GM to aim hybrid pickups at people looking for utility
People looking for increased utility as well as increased fuel economy will be the primary market for the hybrid pickups that GM of Canada will soon be selling to the general public.
David Paterson, vice-president of corporate affairs for the Oshawa-based firm, expects that the ability of the Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid and GMC Sierra Hybrid models to create a steady flow of 120-volt power to various outlets throughout the vehicle will appeal to some customers as much as the 10-12 percent gain in fuel economy will appeal to others.
On top of that, Paterson thinks the likely price premium for GM's light-hybrid version of its full-size pickups will be in the $3,000 range. He didn't promise that, but the vehicles are already on sale to fleet buyers with that kind of premium, and he says that' ''directional'' to what the retail price will be.
Paterson also believes there's a good chance that the Ontario government might double the tax credit for alternative vehicles, and that would certainly make the upfront financial position more attractive.
Though most of the pickups that are bought in Canada are ''personal use'' trucks, a significant number of them actually work for a living, and it's this part of the business that Paterson thinks will be most attracted to these hybrid models.
The hybrid pickups will be available as half-ton 1500 Series extended cab models, in two- and four-wheel-drive, and that is pretty much the sweet spot of the pickup business market.
But you don't have to use your pickup as a tool in some kind of business to appreciate a steady stream of 120-volt power. Lots of personal use truckers would find that interesting for camping or other outdoor activities, and there is also the appeal of being able to generate some limited amount of juice if the organized power systems go wrong the way they did last August.
It must be noted that these GM pickups are only the first of three hybrid models to come from General Motors by 2007, and that they're not as sophisticated, complicated, expensive or difficult and expensive to maintain and repair as the Toyota Prius and other full-blown hybrids.
On the other hand, the hybrid Silverado Hybrid and Sierra Hybrid are much more likely to actually deliver the fuel economy gains they say they will. After all, they are set up to run on vehicles designed for life and work in North America, not as a scientific experiment in Japan. On top of that, Paterson points out, GM's full-size pickups already get better fuel economy than any comparable model from any competitor.
Paterson also makes the point that these trucks are only one part of a multi-prong effort on GM's part to provide better fuel economy now and in the future.
Right now, however, Gary White, the vehicle line executive in charge of full-size trucks for GM, says ''The beauty of our new Silverado and Sierra Hybrid pickups is that they provide all their incremental benefits without any sacrifice in performance or towing and hauling capability.''