Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid
Sponsored links:
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FUEL ECONOMY:
21 / 22 MPG 11.2 / 10.69 L/100km
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BODY TYPE:
Pickup
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TECHNOLOGY:
Hybrid
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BASE MSRP:
$39,000
If hybrid technology is going to make any dent in reducing emissions and saving oil, then pickup trucks cannot be ignored. In 2006, sales of Ford F-150s, Chevy Silverados and Dodge Rams came in first, second, and fifth place respectively—for all light-duty vehicles. When you add sales of SUVs built on a truck chassis, you have more than half of the entire 16 million vehicle market in the United States. That’s right folks; trucks make up half of the entire vehicle market.
On a microeconomic level, hybrid pickups also make two tons of sense. Pick-up truck drivers can easily use 1,000 gallons of fuel per year. At three dollars-per-gallon, the savings from a hybrid system on pickup would put the most self-righteous Prius driver to shame.
The U.S. automakers still dominate the truck market; therefore the opportunity for GM, Ford, or Chrysler to build a super efficient truck, with or without hybrid technology, is huge. More importantly, unlike pie-in-the-sky technology plans that rely on a technology breakthrough or expensive infrastructure change, hybrid trucks could be rolled out cost-effectively and almost immediately.
Who Killed the Hybrid Pickup?
So why isn’t there a hybrid pickup truck? Well, there was, kinda sorta, for a short time. In late 2004, General Motors launched an ultra-light hybrid system on the Silverado and Sierra models. The total production run on both was about 3,000, but it was never entirely clear if or where you could buy one. Then, in December 2006, GM “quietly dropped the hybrid versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups,” according to Automotive News.
Before the conspiracy theorists go too far, don’t expect a documentary release of “Who killed the hybrid pickup?” GM phased out the ultra-light hybrid pickups that produced a 10-15 percent increase in fuel economy to make room for full hybrid versions of the Silverado and Sierra, which are expected to get a 25 percent increase in fuel efficiency. The so-called two-mode hybrid pickups are scheduled to launch in late 2008.
The phased-out hybrid pickup trucks featured a cool bonus feature: they acted as power generators, using two conventional, three-prong plug-ins under the rear seat, and two more in the back of the bed. The four 120-volt, 20 amp electrical auxiliary power outlets provided power to electric saws, grinders, hairdryers or laptops. The juice was activated while the truck was running. And with the shifter in PARK, the driver could choose to turn the truck into a stationary generator and walk away with the keys in his pocket. The power supply circuits were protected by a ground fault detection system so overloads and short circuits could be avoided. According to GM, the hybrid pickups maintained power for up to 32 hours non-stop before needing to fill the tank. (They shut off before the gas tank was completely drained, so drivers wouldn’t be stranded.)
There’s no word yet if the two-mode hybrid pickups will have the three-prong outlets.
Lessons Learned
When we spoke with Steve Poulos, GM’s chief engineer of belt alternator starter hybrid system and flywheel alternator starter hybrid systems, in 2005, he said, “It’s been an incredible learning experience. It’s been the way that we’ve developed our engineering structure inside the company, to learn how to handle a hybrid powertrain. If you look at what Toyota did, they started small and local in Japan. They learned, and went to another generation with similar products. They upgraded their system. We’re doing a similar thing in full-size trucks.”
In 2006, combined sales of the Silverado and Sierra added up to 850,000 sales. If GM has the vision to produce 20 percent of these pickups as full hybrids beginning in late 2008, they could catch up with Toyota in hybrid sales in the one year.
even though the hybrid pickup is a great idea to help the environment, will these new pickups have a high torque rate or will tha power of the truck decrease dramatically?
Hybrid trucks on a Cowboy mentallity country where macho equals V8's V10's and Hummer's
I will have to see that happen.
Hybrid Cars, why do you always have a GM focus? move on to other more serious and technology advanced auto companies advancing and changing their product to what the public wants and the planet NEEDS!
