| In the news: Good news to environmentalists, | | | | hybrid pickups will not be on display since |
| General Motors Canadian subsidiary has | | | | they haven't been created yet but according |
| recently announced it plan of building hybrid | | | | to reliable sources it will not be visually |
| versions of its Chevrolet Silverado and GMC | | | | different from the redesigned Silverados and |
| Sierra pickup trucks at its Oshawa truck | | | | GMC Sierras that will later be introduced at |
| assembly plant situated east of Toronto. | | | | the Toronto Show. |
| | | | |
| It's been quite a while since GM and other | | | | "The only thing that you would see different |
| automakers have planned of increasing their | | | | in 2008 is the badge on the back of it that |
| production of hybrid vehicles as a solution | | | | says hybrid and an indication in the driver |
| to the ever increasing gasoline prices. GM | | | | cluster as to when you're in hybrid mode and |
| has invested in a hybrid power plant in | | | | when you're on regular gasoline engine," said |
| Oshawa, Ontario Canada where it will produce | | | | Patterson. The hybrid Silverados and Sierras |
| its first hybrid Silverados and Sierras which | | | | are still going to be equipped with |
| are scheduled to go on sale in the fall of | | | | top-of-the-line auto parts and accessories |
| 2008. | | | | like the GM floor liner for a more appealing |
| | | | interior. |
| David Paterson, GM Canada's Vice-President of | | | | |
| Corporate and Environmental Affairs indicated | | | | And since the Silverado and Sierra are going |
| that the production of the hybrid Silverados | | | | to be turned into hybrid, they will be |
| and Sierras will not result to an increase | | | | equipped with internal-combustion engine and |
| workforce. "Right now we produce 1,335 pickup | | | | an electric motor powered by a battery that |
| trucks a day in that plant and the rate of | | | | is charged by kinetic energy produced as the |
| production will be similar. And then the | | | | vehicle brakes. |
| percentage of vehicles that will be produced | | | | |
| that are hybrid will totally depend on the | | | | GM's hybrid Silverados and Sierras will |
| market reaction to the product," said | | | | utilize what the automaker calls "two-mode" |
| Paterson. | | | | technology that makes use of electric motor |
| | | | to assist the pickups while running at |
| The vehicles that are to be produced at the | | | | highway speeds and not just when the vehicle |
| Oshawa plant are to be exported to the United | | | | is starting and braking. "We call it a |
| States, although Canada is also a huge market | | | | two-mode because, basically, the transmission |
| for GM's full-sized pickups. The announcement | | | | allows you to use the electric motor in |
| regarding the hybrid Silverado and Sierra was | | | | either one of those two types of |
| given ahead of the Canadian International | | | | circumstances," explained Paterson. |
| Auto Show which will start on Friday. The | | | | |