Hybrid pickup?

What is the carrying and towing capacity after adding all those heavy batteries. And if you do the cost calculations you'll find that you have to keep that truck for a long long time before you'll make up the price difference.

I was over the next few days going to write my first towing experience with the '10 Hybrid Sierra that I bought to replace my '04 Expy. Towing the same TT ('12 Kodiak 263RLSL), with a TW of 820#, ready-to-camp 6200# 26-footer (shooting for 13% TW).

Since you asked the question, here it is....

My MY '10 Sierra has the same mechanical features as the '09 you saw: 6.0l Atkinson engine (332HP, 367TQ), the Allison 1000-based 6L80 transmission with the twin electrical motors, for a combined 379HP. I have read that the electrical motors produce 210TQ, but cannot confirm that number. It also has electrically-operated AC compressor and power steering pump. Braking is particular, with the regenerative breaking. Warranty on the Hybrid system is 8 years / 100 000 miles and covers:

http wrote:
Chevrolet Tahoe/Silverado Hybrid Warranty

What Is Covered

This Hybrid warranty covers repairs to correct any Hybrid component defect related to materials or workmanship occurring during the 8-year/100,000-mile term for the following:

Transmission

Hybrid transmission assembly and internal components, including the transmission auxiliary fluid pump, transmission auxiliary pump controller, and three-phase transmission cables.

Brakes

The brake modulator assembly is covered by the 8-year/100,000-mile warranty.

Towing

During the 8-year/100,000-mile Hybrid warranty period, towing is covered to the nearest Chevrolet servicing dealer if your vehicle cannot be driven because of a warranted Hybrid-specific defect. Contact the Chevrolet Roadside Assistance Center for towing. Refer to the Owner’s Manual for details.

Other Hybrid Components

The Hybrid battery and the 300-volt electrical system including hybrid high voltage wiring, hybrid control modules, Traction Power Inverter Module (TPIM) and the Accessory Power Module (APM), are covered under this warranty

To compare, my Expy had the 5.4l engine tuned (new intake, cams, exhaust) to 380HP/400TQ on the dyno.

I bought the truck early February, and to this day I'm still quite pleased by the truck's behavior and especially the fuel consumption. On a full tank, with the low temperatures we experienced this winter I managed 640 kms (~400 miles) on one tank, which translate into ~14L/100Km / 20MPG.

The ICE / electrical motors combo makes for a nice pairing in regards to low speed launches (torque) and highway steady speeds (HP). Still baffled by the tranny, and the electrical motors / interaction with the ICE. I'm slowly getting used to feeling the small cab vibration when the engine stops running in traffic... I do find interesting the use of the electrical engines' torque under acceleration. Having 100% of TQ at 0 RPM makes for a smooth, strong acceleration. I was really surprised by the reaction of the truck when I had to merge on the highway - I really was not expecting that. First feel was 'sluggish', but boy was I wrong...

The Sierra is a SL1 model with the Z71 package and is stock, bar the Michelins LTX MS2s 18" (Load E) I installed. Upon its first road test, I felt it was a tad unstable from the back-end - I found the TW @ 680 lbs. (it wasn't loaded ready for camping). Increasing the TW to 820 lbs. on the Sher-Line scale (A-frame Arvika bike rack, 3 mountain bikes, full twin 20-pounder propane tanks, and 3 inflatable kayaks in the bedroom) and going to 4 links on the Reese DC made a world of difference. Acceleration was still present, and really felt great. Upon its third road test, I came back to 5 links with no difference.

Using the ICE's torque and the twin electrical motors makes for a very potent TV in all aspects. Pulls from dead stop are strong and linear. Highway towing is a breeze (@ 95KM/H - 60 MPH), even using the cruise control is great. I used the M4 mode: no hunting at all. The tranny makes a great job at keeping the selected speed. Barely any speed loss upon hitting hills - the transmission downshifts as required, and if really needed going to M3 takes care of the major climbs.

Fuel consumption numbers are great for such a truck while towing: 21 L/100km (11 MPG). Compare this to my gas-guzzler Expy @ 8 MPG...

Now, in regards to the design of the truck and its towing characteristics... no way this TV can be limited to such low towing numbers: 3950 F/RGAWR, 7300 GVWR, 12000 GCWR, 1435# payload. Under WDH load (with 5 links on the Reese DC) and 820# TW, there is only a 3/8" drop on the rear end, and front end is back even. No sagging, no sway, very little bounce when hitting bumps and holes. It's a very stable platform.