New Toyota factory in Texas currently building the Toyota Tundra may within the next year or two produce from this plant the concept FTX 3/4 Ton V-8 Hybrid truck. Toyota mentions it will be the strongest truck ever produced using fuel equal to a
V-6. It is well known that trucks exceed car sales and that is certainly true here in Western Canada. Somebody make the move and be the enviromental auto HERO. What better PR can you ask for??? Still think Toyota will wear the "S" shirt! Love my PRIUS.
Lets face it, from a standpoint of low end torque, an electric powerplant will easily outperform its ICE couterpart. Full torque at 0 rpm's sound pretty good to me.
Call me a pessimist, but I will believe when I see it. With GM and Ford pulling little PR stunts all over the place, I doubt strongly that GM will live to any promise that it makes about hybrids and increasing fuel efficiency.
Its just not going to happen.
It certainly would be ironic/pathetic pick your adjective if Toyota comes out with a powerfull pick-up hybrid, with plenty of torque, electricity on-demand for power tools off-site, and starts selling more trucks than GM.
I wish these guys would get moving
Guys who don't belive GM is actually working on a hibrid should visit http://www.michigan.gov/som/0,1607,7-192-29940_34760-152748--,00.html
or drive to the Techdrive in Troy an see the Building and most likely some Hybrids driving around
Who killed the Hybrid truck? You guys have been printing GMs statments to the effect of hybrid tech on small cars makes little sense, but on bigger vehicles it does. It appears to me that GM has been working to bring the Hybrid tech to its trucks (where GM is most profitable(?), and, according to GM, where makes the most sense). So what if GM skipped selling the "baby step" Hybrid trucks! Sounds to me like it might have been a good decision. No body gets to deride how they perform and then have transference of feeling to every other model they make.
For the record, I think that hybrid cars do make sense.
Also now that Toyota is #1 in sales shouldn't you guys be complaining about the lack of fusion powered flying cars or some such thing is thier fault?
A hybrid pickup makes a lot of sense. Much of the towing rating is dependent on low-speed torque required to drag a wet boat up a ramp out of the water. Putting a high-torque electric motor on an otherwise underpowered truck could save a lot of fuel costs for small businesses and save a lot of fuel and emissions for everyone.
We have a Highlander Hybrid with a CVT. Going down hill the "B" gear (like a locomotive regenerative braking) holds the vehicle back a bit, but I wouldn't want to be hauling a horse trailer down a step, windy road with this. It's got great power though.
I just got a 1500 Silverado Hybrid had it for about 2weeks and it seems to work great gas mileage is approved drives nice need to get used to it a little
The way I see it, America's rural and blue collar people are part of the solution, not just the problem.
All the farmers I know are deeply concerned about high energy prices. They're in a competitive business with low margins. Farmers who are smart about energy are going to stay in business, the others are going to move to the city.
Almost every day I meet a rural or blue collar person who's doing something about the energy crunch: like my neighbor who worked as a diesel mechanic in the first gulf war, and came back to the states to work on biofuel systems. The other day my four year old and I were walking around the industrial part of town and found a guy at the machine shop who was working on his electric car.
Any cowboy who isn't concerned about energy has a big hat but no cattle. Give Americans a pickup with great towing power that sips gas, toss in the ability to work as a jobsite generator, and they'll eat it up.
I want a hybrid truck; I have been waiting... I think this would be a substantial improvement for the environment as well as the economy...
Design the Truck with 3 independant components: electric motor, electronic, batteries. All replaceable as technology improves. (plug-in)
Design an area below the bed for enough Lith-xxx batteries to go 200 miles at today's batteries. A truck/owner will take the extra weight without a problem. Upgrade the design as technology improves.
The electric motor powers the rear wheels just as the engine does. A V-6 engine will remain in the truck to provide charging as well as propulsion duties.
Around town purely electric, trips, both.
Simple.
Comments about hybrid pick-ups interesting. However Still wonder why Toyota hasn' come out with a model. We have had Priuses for years. Gave the first one to yooungest son and wife. Wife and I have an '03 and an '04 and are waiting for a pick-up to be available. Thanks for your newsletter. Enjoy eacch issue and look for the next one . Dan. H.
