I was discussing with Brian at GotEngines.com the other day the first production gas-electric pickup by any carmaker, the hybrid Chevrolet Silverado. It claims to ride with the same authority as its gasoline brothers, just quieter, cheaper and cleaner, except I wanted to know how it affects his business.

2009 Hybrid Chevy Truck

Since, it seems to be the real deal, having the necessary power and attributes most pickup truck owners demand. No one would guess there’s a 332-horsepower 6-liter V-8 ICE under the hood — and that power number doesn’t reflect the instant torque from the 300-volt motor inside the transmission.

Brian knows that he needs to stay right on top of things. Everything changes so fast that supplying whatever engines are in demand at affordable prices will always be his paradigm.

The electric only mode at low speeds is silent, allowing you to cruise the neighborhood or parking lots on 18-inch low rolling resistance tires as good as any gas truck, sans noise. You can get it up to 30 mph without burning a drop of gas.

The Chevrolet Silverado hybrid includes an electrically variable transmission, which is perhaps the masterpiece to this vehicle’s powertrain. While there are four fixed gears inside, it electronically controls various internal electrical components giving it the feel of a six-speed tranny. It also has the ability to eliminate the electric motors when the computer determines the load is too much ..such as towing a boat or horse trailer up a steep hill. The electric takeoff is supposed to be smooth and you can top 20 mph in electric only mode when towing if the batteries are fully charged. While the Silverado uses the same system as other hybrid GM vehicles, this system has been updated with new computer programming to suit a truck.

This pickup gets 21 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway for the two-wheel-drive version. The 4×4 hits 20/20. Tests averaged 17.5 mpg in combination highway and city driving. My old beautiful 1 ton 1988 GMC 5.7 liter(I bought it new) gets 14 MPG at best on the highway at 70 MPH, this is a sizeable improvement for a big heavy vehicle.

It can still tow up to 6,100 pounds and the bed can handle just more than 1,400 pounds. Sounds like it can handle a standard payload as in a full gas or diesel pickup. The cost is high, so a commitment to our environment and fossil fuel dependency is part of owning one of these gems. I don’t believe for one second gas will stay at $2.00 a gallon for long. When gasoline or diesel fuels go back up to $4.00 or more per gallon this truck will pay for the difference in cost over fossil fueled trucks monetarily and environmentally in less than 2 years. Think long term if you buy a new truck.

As mentioned, hybrids use gasoline or diesel fueled engines along with electric motors to power up, so realistically gasoline type motors will still be in use for a long time. Until the technology becomes good enough to power a vehicle on electricity alone. With that in mind preventive maintenance is still a major concern, as there is still a fossil fuel engine to take care of in this hybrid.

This is a step in the right direction as far as our environmental/green issues go. I’m glad to see the manufacturers are finally making hybrids to suit all tastes. Based on the fact that these newer trucks will be warrantied by the factory, there may be little demand for replacement engines for several years. If you do what I do based on the economy (and my paradigm that fixing your old vehicle is cheaper than buying a new one) and have an older car or truck, keep it well maintained to avoid the need for a used replacement engine.

If your luck runs out, I suggest you contact the expert engine and drive-line folks at GotEngines.com at 1-877-268-0664 for realistic solutions for replacement engines. You may want to read more of our free GotEngines.com Blog and become an educated consumer. Educated consumers always make better decisions.