Why does the 06 Chevy Silverado 1500 HYBRID's MPG suck?

For highway conditions, a hybrid system doesn't help you at all. Hybrids store the electricity used in braking, and then allow you to use a portion of that to accellerate. Hybrid systems only help with stop and go driving. So- there should be pretty much no difference in highway mileage.

But- now back to the Chevy Silverado: This is a different kind of hybrid- with other benefits. Read on.

GM took a more conservative approach, similar to Honda's system. What the engineers spit out is a fully capable truck that shuts the engine off at a stop, uses regenerative braking to charge a small bank of lead-acid batteries and just so happens to double as a 2,400-watt generator.

Instead of a conventional starter and alternator, the Silverado Hybrid uses a 14-kilowatt electric motor/generator sandwiched between the engine and a compact torque converter. Though the motor doesn't provide propulsion (like Honda's IMA systems do), it does operate as a generator during coasting and braking. The icing on the cake here is that this whole setup fits in a traditional transmission case, and bolts right up just like a conventional powertrain. Under the backseat is a box with three deep-cycle lead-acid batteries. Other than a computer to manage the system, the only other major change is an electrohydraulic pump for the steering and brakes.

No Special Training Required

The Silverado Hybrid drives just like its non-hybrid counterpart, with a few variations. The gas engine is always running during acceleration and steady cruising, but shuts down while braking at speeds below about 15 mph. Release the brake pedal and the engine smoothly fires right back up.

In order to maximize charging potential, as well as fuel economy, GM programmed the conventional automatic to lock up the torque converter early, usually in second gear, and keep it locked even when the throttle is released. Thankfully, the idle stop feature can be defeated by pushing the tow/haul button — a lifesaver in crawling traffic and parking maneuvers.

Remember we said this was a hybrid with benefits? One of which is electricity, baby, and lots of it. Four grounded AC outlets provide up to 2,400 watts of electricity, making this wannabe hybrid an all-out Swiss Army knife off the tarmac.

Rather than fool with a pollution-belching generator, a contractor can simply plug work tools into one of the outlets in the cargo bed. Likewise, one can haul their camper to the middle of nowhere, plug it into the truck and enjoy the luxury of electricity.

So if the hybrid technology only works for stop and go, how do you explain the whopping 2mpg difference in the Hummer's H3 and the Silverado 1500 Hybrid? H3 gets 16mpg, and Silverado gets 18mpg. It just doesn't seem like a big enough difference to warrant spending xtra money on a hybrid...

Because it isn't a true hybrid per se. The 06 silverado hybrid does shut off the engine at stop signs and red lights, but it never just runs on electrical power alone like the toyota prius, or the honda civic hybrid.

Actually 21mpg for a full size pickup on the highway is damn good. Obviously it sucks in general but think of all the vehicles out there. A S10 Blazer only gets 20 mpg on the highway and that's with less weight and a smaller motor.

Because it's badly engineered and Chevy know it.

Government figures pointed at them as being the worst for gas guzzling vehicles, so in an attempt to avoid the tree huggers they made the hybrid 1500.

problem is, the truck is heavy and badly geared, so the electric motor never produces enough power, so it has to use gas. hence 21mpg.

this is why no-one else does hybrid trucks, the closest is Lexus with the hybrid SUV, but they spent a lot of money in development and added a six speed gearbox to give the electric motor a chance.

It's built for contractors to have elect on work sites. If you want high milage get a small car. 30 mpg from a hummer?lol/bs

I have an H3 and it gets 30 mpg doing 70mph on the highway.

Chevy Silverado Hybrid Mpg

this is so typical of people who don't know anything about cars...these vehicles are TRUCKS...they're big, heavy, and not very aero dynamic. it's not a honda civic that's going to get 30 to the gallon. these numbers are very good for trucks w/ v8 gas engines.

Money ! its a Shame, Gms hydrogen cars are coming out in a few years but it cost more to make hydrogen fuel, than fuel from oil ,so you will never save anything and ford came out with it first so buy a FORD-BOLD-MOVES