Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with the Two-Mode hybrid drivetrain system developed jointly by General Motors, DaimlerChrysler and BMWChevrolet Silverado Hybrid General Motors is now marketing hybrid versions of its Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade SUVs. Later next year, Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra hybrid pickup trucks will start appearing in dealer's showrooms as will the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango Hybrid SUVs.
What do they all have in common? They all use the Two-Mode hybrid drivetrain system developed jointly by General Motors, DaimlerChrysler and BMW. They also can tow about 6,000 pounds, sufficient for a boat, popup camper or even a small travel trailer.
They are also available in 4X4 or all-wheel drive version, so you can use them for more serious off-road duty.
The Two-Mode system should be able to easily handle towing loads. It is based on technology used very successfully in GM's Allison hybrid transmission for large urban transit buses.
The question is will they save you dollars at the gas pump? GM says the hybrid Tahoe and Yukon with a 6-liter V8 will get 25-percent better fuel economy on the combined.
EPA city/highway cycles compared to the 5.3-liter V8, the standard V8 in these SUVs. A 40-percent improvement is projected for urban driving. Chrysler is projecting the same improvements in fuel economy over the non-hybrid 5.7-liter HEMI V8. Incidentally, both companies get part of the fuel savings by shutting down four of the eight cylinders under light loads. GM uses Active Fuel Management cylinder deactivation on the Votec 6.0 liter V-8 while the Chrysler 5.7-liter HEMI V8 features the Multi-Displacement System (MDS).
Like most hybrids, the Two-Mode hybrids reduce fuel consumption by running on batteries only at low speeds, shutting down the engine rather than idling and through regenerative braking that recoups deceleration and braking energy. These strategies are great for saving fuel in stop-and-go urban traffic, but not for sustained travel at highway speeds. Indeed for many hybrids, the EPA city mpgs are higher than highway mpgs.
The bottom line is that buying a hybrid might be a good choice if the tow vehicle is also used for the daily commute, especially for longer distances in heavy stop-and-go traffic. However, don't expect any significant saving if it is used mainly for towing on the highway for long distances. Here the extra cost for the hybrid option might be better spend on a diesel-powered tow vehicle, if available.
