chevy heading into the future
 

I know this is OT, but check out my new work truck. Its a full size hybrid. We are the first to receive 50 of these trucks from the factory for testing. Its got a 5.3 vortec with an electric converter/transmission thinging (still haven had time to look at it). It as a 24v batt. pack under the rear seat for the electric motor that helps drive along the transmission. some cool features... the engine will shut down when the truck comes to a braking stand still, then it will fire up again as soon as you let off the brake pedal. However in Florida its to dam hot, so we override the system so now it wont shut off unless the cabin temp. is what I set it at. The engine will shut of at idle but will start back up if the inside cabin temp goes above 74 degs or whatever I'm in the mood for. It doesn’t save as much fuel as the small car hybrids but it saves more then 10% over the same type of truck with out electric power. This 4X4 is no turtle; it will set you back in the seat at lot more then those old 5.7s. The only draw back is I have to return it after testing for the next 2 years and every month I have to write comments on the vehicle. I don’t know when they will be available to the public or their cost

Sounds interesting but I would hate to get stuck in stop-n-go traffic w/it shutting off/starting all the time.

let's take it apart and see how it works!

I've got a special tool for disassembly, It's called a BFH.. :metal: :metal:

I don't think it would be that bad...golf carts are like that nowadays, when you stop they shut off and when you hit the gas its almost instantaneous acceleration. That truck sounds cool.

True.... but golf carts are all electric (@ least the ones I've encountered) & the truck is fuel burning/elect hybrid. Electricity can come on instantaneously, the fossil fuel requires being spun over & ignite compression first. I'm sure it feels relatively seemless as that's been a big focus of GM's (actually all hybrid manufacturers). The future DOD (displacement on demand) set-ups are said to work as seemlessly.

Keep us updated on how you like it Jamis.

Thanks for sharing that with us!

Definitely interesting. You'll have to keep us posted on ho3w she holds up.

I wanna get a displacement on demand setup on my 350 :P

That with the obvious fuel injection and an overdrive tranny, can anyone say gas milage? :D

You cant really tell when it starts up. It has no conventional starter, i think it uses the electric torque converter to crank the engine. The prosses is really quick even with the radio off you can't tell till you look at the tach the engine starts and turns off. Like I said you dont even have to accelarate to turn the engine on, as soon as you let off the brake the engine comes on before you can even hit the gas pedal. We also have had the Toyota hybrids for a while, they are more noticible because you can accelerate with the gas engine off on electric power. Maybe enough of these things get on the road and we wont have to depend on foriegn oil. Iran and Iraq can go back trying to sell beach sand. :)

When is somebody gonna throw one into their truck, that's what I wanna know!:D

Doesn't belong in my stable....

I'm really interested in how these things work too. How's the torque on it? What's the max towing weight?

Jay