It’s one of those things I tend to repeat, if only because I sometimes have trouble believing it myself: The hybrid models of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra—full-size pickups with curb weights of nearly 5,600 lbs.—can achieve 21 mpg in city driving; a four-cylinder Honda Accord, weighing over a full ton less than those trucks, gets 22 mpg.
How is this possible? The GM products use an advanced two-mode hybrid system that, despite its amazing results, has continued to fly under most people’s radar. The chief problem has been costs. The system is on the pricey side, so the least-expensive Silverado hybrid starts at a steep $38,340. For comparison’s sake, the “regular” Chevy pickup has a base MSRP of $20,850.
This results in a classic vicious circle: The high price pushes down sales, which prevents development costs from being spread out, which keeps the prices high, which pushes down sales. And this despite the fact that the two-mode system also is available on the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade.
That’s a key reason General Motors recently announced it was going to become the first mainstream automaker to build electric motors in the U.S. Specifically, GM is investing about $246 million in its Baltimore Transmission facility, which will start building electric motors for the next-generation two-mode hybrid system.
For students of the powertrain arts, remember that a vehicle’s “engine,” very generally speaking, makes its own power, usually by combusting gasoline. A “motor,” on the other hand, uses power being made from an outside source, e.g., the chemical reaction inside a battery, to perform its work. Worcester Chevrolet expects that GM’s emphasis on efficiency will pay off big for the company and for consumers.
Either way, expect this news to drive further improvement—and lower costs—in an important GM technology beginning in 2013.
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