Chevy Hybrid and flexfuel E85 ethanol

[asylum575]

First let me start by stating that my interest in alternative fuel is not as much environmental as it is political. Yeah, yeah I'd like a green Earth for my kids, but, what I would really like, is to stop our dependency on foreign oil which comes from unstable countries run by people that want to hurt us.
Ok, now lets talk trucks.
I have a 2006 Chevy Silverado 1500HD Crew cab with the 6.O engine and locking dif. It's a 2WD. Living In NY, I'd rather have a 4X4. I've had 4x4 trucks for 10 years prior to this one and even tough I've never been stuck with this one 4x4 would make me happier.
I thought I had read about a Hybrid Silverado. I can't find it on Chevy's website. The E85 flex fuel is not available in a 100 mile radius of me.
Is anyone offering a Hybrid truck?
Is the E85 fuel going to go nationwide?

 

[patrick_g]

GMC (I think but it may have been under the Chevy lable) claims to have a hybrid but it is NOT LIKE ANY REAL HYBRID.

The truck is a contractor special and the engine is set up to generate electrical power so you don't need a separate generator (if you aren't welding or have high draw.) The truck allows you to close and lock the doors with the engine running to make electricity and it has an alarm system (I think) to blow the horn when you are low on fuel. It will automatically shut down leaving you a reserve quantity of gas so you can make it to a station (don't recall the lower level where it shuts down or what the range would be after a convenience shutdown.)

It does not use an electric motor to assist propulsion. It is not a TRUE hybrid in the Toyota Prius sense by any stretch of the imagination. It may be a neat thing for a contractor or farmer/rancher who would otherwise carry a generator around a lot (like I do) but it is not going to be greener than a standard model nor get better mileage.

I considered that model but elected to buy an '08 F-250 diesel and use a hoist to load and unload a generator and not strain my back. My larger generator will power my stick welder. The truck in question wouldn't.

Pat

 

[Dallas_Lilly]

The Chevrolet "Light" Hybrid that Pat is talking about is was only available in the "Classic" 2007 Silverado and Sierra 1/2 Ton trucks. It is not available in the new body style. In the 2009 the Chevy trucks are supposed have a true hybrid system, it will be out in the 2008 Tahoe and Yukon. They do have electric propulsion at both city speeds and highway speeds. This is the hybrid system Hybrid Technology: Chevrolet Tahoe: Chevrolet
The 6.0L was not compatible with E85.

 

[dgl24087]

At this point in time, E85 is good for PR but not much else. Cost is higher and fuel economy is significantly lower. I have a 2007 Dodge Ram that Flex Fuel approved, EPA gasoline rating is 14/18, E85 rating is 9/13.

 

[asylum575]

Thanks for the quick replies.
I found the link for the Hybrid Pat mentioned. Here it is:
Hybrid Vortec 5.3L V8: Silverado Classic: Trucks: Chevrolet

Here is a link for E85 refueling stations
National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition
The nearest retail location is 102 miles away

Maybe i'll wait for 2009

Ed

 

[schmism]

I had a friend that had a tahoe that was E85 rated.

he said the fuel cost less, but the loss in the MPG was significant enough that you ended up burning more fuel anyway so there was no cost savings to it.

 

[KAB]

There will be a "2 mode" (full hybrid) available in the Tahoe this fall and expanding from there.

Check these sites:
GM - GMability Advanced Technology: Two-mode full-size hybrid SUV's
GM - GMability Advanced Technology: Hybrid Vehicles

Kurt

 

[dgl24087]

Did a little more research on E85. Costs about 15% less than gasoline by most accounts, and using my Dodge Ram as an example, fuel consumption increases 40%. Your mileage may vary.

 

[patrick_g]

What a great deal!!!! An alternative fuel that costs 15% less per gallon but you have to use 40% more of it. Seems funny that using 15% less petrochemicals reduces the price 15%, is the ethanol free? No, just subsidized as a part of a convoluted mish mash of politics, greed (is that redundant?) and misguided intentions that focus our efforts for the reduction of dependence on foreign oil in all the wrong places.

If ethanol provided only dilution and no energy then you should have to burn (roughly) 15% more fuel (with 15% ETHANOL CONTENT) but ethanol should make at least some contribution so I just can't get a handle on the reported percentages. They aren't off by just a little bit but A WHOLE LOT. Someone needs to explain this to me, I don't get it.

Anyway, so long as you have to consume at least as much petrochemicals to produce a gallon of ethanol as the gallon of ethanol replaces we aren't getting ahead in reducing the dependence on foreign oil and we aren't helping the environment so why are we so focused on doing more of something that isn't really helping? Shouldn't we be trying to develop a process that will actually reduce dependence on foreign oil and help in making a cleeaner environment?

Pat

 

[KICK]

who decided that Toyota makes a true hybrid?

Allison is making Ep drives for tranist buses and from what I've been led to believe a smaller version will be going in GM's lite truck offereings in the near future.

unlike Toyotas hybrids, which are a series drive, Allsions hybrid drive is series parallel, offereing the benefits of both a tranmission and a hybrid drive.

but you got to wait for it.