I was so pleased to finally see a mention of the huge potential for hybrid trucks, which would in fact have tons of torque. I'd love to see GM redirect the series hybrid concept they dispalyed in the Volt to their trucks.
A true plug-in hybrid pickup the size of a Dakota or T100, with 30-40 miles of all-electric range, a serious towing capacity, and the ability to power either tools or, in an outage, a building, would be a great contractor truck, save much more energy than my Prius and be the perfect solution for states like Maine. I'd buy one.
Being an owner of a hybrid vehicle is just the right thing. Even though the hybrid of its gas version will not only get 10-15% more mpg. you also have to look at the emissions (green house gases) that will not be giving off while sitting in traffic. the percentage of gas that a hybrid owner would save is another 10% if not more. also hybrids glid better than there gas powered one so that is another + in increasing gas mileage.
i live in Georgia and i was on a website one day and what it said was huge. It said that drivers in one year just in Georgia wasted 40 billion dollars worth of gas sitting in bumber to bumber traffic. That just shows that if a large percentage of car buyers owned a hybrid our wallets would be fuller just like our tanks and last alot longer. there are so many positive things that come from a hybrid that i do not understand why all vehicles don't just change to hybrids.
I have driven pickup trucks for 25 years, my current truck is 10 years old. Next year I will definitely buy a hybrid truck if one is out there. I would like it to get at least 30-40 mpg. Don't need any more than a 4-cylinder, light duty truck. Please make one, somebody!
THE BIG THREE DESERVE THERE CURRENT FINANCIAL STATE, FOR YEARS THEY HAVE IGNORED REALITY, THERE SHORT SIGHTED MANAGEMENT IS TAKING THESE COMPANIES DOWN A ROAD WITH NO TURNING BACK .IT APPEARS THEY HAVE ONE LAST CHANCE, THIS CHANCE IS A HYBRID PICKUP, WHOEVER DELIVERS THE HYBIRD FIRST WILL BE THE DOMINANT MANUFACTUER FOR MANY YEARS TO COME!
This may not be the right area to post, I would not mind seeing a hybrid Dodge minivan
So let's downsize to the Colorado and put in some real job-site accessories such as hydraulic, air and electric power sources that could be a multi-tasking construction power source for real use application. Can it be that hard?
For those who don't think GM has been seriously working on hybrid technology. Try doing a google on hybrid buses. The work they have been doing since 2003 has helped tremendously with the design of their new 2-mode hybrid truck that is scheduled to be released for 2008.
The torque of any hybrid still can't equal that of a diesel!
Everyone wants to know why we are still waiting for a Hybrid truck. And we still complain about the lack of power a Hybrid truck might have? Environmental and fuel economy concerns has been holding me back from getting a truck for years. If you build it, they will come!
I'm another one who has been putting off buying a new truck waiting for the debut of a hybrid version. I have to admit I'm baffled at the slow progress. Apparently the manufacturers think pickup drivers are stupid and will still by the gas guzzlers when the technology exists to make them more fuel efficient.
I've got a 97 Toyota Tacoma, 140k miles, 4cyl, 2WD, and it's time to buy the new truck.
But I don't see a hybrid in sight. The first manufacturer to come out with one gets my $$$.
But here's the back story: I got this thing used back in '99. I had payments of $151.73/mo. It's long been paid off. Now, I'm paying $40/week for gas fill-ups. That's $160/month. Yep. I'm now paying more for gas than I paid for payments on the thing. This truck has seen gas go from $1.19 per gallon to over $3.19. That's sick.
ATTENTION DETROIT: Need light-duty pickup trucks NOW! If you can't, I'll be buying from Tokyo again.
I'm still hanging onto my 1987 Toyota p/u, waiting, waiting... Yes, Toyota, your loyal fans await a hybrid four cylinder half-ton, c'mon, do it now!!