I'm very pleased with my purchase, and knowing that I can use the truck as a daily driver is the icing on the sundae...

John

So John....what Chevy Dealership do you work for....LOL!!!

Very good report, and a very, very nice rig you have there!
I honestly didn't even know that a hybrid P/U was available...figured it was strickly a Prius type thing. Of course, I don't really follow the trucks, as we have the MH....so today was another lesson learned. Thanks

3.0charlie wrote:
On a full tank, with the low temperatures we experienced this winter I managed 640 kms (~400 miles) on one tank, which translate into ~14L/100Km / 20MPG. I must state that I was a tad right-foot happy - as such I'm convinced that GM's 10L/100Km / 28MPG fuel economy (combined) is quite possible.

Your truck is rated by the EPA at 21 city and 22 highway. Look it up at www.fueleconomy.gov. It was never rated at 28 mpg.

My niece has a full sized hybrid GM SUV. She's had it a few years and loves it. I didn't know they were rated to tow. Thanks for all the info and report. I would love to have a hybrid HD pickup rated to tow heavy.
FWIW, the hybrid battery for the Prius is only 100 lbs. The GM is probably not much more. Seems nothing about the net rumors or hearsay is true.

Canada's fuel economy ratings are typically higher than the US EPA ratings.

Check all the ratings for the truck against your required TV requirements. I do not know hoe the pickups fair, but the Hybrid SUVs has a low tow rating and very low payload. The Hybrid system weighs a lot - battery, electric motors, extra high gauge wiring, and the 6.0L engine has an iron block vs. the base half ton 5.3L/6.2L aluminum block.

If you meets your needs, I have heard nothing bad about the GM full size pickup/SUV hybrids. 20mpg-ish all around for such a large/heavy vehicle.

3.0charlie wrote:

...
no way this TV can be limited to such low towing numbers: 3950 F/RGAWR, 7300 GVWR, 12000 GCWR, 1435# payload.
...

Well, they are what they are.

12000 - 7300 = 4700# is the tow capacity with a fully loaded truck.
That low 12000 GCWR must be from wear and tear on the regen drive train and e-motors.

But the 1435# payload is not that bad for what you get. A lot of "fancy" trucks are worse.

I've often wished my EcoBoost had some sort of mild hybrid or stop/start system when driving in the city. Sitting at stoplights and in stop-n-go traffic just kills your mileage.

PapPappy wrote:
So John....what Chevy Dealership do you work for....LOL!!!

Very good report, and a very, very nice rig you have there!
I honestly didn't even know that a hybrid P/U was available...figured it was strickly a Prius type thing. Of course, I don't really follow the trucks, as we have the MH....so today was another lesson learned. Thanks

Not only did GM make it in the pickup, but at least one manufacturer is making it in the regional MDT market and several are researching the hybrid concept in HDT applications.

brulaz wrote:

12000 - 7300 = 4700# is the tow capacity with a fully loaded truck.

You are implying tongue weight is added twice. TW will (mostly) go towards TV GVWR which assuming puts the TV at GVWR may mean there is 4700 pounds of TT axle weight remaining. Under 5k dry should be fine in order to meet GCWR. Keep in mind the non hybrid 6.0L equipped vehicles GCWR is 16k-20k pounds.

Pay attention to the payload as equipped per tire and loading sticker. I saw one hybrid SWB GM SUV at a dump station towing a TT in the last 4 summers of RVing. The rear end of the TV was sagging a lot. It looked bad. The TT was in my estimation too much weight, but he may also have the WDH improperly adjusted.

APT wrote:

brulaz wrote:

12000 - 7300 = 4700# is the tow capacity with a fully loaded truck.

You are implying tongue weight is added twice.
...

Actually I was just waving my hands and assuming TW was zero with the "fully loaded" bit.

Pretty sure there are hybrid trucks in commercial delivery vehicles, complete with start-stop, electric motors and regen brakes. So they can be made heavy duty. I imagine even more pricey though.

But if you spend a lot of time in stop-n-go traffic they might be worth it. As Snow Birds, we want a truck that can both tow heavy, and be efficient when we get to where we're going (Florida). Right now the F150 Ecoboost is only thing out there for us. But the technology is changing fast ...