Chevy Hybrid Cars
With Malibu Hybrid, the main focus is, of course, on fuel efficiency of the car, propelled with the proprietary GM Hybrid Propulsion Electric System. Malibu is a midsize hybrid car with a full range of features. These features include (2009) ECOTEC 2.4L four-cylinder hybrid engine with Variable Valve Timing (VVT) and four-speed automatic Hybrid transmission on top of the Hybrid Propulsion Electric System (patented by GM). The finishing touches on the car include 17-inch aluminum wheels, special instrument cluster, a total of six air bags, and AM/FM stereo with CD player and MP3 playback. In addition to having the cluster of airbags for safety, the Malibu hybrid also provides StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control System (that includes Traction Control) for safety. Of the Chevy hybrid cars, the Tahoe Hybrid was the first of American full-sized hybrid SUVs, with currently best-in-class fuel economy, according to GM. The car has GM two-mode hybrid technology in use, that provides a lot of the same performance in terms of power and capability you would expect from a non-hybrid full-size SUV. On top of that, the car is very fuel efficient. So fuel efficient in fact, according to GM's marketing material at least, that the Tahoe Hybrid 2WD provides the same city fuel efficiency as a standard four-cylinder Toyota Camry. That was enough for the The Green Car Journal magazine that they named the car their "2008 Green Car of the Year". Finally, starting for the car model year 2009, Chevy has started the manufacture of the Silverado Hybrid, which is America's first two-mode hybrid full-size pickup. According to EPA, the estimated fuel economy for the Silverado Hybrid is of 21 MPG in city driving conditions. The car has a two-mode hybrid operation. What this means, is that the first mode is for low speed (city driving) and can operate in three ways:
In electric power mode, it comes with all the efficiency you'd expect from a full hybrid system. The second mode, on the other hand, is used primarily at highway speeds to optimize the Silverado Hybrid's fuel economy. The mode also provides electric assist in addition to full engine power if and when conditions on the road demand it.
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