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Asked: May 21, 2008 - 09:53 AM

Status: Closed

When will Chevy produce a Hybrid Suburban?

Does Chevy/GMC plan on making a hybrid suburban/hybrid Yukon XL? If so, what model year? What will the premium be over a non-hybrid version? Any idea on the estimated EPA figures?

In Fuel Type / Drivetrain > Hybrid Cars
In Makes & Models > Chevrolet > Suburban
4 answers - 510 days ago

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actualsize

Date: May 21, 2008
Time: 02:41 PM

There has been no word on this, officially. But I would say it is unlikely.



The larger and heavier a vehicle is, the less effective the hybrid solution becomes. Payload and towing suffer with the hybrid system, but those issues are more important to Suburban buyers than they are to Tahoe buyers.



If you wanted to estimate what the fuel economy would be if they DID decide to do it, compare a Tahoe to a Tahoe hybrid and apply that percentage difference to a Suburban. The prices premium would be similar to the difference between a regular Tahoe and a Tahoe hybrid, too.


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auburn3

Date: May 26, 2008
Time: 01:42 AM

I haven't



If they do it, based on the gains in the Escalade, city EPA will probably improve by 30-50% and highway will improve by 20%.



Contrary to popular belief the larger and heavier a vehicle is the more attractive a hybrid solution is and the more it will save in gas (compared to a similar conventional powered vehicle). You won't get those headline popping numbers like "45 mpg", but going from 12 mpg in a normal suburban to a hybrid Suburban getting 18 mpg will save a lot more gas than a prius going from 30 to 45. That is why GM jumped into hybrids with their heavy SUVs first. That is where the most beifit is to be gained.



The hybrid Tahoe has exactly the same tow rating as the gas version, but in use it actually has an advantage over the gas model. The gas and electric Tahoes both have the same peak torque ratings but the 2 mode hybrid system used by GM uses an electronic torque converter in place of the normal hydraulic one. This offers an advantage for towing because the electric motor can produce maximum torque all the way to zero RPM (this is a characteristic of any electric motor). This gives the driver more torque initialy from a standing stop (like starting up a boat ramp for example) than is available on the conventional gas model. I would assume the hybrid Suburban, if they did it, would also be rated to tow the same amount.



Due to subsidies the hybrid Tahoe is only slightly more expensive than gas version (like $1000 or so more). Most people with enough money to buy one will probably save in the long run with the tax rebate they get for buying a hybrid. The only downside is the batteries. They will cost a lot to replace when they go bad (l've heard like $15,000), and like all batteries they will go bad eventually.




avatar

texases

Date: Jun 27, 2008
Time: 12:25 PM

Given the recent reports on GMs financial problems (like losing $1 billion a month!), unless they've already designed it, it's not going to happen. Every developement dollar they have is going into getting small cars to market.

avatar

carguy100

Date: Jul 04, 2008
Time: 02:54 AM

Actually the answer given above by ACTUALSIZE is not correct: Here is is again...

The larger and heavier a vehicle is, the less effective the hybrid solution becomes. Payload and towing suffer with the hybrid system, but those issues are more important to Suburban buyers than they are to Tahoe buyers.

Here is what is correct:

The bigger and heavier the car, the better the Hybrid version will work percentagewise! Your worst mileage is from 0 to 30 mph and that is what the Hybrid system eliminates. It's electric for the most part in that range.

Also, towing does not suffer with a Hybrid system. Nothing has more torque than an electric motor, that's why Train Locomotives use electric motors.

I believe the batteries are covered with the rest of the drivetrain for 100,000 miles.

GM will hit a home-run with the large vehicle hybrids assuming it can get them out the door before it goes broke.

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