Not the only one holding onto his old truck until a hybrid light truck emerges. I wouldn't trade my 95 Nissan King Cab for anything, except a version that gets higher mpg. As it is the V6 gets me 23, but if they can squeeze 30s-40s out of an Escape, surely they can do the same with a pickup.
I would imagine one nice benefit to putting a hybrid in a truck is the extra available room to do so. Designers have been so busy making trucks look wider/taller/fatter that there should be plenty of space to easily add a battery pack and motor.
And despite marketing's belief that everyone buying a truck wants the ability to haul 10000 pounds, uphill while passing, most light truck buyers don't. A powerful 4 cyl or small 6 would do nicely for anything I've ever needed- pulling a popup camper, hauling furniture, loads to the dump, landscaping, etc.
IT WOULD BE A ALL AROUND FAMILY CAR THAT YOU COULD GO TO TOWN,CAMPING OR FISHING OR TAKE THE RUBBISH TO THE DUMP AND WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE PLANET.
I wont buy another truck unless it's a hybrid.
Are the way to go. I don't know what is taking them so long to have hybrids in every class of vehicle.
Why does the industry ignore technology that we have been using for YEARS... Diesel/electric trains/locomotives have them,.. why not trucks? is it a matter of size? or just lack of compatibility with Privately Owned Vehicles?
(My Dodge Ram3500 Diesel gets 21mpg avg. but its still not enough!)
I have a dodge ram 04 and im really hoping they actually live up to what they are talking about. i love my truck and i couldnt imagine myself driving a car. nothing would make me happier than have a new truck and making the world cleaner.....im actually thinking already about giving up my truck.....its sad but who cares, im getting a hybrid
I drive a 07 Bow Tie 3500HD Dually love it. My younger brother drives an awd 05 SS. Put it simple we don't really care about fuel prices or the enviroment we love our trucks if new trucks get better gas mileage then it will be a couple extra packs of gum in our pockets because gas prices will always out pace technology. Anyway... everyday I'm Guzzlin
its really cool that you r making pic ups but do they have the samepower as the normal trucks. are there dodge durango hybrids.
In these articles you dont really tell about just how expensive the cars-trucks-SUV's really are. Ive heard, to replace the battery, its a couple grand. Not everybody is made of money. So maybe if the prices were reasonable then people would reason with buying them. ???
Thought I was the only one thinking hybrid trucks.Get with auto industry, Get r done!
If the state of the oil market was not what it is today, ~$90 barrel, famers would care less about energy b/c it wasn't hitting them in the pocket book like it is now.
I've been hoping for higher fuel prices for the past 10 years because I know it is the only way people will reduce their energy consumption. Global Warming isn't enough of a reason to change people's behavior...yet a good hit in the pocketbook always is.
If anyone has a line on how to purchase the Panasonic FC1260 lead-acid batteries supposedly used in the GM "joke hybrid" Sierra and Silverado, I'd like to purchase them in small or very large quantities.
GMC supposedly used the FV1260 batteries in this 2004 "very mild" hybrid truck.
The panasonic Valve Regulated Lead Acid battery is perfect for our converted EV pickup truck, but it's not clear how to purchase them.
If you can help broker purchase of these superior FV1260 batteries, please call 562-430-2495 or email .
Also searching for a source for the EV1260 batteries used by GM on the 1997 and 1999 EV1.
i agree with many of the comments on here, i will get a new hybrid light pickup when they are available, regardless of the tag on the front or the cost. it boggles me that detroit cant figure out why they are losing money....they are 10 years behind the curve, reacting instead of pushing ahead. a hybrid ford ranger, chev colorado, tacoma, nissan, would get my 40 grand. until then, i will drive my 12 year old nissan and my 30 year old motorcycle.....i have little hope detroit will wake up.
Locomotives are Diesel (to generate electricity for the electric motors!). A shunt motor has oodles of torque at 0 MPH and is the only way to get them (locomotives) moving. A properly designed electric truck should blow away the best Diesel truck for torque. Hopefully they won't drop the ball and make a dud.
