General Motors is charging a $2,500 premium for its first production gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain.

GM began building the first of 500 hybrid pickups last week at its Fort Wayne, Ind., plant. The trucks are built on the standard GMT 800 platform and will be marketed as the Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid Truck and GMC Sierra Hybrid Truck.

The hybrid powertrain is available only in half-ton Crew Cab models, which have a base price of $25,585, including freight.

The hybrids will go to fleet and commercial customers in North America. GM engineers will track performance and reliability of the trucks until production begins this summer for consumer versions, said GM Powertrain spokesman Matt Kester.

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