; at higher
speeds, the V-8 can operate in four-cylinder mode to save fuel and it can tow up to 6,100
pounds. Hybrids will only be available in Crew Cab configuration with either 2- or 4-wheel
drive. GM plans to have at least one Silverado Hybrid at each of its larger dealers and
says buyers may qualify for about the same $2,300 federal rebate that purchasers of its
two-mode SUVs receive.