Also, how many pickups are on the road that only haul a load once a year or so (suburban duty)? Most of the time they are used for commuting. Those don't need the torque, except for building up one's sense of testosterone and to feed the oil companies.
I'm waiting too! When they can make an affordable truck that has a range of a hundred miles or hopefully more I'll buy one. options like an onboard generator and threeprong outlets would be a bonus.
Panasonic makes a much better battery now that is in the same case, EV-FC0890 I found a link that they are using them in Komatsu fork lifts. If you find a source please let me know.
Thanks. scotthvy@vci.net
Dear Toyota, 20March2008
Please don't give up on the hybrid/synergy Tundra!! Diesel is on your mind, but the prius is not a diesel and it has been doing great. So just do it with the Tundra. And certainly do it fast, 'cause GM and Dodge will definetly before you.
Signed,
Toyota Lover!!
I am a contractor and I have wanted an alternative to our ICE pick-ups for several years now. The large dump trucks use electric motors to drive each wheel. Electric motors power trains and ships as well. I wished to purchase a Silverado hybrid a couple of years ago, but most dealers looked at me as if I had two heads when I inquired; very little information was available. Dealers need to be more aware in order to "sell" us, not wait for us to buy what they have on their lots.
Most of us who use our trucks for work are very much concerned about all the times spent with no load at all. But when you need two pallets of shingles, a load of manure, 50 sheets of 3/4 ply, or whatever, you need substance and power. I want the ability to haul when necessary and still run errands. Never having to rent another generator would also be fantastic. And, a compressor and couple pneumatic tanks to supply my air tools.
I THINK THAT THIS WILL BE A GREAT TRUCK TO OWN. ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE OF US WHO LIKE TRUCKS AND HAVE TO DRIVE 70 MILES TO TOWN. THIS TRUCKS GAS MILEAGE WILL PROBABLY PUT MY CAVALIER TO SHAME.
you fool, you realize that in making your truck a hybrid you will
gain:
10 miles to the gallon
about 400 lbs more weight
lose:
approximately half of your horsepower
if your going to get a hybrid, at least go all the way and get the hybrid industry's golden very-effeminate-boy the prius, a hybrid truck defeats the purpose of a truck in the first place
Recently bought a 2008 Prius. It's a mid-sized, 4 door car (NOT a compact), comfortable for 4 with luggage (it is listed as a 5 passenger), has lots of standard features (ABS, traction control, stability control, automatic A/C, etc. etc.) and lots of extras available. It also has NO transmission, NO clutch or torque converter, NO alternator and NO starter.
The accessory package I bought made mine about $23,000. The battery pack is guaranteed for 8 years and 100,000 miles ... real world Prius driving in the US for 8 years now shows that the battery pack likely will be capable of 10 to 12 years and 180,000 miles. Actual experience by Prius drivers who have over 200,000 miles ... and still on the original battery.
This car is not slow, it cruises easily at 80, and when running on electric only in Dallas city traffic ... it is creating ZERO pollution. Oh, yeah, my current average mileage is 47.6 mpg.
I JUST BOUGHT AN 05 GMC HYBIRD PICKUP WITH 5.3 AND TOWING PACKAGE. WHEN IN TOW MODE YOU SHUT OFF THE ELECTRIC SIDE WHEN NOT YOU RUN ELECTRIC AND GAS. IT'S RATED AT 17 IN TOWN 20 HIGHWAY. I CAN GET 21.3 AROUND TOWN BUT YOU CAN NOT SPEED OFF LIKE MOST PEOPLE DO FROM LIGHTS TO GET THIS MILAGE. I ALSO RUN MOBIL 1 AND LUCAS SYNTHIC OIL STABILZER . IAM A MECHANIC BY TRADE AND A STREET RODDER ALSO. I WILL BUY AN OTHER HYBIRD GM TRUCK WHEN READY MY LAST PICKUP WAS 95 CHEVY EXT 350 AUTO TOWING PACKAGE WITH 220,500 MILES AND MY NEPHEW IS STILL DRIVING IT.
yota blows... and so does canada!
