Chevrolet Trucks Blog

The Chevrolet Tahoe has already made an imprint in the SUV market and is about to take a step further. Soon it will carry in its constitution the world’s first two-mode hybrid engine delivering a 25% fuel cost reduction.

GM plans to offer the hybrid unit in both the Tahoe and the Yukon. In the future, one can expect further implementations across the GM vehicles especially since the technology involved is relatively easy to replicate.

The traditional gas powered engine is combined by two-mode hybrid engines combine with electric input, enabling it to operate in three modes: gas only, electric only and a combination. Transitions between gas and electric power are barely noticeable unless one listens for slight nuances. Aside from this, it does not do anything to affect the driving feel of the truck. As a matter of fact, it even improves the braking system. One will notice a considerable difference and the hybrid Tahoe will stop in a considerably shorter distance than the non-hybrid version.

In the hybrid Tahoe, running with a 300 volt electric that powers the automobile until it reaches 20 mph when the gas engine kicks and the Tahoe starts to run on both systems. This reduces the speed back below the 20mph as one can hear the changeover as the Tahoe revert to electric power only.

The Vortec V8 hybrid engine that comes in the Tahoe is a collaborative effort between General Motors, BMW and DaimlerChrysler. It features an Active Fuel Management system that deactivates engine cylinders efficiently turning the V8 into a V4 and hence being able to contribute in having a greater gas economy.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 25th, 2007 at 2:47 am and is filed under Chevrolet Tahoe. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.