Detroit, Michigan – General Motors is launching mild hybrid versions of its 2016 full-size pickups, the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado. About 500 of each of the vehicles, featuring what GM calls eAssist technology, will be offered in California.
The new mild-hybrid electrical system leverages many of the technologies and components from Chevrolet’s lineup of innovative electric vehicles – including battery cells from the Malibu Hybrid and software controls developed for the Volt.
Coming with a $500 price premium compared to standard pickups with the same 5.3L V8 engine, the eAssist trucks will get about 18mpg city, 24mpg highway for a combined 20mpg. The standard version of the truck gets 16mpg city, 23mpg highway, 19mpg combined. Typical drives will save about 80 gallons of gas per year, or about $160 per year at current prices. So even though the mild hybrid system carries a small price premium, it will still be more expensive to operate for most drivers, if fuel prices remain low.
Sandor Piszar, marketing director for Chevrolet Trucks, says, “For customers and small-business owners who use their trucks for more urban driving, the addition of eAssist can further reduce their fuel costs without sacrificing the utility they expect in a full-size truck.”
The compact, lightweight system increases curb weight by approximately 100 lb, and delivers an additional 13hp and 44 lb-ft of torque from the electric motor. Based on feedback from California customers, Chevrolet will adjust production for 2017 model year.
The eAssist system pairs a compact lithium-ion battery pack with the Silverado’s 5.3L EcoTech V-8 and 8-speed automatic transmission to provide:
- Electric power boost: In addition to extra power, the electric motor also enables active fuel management on the 5.3L V-8 engine to operate in 4-cylinder mode for longer periods
- Stop/start capability: Turning the engine off when stopped at a traffic light or in congested traffic and turning the engine back on when the accelerator is pressed
- Regenerative braking: On-board electric motor acts as a generator, recovering energy while braking to recharge the onboard battery system
Power for the eAssist system is supplied by a 24-cell, air-cooled 0.45kWh lithium-ion battery pack located under the center console (or front bench seat) that uses the same battery cells as the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid. It weighs nearly 15% less than the previous generation eAssist system, yet provides up to 15kW of power to the electric motor.
A reengineered power inverter module is now liquid cooled and moved underhood for improved packaging and performance. The software used to control the battery system is based off a modified version of the software for the Chevrolet Volt.
The compact induction motor, located on the accessory drive, provides peak regen capability of 15kW resulting from advanced software controls based off those used in the Volt. The motor, which features a stator design leveraged from the Volt and Malibu Hybrid, acts like an electric torque booster.
Source: General Motors