Brian,
You are WRONG. By adding an electric motor to a gas engine (i.e., a hybrid) you GAIN horepower because the motor and engine work in tandem. So in making a gas engine truck into a gas engine/electric motor truck you will:
1) Improve mpg about 20% despite adding several hundred pounds (a nit in a vehicle which weighs thousands of pounds) in batteries and the electric motor.
2) Gain horsepower as the gas motor and engine work in tandem.
Hybrids are a smart choice economically, environmentally, and functionally.
Think Green,
Steve
My truck (that I sold) got 13.7mpg. A 25% increase would be an additional 3mpg. BFD!
Im not driving a truck that gets 16mpg when it cost 400 to fill it up and that lasts 1 week.
Hi, i know things are hard to catch up on new fuel saving trucks, go an extra mile and try to make the engine as small as possible and electronic propulsion system more aggressive, or just completely electric . At least 250+ mile range. There's the option of fuel cell that can be produced independently...Be the first to make fuel cell stations around America...
All Hybrid technology lovers: Would it not be smart to mass produce PHEV - Plug in Hybrid Electriv Vehicles that could be charged from a 110 V wall outlet when not in use. Then have the first 40 to 60 miles of local driving done under battery power.
Since 80% of US driving is less than 20 miles per trip, a battery capacity of 40 to 60 miles per charge would not consume a drop of gasoline on those local trips. If we have to travel longer distances then the hybrid ICE could kick in.
Do you think this kind of an approach will upset oil companies and our OPEC friends?
Guys,
I actually consider gas-based hybrids eval, especially trucks and especially given the US driving styles. Anyway, I'd start with this cool article on BMW 520d beating Prius in terms of milage (!) http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/used_car_reviews/article3552994.... And these cars are not even in the same league!
It has always been extremely surprising for me how moronic should one be putting a giant gasoline V8 in a pickup truck in the 21 century. The only sound reason for me would be totally anti-environmental goverment policies sponsored by big oil companies.
Europeans have made enormous progress in diesel engines over last few decades, which has been totally ignored by US for reasons definately incompatible with common sense logic. Audi has even made a totally winning TDI race-car http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audi_R10.
Now, comming back to the pickup trucks: they are generally heavy, need good towing capacity and durability. This obviously implies enormous torque while staying relatively low on horsepower. Well, diesel is a perfect commercially available match for this purposes and has been around for decades even in the US: diesel versions of Silverado, older Suburbans, Excursion, etc. However, it was done mostly for 2500 and up HD vehicles. For some reason none of the US big-3 has produced any smaller diesel SUVs (excluding the new small Jeep).
Anyway, compare milage of a diesel SUV with its gasoline sibling.
Another aspect of US driving style is sustainable high-distance cruising. Once again, diesel is at its best at constant engine revs.
Why would anyone in the world with a little bit of common sense produce gasoline versions of them instead of diesels?
Don't you think that just by switching from gasoline to diesel engines in heavier vehicles US could have cut its crude oil imports and CO2 emissions by an enormous amount even without a slight change in lifestyle and driving habbits?
Can you give me any technological or economical reasons for this other than oil politics?
Ok, US customers have been brainwashed for years about diesel emissions, but lets get back to the european progress and their current emission standards http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euro_4.
I know US diesel is high-sulphur unlike european blends but even with that, a few VW and Mercedes diesel models are perfectly available in US.
However, this is peanuts compared to what's really available on the market in Europe. Check the UK sites since they are in English. Anyway VW's probably the best example since their 1.9 or 2.0TDIs are most common in their models. BMW 5-series or Mercedes E-class diesels also start with 2l engines which have long become equally or better performing than their gasoline ones. Even 3l race-diesels with train-like torque and 6-7sec 0-60 (which most people in the US honestly don't need) still consume about one half of their gasoline versions and would easily give you 35-40MPG.
You're welcome to check the specs for SUVs. Keep in mind that VW Tuareg with a V10 TDI is one of the most powerfull in the breed, they realy start with a 2.5l R5 TDI in Europe and BMW X5 makes perfect sense with its wonderfull 3l diesel.
