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Old 07-14-2006, 02:22 PM
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martinjlm martinjlm is offline
Proud to be GM
 
Real Name: Martin
Location: Detroit
Hybrids: None Yet
Posts: 510
Default Re: With $3.25 gas, now is the time.Big boost for GM to beat Toyota.

Quote:
Originally Posted by phoebeisis
Well, this is sure the time for it with $3.25 gasline. When will this move into the 1/2 ton pickups?
Toyota was making a lot of noise about a 1/2 ton Hybrid Tundra, but they have been pretty quiet about it lately. I think I read something about Toyota running into a problem?Anyone have any idea?
It would be a big boost for GM to beat Toyota with the 1st "full hybrid" big vehicle that could seriously tow etc. I know GM has a hybrid pickup, but it gives just a modest mpg improvement. The built in generator is probably its main selling point(and a good one). Thanks.Charlie
Quite a while ago I posted something on that. Wish I could remember what thread it was in. Bottom line is, Toyota realized that scaling up the IMA to a truck duty cycle would run into some serious physical limitations (the motors get to be too big to package in the transmission tunnel under the vehicle). The GM 2-Mode system was alsways intended to package in such an environment, so the gear designs were focused around achieving that.

Toyota will likely figure out how to design the motors small enough yet potent enough to package under the tunnel and still provide truck duty cycle, but it'll take them longer than it has taken GM.

Peace,

Martin

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I am NOT the official voice of GM with respect to Hybrid issues

I am NOT the official voice of GM with respect to Hybrid issues

I am NOT the official voice of GM with respect to Hybrid issues
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