Hybrid pickup?

Diesel-electric locomotives aren't hybrids. They get all their power from diesel and dissipate any power generated through braking as heat.

It looks like we need a couple more stickies; Gas vs Hybrid and Diesel vs Hybrid. The hybrid comments I read above sound eerily similar to those I've seen about diesel regarding economics. That being the higher cost up front for better mpg. Some may think it makes perfect sense for diesel but silly for hybrid and vice-versa.

agesilaus wrote:
20 mpg? The gasser half ton models get that, or better. So what's the advantage of owning one of these other than to impress your Sierra Club friends?

I may have missed it, but isn't the advantage that this truck is rated at 21mpg in the city? I think that would be great if my wife could run our kids around and get 21mpg in this type of vehicle. Yeah, some of the new half tons get 21-23mpg on the highway, but they are still in the teens in the city.

I think I would take a truck that is supposed to average 21mpg vs 17mpg.

I briefly looked into the hybrid Tahoe but it just didn't offer the versatility I needed with four kids at that time to justify purchasing one.

Funny, all this over a hybrid vehicle, yet all the vehicles we drive for the most part leave the domestic factories on the biggest, baddest hybrid vehicle of all: a multi-car freight train pulled by diesel/electric locomotives.

Just sayin'.................

To the OP, I'm sorry to tell you this but you wont have much more viable information to your question. Not because of the thread derailment we are experiencing here, but more specifically because I spent a month searching for more information / data / RW experience about the capabilities of the truck in regards to towing, and found nothing around the 'net - including this website.

Most of the information I found was gathered from a string of PMs with a member here, who also owns a Prius. And no, it's not Hannibal. ;-) I bought the truck based on my own knowledge of electrical motors and systems, and this particular member's feed-back. Yes, it was a calculated gamble, and one that I'm quite pleased with.

This is why I wanted to eventually create my towing experience thread. Guess I never imagined it would have come to that low...

agesilaus wrote:
"You assume a lot for someone to be so wrong. "

OK let's have some facts and data to show why I'm wrong. I haven't heard any factual claims from your side yet.

I bought the Prius because I work on variable frequency drives for a living and I'm intrigued by the technology. When we gave our Fusion to my in-laws, the Prius was my choice for replacement to use as a fuel efficient work route vehicle. Has nothing to do with any of your assumptions including cost to own or operate or what the Sierra Club thinks about it. That's how wrong you are. Any other incorrect assumptions you want to publicize?

mlts22 wrote:
Politics aside, there is one cool possibility to use a hybrid vehicle for. Slap a PSW inverter onto that battery pack, and you have a ton of amp-hours for boondocking. There are people with Priuses who do this, and can run a good amount of stuff from the onboard batteries. If the battery gets low, the little engine takes care of recharging it in a fairly economical fashion.

I think Chevy would make a very useful vehicle for boondocking if they made a hybrid 3/4 to one ton truck that had a 4000 watt PSW inverter ready to go from the battery bank. The thousands of amp-hours in the battery bank would more than suffice for multiple days, and the battery bank charges up on the next drive.

Now that makes some sense.

Politics aside, there is one cool possibility to use a hybrid vehicle for. Slap a PSW inverter onto that battery pack, and you have a ton of amp-hours for boondocking. There are people with Priuses who do this, and can run a good amount of stuff from the onboard batteries. If the battery gets low, the little engine takes care of recharging it in a fairly economical fashion.

I think Chevy would make a very useful vehicle for boondocking if they made a hybrid 3/4 to one ton truck that had a 4000 watt PSW inverter ready to go from the battery bank. The thousands of amp-hours in the battery bank would more than suffice for multiple days, and the battery bank charges up on the next drive.

agesilaus wrote:

brulaz wrote:

agesilaus wrote:
"You assume a lot for someone to be so wrong. "

OK let's have some facts and data to show why I'm wrong. I haven't heard any factual claims from your side yet.

3.0Charlie replied to your 3 points above one by one.

He actually drives one of these trucks and has the facts. You don't.

True but he is comparing AWD, which I believe means all four wheels engaged at all times. Is that right? And a 4WD which is driven in 2WD almost all the time for most people. He would have to compare the hybrid mileage in 4WD against the AWD vehicles. And the highway mileage is only marginally better.

This article lists as a disadvantage for AWD: gets poorer fuel economy and for 4WD lists as an advantage: can be driven in 2WD to get better fuel economy. It also explains the mechanical difference.

4WD vs AWD

I'm perfectly willing to concede that stop and go driving should get better mileage on a hybrid because of the regenerative braking.

Err... I showed the 5.3 4WD vs, the 6.2 AWD vs. the Hybrid 4WD - because of the 6.2 AWD? Ok then, here are the numbers of 2WD vs. Hybrid 2WD... Jeez.

Fuel consumption 5.3 2WD
City: 14.5 L/100 km (19 mpg Imp)
Hwy: 10.1 L/100 km (28 mpg Imp)

Fuel consumption Hybrid 2WD
City: 9.8 L/100 km (29 mpg Imp)
Hwy: 9.2 L/100 km (31 mpg Imp)

Since I tow 8-10 times a year, and I mostly use the truck in a 'City' environment in 2WD (only 4-5 snow storms a year to warrant 4WD use), then the Hybrid in 2WD is still clearly the winner - even with a increased 0.7L displacement over the 5.3L.

Anything else?

John

Hi. OP here.

At no point did I ask for or want to hear anyone's political leanings, conspiracy nuttiness, or other drivel. What I asked was whether anyone had some real-world experience with a vehicle I was considering. I didn't ask for guesses, I didn't ask for prophecies of doom, I didn't ask for snarky snide comments about my (or anyone else's) choice in vehicles. I asked for information. Imagine my surprise, logging in and there are four pages to read through! I was thrilled to see that the community in this forum had pulled together and helped me answer a question. Instead, I had three and a half pages of bull**** to read through, and one actual post that answered the question that I originally asked.

Thanks for that.

And a genuine thank you to the gentleman that actually answered my question eloquently and accurately. I'd mention your name, but I can't scroll back on the iPad to look. In any case, I appreciate it.

For the rest of you, stop using my thread to snark at each other.

brulaz wrote:

agesilaus wrote:
"You assume a lot for someone to be so wrong. "

OK let's have some facts and data to show why I'm wrong. I haven't heard any factual claims from your side yet.

3.0Charlie replied to your 3 points above one by one.

He actually drives one of these trucks and has the facts. You don't.

True but he is comparing AWD, which I believe means all four wheels engaged at all times. Is that right? And a 4WD which is driven in 2WD almost all the time for most people. He would have to compare the hybrid mileage in 4WD against the AWD vehicles. And the highway mileage is only marginally better.

This article lists as a disadvantage for AWD: gets poorer fuel economy and for 4WD lists as an advantage: can be driven in 2WD to get better fuel economy. It also explains the mechanical difference.

4WD vs AWD

I'm perfectly willing to concede that stop and go driving should get better mileage on a hybrid because of the regenerative braking.