As for sulfur you have 2 options. Reequipping oil refineries which is costly but oil companies have profited immensly from the current fuel prices. Besides, shifting to wider adoption of diesel fuel would be generally beneficial for the US economy (excluding the big oil guys) and environment even without big penalty on your lifestyle. Another well-known option is blending with biodiesel. BTW, good biodiesel eliminates one of diesel disatvantages - lower maintenance intervals.
Now, the other eval aspect of American "environmental" movement is E85 which is totally insane for me: 1) it provides considerably less power than regular gas and provides significantly lower mileage, 2) major sources of ethanol are food crops, 3) these crops are mostly genetically modified corn or soy-plants, 4) Brasil, the main fuel-ethanol manufacturer sacrifice their rainforests for planting it. Excellent!
And finally GM or Ford come up with their FFV versions of H2 or F-150 claiming them to be environmentally friendly! Guys, this is insane!!!
To summarize my statement: most of current US alternative activities are actually misleading regular consumers from the real and easy solutions. However, the good part of it is that US people have finally started thinking about their mileages and even these misleading efforts can bring some usefull technologies to the market.
I can't see any real cowboy not caring about gas prices. Have you been to Montana? It is a hundred miles to anywhere. That might mean a round trip of $80 at $4/gallon.
Another thing to point out to the macho insecurity type who "doesn't care" about the environment: Sign your check over to the Middle East. That is where the bulk of the gasoline comes from. So getting 50% more mpg means 50% less money to foriegn countries.
Just because you "Love Your Prius" doesn't mean GM can't make a better hybrid vehicle. I love these "brand fans". They should give them tatoos with every major product purchase. I bet you'd start seeing idiots with "Toyota" and "Sony" tatoos on thier bodies.
A disel/hybrid would fixe this.
Actualy I want a gasoline/CNG/Hybrid this is the best solution and it fits J Pikens proposal just fine.
I now have a silverado that runs on CNG/PROPANE/GASOLINE, I did the coversion my selfe (The trick is to realize that a CNG tank has no problem with propane. This is what you do:
1) The CNG tank should be a 3600psi model
2) The tank must have threaded inlest on both sides.
3) Instal a snorkle inside tank (a simple bras pipe that bends up at 45degrees inside the tank, about 1/2 from top. tank is a cylinder so you need to mark what is the top)
4) On the second threaded inlet, remove the plug and take it to a machine shop. Now take a CNG filing valve (the one that has a longer tip) then have pipe threads machine at the end.
5) Thread and epoxi the CNG valve into the plug and the plug into the tank.
6) Get a hevy duty (schedual 80) bras bell adapter and screw it using 10min epoxi to the threaded CNG valve.
7) Take a standard propane filler valve and remove all the valving parts (it is now an adapter) .
8) Screw this modify propane filler adapter to the schedual 80 bell adapter (use 10 min epoxi)
you are done.
9) wrap 1/4 in hot water tubing around the tank an hold it in place with duc tape, at least 15 loops of the tubing around the tank. Now use plenty of duc tape and wrap every thing.
10) using the original hot water valving on the CNG system, put the tank hot water in paralle with the CNG system.
11) use a 12 volt on of valve that activates (turns on) by the same power that tuns on the CNG system. you should also have a manual on off switch to turn the hot water off to the tank. (you only want hot water to flow to the tank whene the pressure drops below 500psi.
12) Add a second CNG Gas ventury in series (Propane needs more gas than CNG)
The computer will addjust the gas flow to maintain the truck runing not lean or rich by controling the gas thrtle valve.
You are done.
Note: IF THE TANK IS FULL OF CNG, THE PREASSUR IS OVER 500PSI, IF YOU TRY TO PUT PROPANE IN TO THE TANK THE CNG valve will not let you. Now once the gas (CNG) pressure drops below 100psi you will be able to fill with propane.
How it works (1) to fill with CNG use the standard filling
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