If you've ever been to a full-size American farm, with hundreds of acres to cover, you know that just to go around, without even beginning to haul whatever farm produce needed to be moved around, will mean a full-size, powerful vehicle. In the United States, and probably in huge European and Asian farms, too, these farm trucks come in the form of full-size, all-duty, pickup trucks. Now imagine working with a hybrid pickup truck.
In the U.S., Ford full-size pickup trucks are the bestsellers. But not far behind are the Chevrolet and GMC lines of pickup trucks off heavy-duty platforms. Aside from CUVs and SUVs, pickup trucks are the favorite pick of the all-American worker.
But can you just imagine the kind of fuel these big guys use up?
Hybrid Pickup Trucks Stand Out
Well, how about using alternative fuel or alternative power source for these gas-monsters? Hybrids are the answer. Not too long ago, Chevrolet and GMC introduced their lines of hybrid pickup trucks to go neck-to-neck with the best-selling F-Series of Ford Motors. Chevrolet's Silverado and GMC's Sierra, both gave a new twist to the good old pickup truck: that of a hybrid original.
GM Chevrolet came out with a hybrid Silverado recently, the first GM hybrid actually. Its electric motor does "mild hybrid" service to run power accessories and engine assistance. The hybrid has extra batteries that store power and kicks in when needed to add push to the already powerful Vortec V8 engine.
The Silverado hybrid pickup truck, side to side with its counterpart the GMC Sierra hybrid pickup, is a sight for sore environmentalist's eyes who shudder at the rate these trucks' conventional brothers guzzle fuel and emit carbon dioxide.
Hybrid Pickup Features
The most popular pickup truck models run on regular gasoline, and come in both two-wheel and four-wheel drive versions. The benchmark EPA fuel economy ratings are 17 and 19 mpg for city and highway cruising, respectively, and a whopping 18 miles to the gallon for such huge vehicles when the gas engine and electric motor combine forces.
Some of the most advanced 2007 models run on the Hybrid Vortec 5.3liter V8 engine. In addition, there is a 2400-watt generator on board. Power windows, mirrors, and door locks are standard. The rugged looks belie the gentle and driver-friendly interiors and insider features, like the 6-way reclining bucket seats for the driver, temperature controls, near-touch audio controls mounted on the steering wheel, rearview mirror that auto-dims to counter glare, and other safety add-ons.
Galvanized body panels, chrome bumpers, cargo lamps, full-size doors, halogen lams, chrome surround grilles, foldaway mirrors, manual trailer mirrors, side moldings, and pick-up box and recovery hooks, are just some of the standard features of the latest hybrid pickups. But unlike their all-gas brothers in the range, they use the Hybrid Vortec V8 engine. They come prepared for power-work, from the engine to the differential to the brakes system. The Vortec engine packs full power, the auto-lock rear differential delivers the push, the 4-wheel anti-lock braking system ensures full stop when needed.
A driver information system provides full instrumentation, showing full gauges for tach, trip odometer, temperature, and oil pressure. A DVD entertainment showcase has DVD players, monitors, wireless headphones, and remote controllers. The OnStar navigation includes safety cruising features and stability guides. Safety seats for children are provided in the crew cab, featuring the LATCH or Lower Anchors and Top Tethers for Children system.
More and more cowboys and farmers and engineers are taking a second look at the kind of emissions their trucks leave behind and the amount of fuel used in expelling those huge amounts of smog. With environmental consciousness seeping in, these working boys are looking more and more at the hybrid pickup truck as their workhorse of choice when they go to the field.
----------
Ernest Jarquio is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Green-Hybrid-Cars.com. He provides more information on topics such as the hybrid pickup truck, Honda hybrid Civic and RAV4 hybrid which you can research on his website even while lounging in your living room.