Boat U.S. - May 2008 - (Page 37) YBRID TECH life of the brake system components in the process.” The engineers also spent a lot of time working on the aerodynamics of the Tahoe, including modifying the front end with a lower air dam, more aerodynamic wheels, a trimmed down running board and sharper corners on the rear end. All of which lends a sleeker, distinctive look to the hybrid version as well as increasing the mileage. The EPA-estimated mileage rating for the 2008 hybrid Tahoe is 21 mpg city, 22 mpg highway for the 2WD version and 20 out slowing. We also dropped the boat in and out at the ramp to test the pulling power. The Tahoe pulled the Scout without noticeable difference in how it drove. Our average mileage for the trip worked out to 16.7 miles per gallon. Not a bad showing considering we were towing at nearly 75% of the Tahoe’s rated capacity for approximately 20% of those miles. The gas-only Tahoe powered by a similarly sized 6.2L V8 is rated for 12 mpg in the city, 19 mpg highway. The hybrid version of the Tahoe has the ability to be many things to many driv- are driving a 6,000-pound golf cart. The Tahoe is so quiet cruising down neighborhood streets, I worried about kids and dogs running out in front of my nearly silent ride. Those electric motors have more pulling power than you would think. During our towing tests, I dragged a fully loaded 22-foot center console on a tandem-axle trailer around the boatyard without ever getting the V8 to kick on. Only out on the main street did the gas engine finally engage to make the run back to the dealer’s lot. On the main roads, the Tahoe did not seem to notice the presence of the boat and trailer. Only a change in the reactions of the rear suspension gave it away. However, the fuel consumption gauges did indicate that the engine was remaining in V8 mode more often, particularly when we asked the truck to maintain speed on up-slopes. The engineers at GM redesigned many of the accessory systems in the Tahoe to take advantage of the 300-volt electric system and to reduce demands on the gas engine. The typical engine-power-sapping AC compressor was replaced with an electrically powered one. The belt-driven power steering pump vanished as well, replaced with a 42-volt rack-mounted system, a first in a full-sized truck. Having electric power steering allowed GM to boost the Tahoe’s mileage by about a half-mile per gallon, and also eliminated vibrations in the steering column. In addition to a traditional hydraulic disc brake system, the hybrid Tahoe has a regenerative braking system that captures energy from the wheels during periods of coasting or braking and uses it to recharge the batteries. The regenerative brakes kick in whenever you lift your foot from the gas pedal. When coasting downhill, they provide just enough resistance to prevent the truck from feeling like it’s running away from you. The brake pedal is firm and feels more like that of a sports car than a truck weighing almost 6,000 pounds, thanks to careful tuning by GM engineers. “We wanted to eliminate any soft mushy feel,” says Cieslak. “We also increased the DIRBY DIRBY DIRBY DIRBY DIRBY DIRBY DIRBY mpg across the board for the 4WD. For our towing tests, we ran 116 miles round trip to Advance Marine in Shadyside, MD, where we picked up a Scout 222SF center console with a freshly filled, 100-gallon gas tank and a 200-hp outboard. We covered highways, secondary roads and city streets. We towed the Scout, weighing approximately 4,449 lbs. including trailer, 26 miles over the local roads and secondary highways, including a lot of hilly farmland. We pushed the truck to accelerate hard with the boat in tow several times from stoplights and asked it to climb those hills with- Above: The 4WD version of the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid had no trouble pulling this Scout 222SF with a full tank of gas up the ramp. Left: The Tahoe’s twin electric motors pulled the boat and trailer combination without help from the V8 at low speeds. ers. The premium price commanded by the hybrid version may cause some to pause, but the price of owning an extra vehicle solely for towing may end up costing more in the long run. Boating families looking for a vehicle that can run the weekday errands and make the commute without breaking the bank at the gas pump and still haul a sizable boat on the weekends may find that a hybrid Tahoe makes a lot of sense. — By Michael Vatalaro More information on the Tahoe Hybrid can be found at: Chevrolet.com/hybrid/ BoatU.S. Magazine May 2008 37 http://Chevrolet.com/hybrid/
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