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Many Americans are thinking twice about purchasing a traditional petroleum powered vehicle. When considering the high monetary, environmental and political impacts of the use of gasoline; we'd all like to save the world and a little money.
When buying a pickup truck, one must ask what is being sacrificed along with the price per gallon and the emissions; horsepower, towing capacity, bed and cab size. Oh, don't forget, depending on where you live and why you drive, your taxes and vehicle fees might be cut as well.

For 2007 there were only two models of hybrid vehicles that can truly be classified as pickup trucks. Here are the specs:

Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid:
C15 Milage 2WD: 18/21
K15 Milage 4WD: 17/19
295-hp, 5.3-liter V-8 (gasoline hybrid)
4-speed automatic w/OD
Extended cab 6.5 ft. box 143.5 in.
Available: 4x2 or 4x4, 2 limited interior packages
Starting MSRPrice range: $25,960 - $31,665
General owner reviews reflect a %69 recommendation rate
J.D. Power rating (overall mechanical quality) lands between Average and "Better than most"

GMC Sierra Hybrid:
C15 Milage 2WD: 18/21
K15 Milage 4WD: 17/19
295-hp, 5.3-liter V-8 (gasoline hybrid)
4-speed automatic w/OD
Extended cab 6.6 ft. box 143.5 in.
Available: 4x2 or 4x4, 2 limited interior packages
Starting MSRPrice range: $26,555 - $32,025
General owner reviews reflect a %67 recommendation rate
J.D. Power rating lands between "Like the rest" and Average

Viewing these reports, it would seem when you buy a Sierra, you're paying more for an inch more of cab length, less mechanical quality and slightly lower customer satisfaction.

What is unique about these vehicles is the performance of their hybrid technology. The DaimlerChrysler, BMW, and GM teams collaborated in 2006 to create a new full hybrid system that "represents a major automotive industry milestone due to the unprecedented fully integrated combination of electric motors with a fixed-gear transmission." As a result of its low- and high-speed electric continuously variable transmission (ECVT) modes, the system is commonly referred to as the 2-mode hybrid. This system also incorporates four fixed gear ratios for high efficiency and power-handling capabilities in a broad variety of vehicle applications. During the two ECVT modes and four fixed gear operations, the hybrid system can use the electric motors for boosting and regenerative braking, which turns the motor into a generator as the truck decelerates. Extra fuel savings come from quickly shutting off fuel any time the truck is coasting or braking, and using the electric motor to smooth out any resulting vibrations.

It's unclear if the Chevrolet truck, described as GMC Sierra's sister model, has a distinctly different hybrid system.

Learn more about this author, Anne Williams.
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