Chevrolet Trucks Blog

With the worsening global warming situation, General Motors Corporation (GMC) has developed a lithium-ion battery for its vehicles and future models with hopes of producing more environment-friendly products.

The western automaker is currently collaborating with A123Systems in developing this exceptional vehicle feat. The A123System’s nanophosphate battery chemistry will be able to produce a long-lasting, safe, and powerful battery for the E-flex electric drive of GMC-produced brands such as Chevrolet, Ford, and Saturn.

“Breakthrough battery technology will drive future automotive propulsion, and the company that aligns with the best strategic partners will win. That’s what is so important about this deal,” said Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman of Global Product Development. “Whether you are talking about the Chevy Volt, a fuel cell or even a plug-in hybrid such as our planned Saturn Vue, we need to understand the fundamental battery cell performance.”

The Chevy Volt concept car, which was introduced earlier this year, was the first vehicle that was equipped with the E-flex electric vehicle architecture. This Chevrolet wonder can run up to 40 miles with zero gasoline and produce zero emissions. A high-technology like this could nearly eliminate going to the gas station altogether.

“The Chevy Volt will lead the automotive industry in a new direction,” said Lutz. “We see a future where vehicles run on electricity and are equipped with clever ways of making electricity on board, making us less dependent on gasoline. It’s the next great paradigm shift in our industry, an opportunity largely due to the rapid advancement in battery cell technology by companies such as A123Systems and LG Chem.”

GMC is really is committed in manufacturing these safer and friendlier vehicles, thus the company has named a diverse lineup of upcoming hybrid models such as the Saturn Vue and Chevrolet Malibu. Chevrolet Tahoe, a medium-duty pick-up truck, and GMC Yukon will be the world’s first two-mode hybrid system in an SUV. This technology will guarantee up to 40 percent improvement in city driving fuel economy to what is already the industry’s most fuel-efficient full-size SUVs. The system will surely improve the fuel efficiency of these trucks, which are usually utilized for hauling and towing.

From Chevrolet trucks to cars to sport utility vehicles, the brand has been a favorite in Nigeria since 2005, thanks to the franchising prowess of the InterMotors and Chevrolet’s excellent products.

A Nigeria Motors Industry (NMI) division, InterMotors, which has been lead by Graham Lowe has handled marketing the Chevrolet brand to the locals. InterMotors has had several phases before achieving the current management in the later months of 2005. Ever since Lowe took over managing InterMotors, Chevrolet has become a household brand for Nigerians and other residents.

“You will have seen the advertising done by Intermotors in the press, at motor fairs, direct marketing and by supporting specific company events but the best advertising that is available is the growing number of Chevrolet vehicles on the roads of Nigeria,” said Lowe.

Aside from Chevrolet, InterMotors also manages General Motors Corporation (GMC) products. Intermotors manager Lowe revealed that working on Chevrolet’s reputation was and is the key for the automobile brand’s continuous rise in the highly competitive Nigerian auto market.

“InterMotors has built the Chevrolet reputation mainly by sales to the general public who are a very discerning group as they are spending their own money but sales to the corporate sector are growing strongly. Both sectors have, and are, responding positively to our range of Chevrolet vehicles,” said Lowe

With Chevrolet’s quality products and the needed local push of InterMotors, the automaker has been enjoying a strong presence in the Nigerian auto market. Chevrolet takes pride in outstripping its 2006 product sales of Chevrolet trucks, cars, and SUVs. The automobile company has been greatly encouraged by its performance, which was able to meet expectations and demands of a wide array of customers in this country.

The after sales facilities put up by the company and InterMotors were highly appreciated by customers. Chevrolet truck or car owners can easily look for efficient spare parts. InterMotors has also put up quick service centers for Chevrolet customers in Nigeria. Moreover, Chevrolet’s good vehicles with just the right tag prices and excellent aftermarket sales support proved really costly for this positive output.

A Chevrolet vehicle made it into the top 10 most wallet-friendly cars of Cars.com. The Chevrolet Impala made bagged the sixth spot for the most economy prized vehicle available.

The 2002 Chevrolet Impala, which is equipped with anti-lock brakes and trusty side airbags, only amounts to $9,000 as a base price. For a fully loaded Impala, however, the price tag goes up a little to $11, 500.

Chevrolet, which is a General Motors (GMC)-produced brand, has also other competitors in the likes of other GMC vehicles like the Ford Focus and the Ford Taurus in the coveted top 10 spots.

The worsening state of global warming has pushed General Motors Corporation (GMC), which is the producer for Chevrolet trucks and other vehicles, to develop green technology for vehicles especially to trucks, such as the hybrid vehicles.

By the third quarter of next year, eight hybrid models will be released. These models will be equipped with three different systems. If that is not enough, GMC plans to have a plug-in hybrid before the decade closes.

The 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, however, will be already released. These trucks will be installed with hybrid systems that are still capable of towing heavy loads and deliver a 25 percent boost in fuel economy. These vehicles will take pride in the 320-hp, 6.0-liter V-8 and a four-speed automatic transmission that has two electric motors. The motors propel the vehicle from a stop to 20 mph. Moreover, the engine incorporates cylinder deactivation, and the vehicle body has aluminum panels to reduce weight. Another Chevrolet truck, the Chevrolet Silverado will follow suit by 2010.

Trucks are usually given the notion that these big-build vehicles emit more than the car average exhaust. This belief may be because of the heavy tasks placed upon the trucks which are almost always geared with powerful engines. The General Motors Corporation (GMC)-produced Chevrolet, however, has veered away from that truck notion as it came out with a fuel efficient 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid.

This qualities of the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid is considered to be the world’s first light-duty two-mode full hybrid propulsion system in this type of vehicle. Another GMC product that was made to be environment-friendly is the GMC Yukon, which boasts of a 25 percent improvement in fuel economy and superior driving experience.

“The Tahoe and Yukon Two-mode Hybrids combine the functionality and comfort of a full-size SUV with a two-mode full hybrid system that optimizes fuel efficiency in city and highway driving, the way most Americans use their vehicles,” said Carl Stephens, who tested the two light-duty trucks.

The Chevrolet truck and the GMC truck were geared with a Vortec V-8 powered two-mode hybrid that is expected to give off a composite fuel efficiency improvement up to 25 percent. This achievement is also made possible when combined with the Active Fuel Management cylinder deactivation technology inside the trucks. The hybrid systems utilized by the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon are also being used and improved by the BMW Group, DaimlerChrysler, and GMC. Improved systems will then be used for a wider array of cars such as cars, trucks, and SUVs. Great minds from these three companies are set to develop a more powerful and more compact system that can be utilized by both gas and diesel engines.