Chevy Hybrid Cars: Maximum Protection On The Road

Chevy hybrid cars include the Silverado hybrid - the first production model of a full-sized hybrid truck introduced to the market by General Motors. It is a gasoline-electric model that features a Vortec V-8 engine producing 295 horsepower and 335 lb-ft of torque.

Others are the mid-sized sedan, Chevrolet Malibu hybrid currently being developed. There is also an SUV Chevy hybrid car - the Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid - powered by a V8 gasoline engine and two electric motors and expected to increase fuel economy by 30%.

Expected to be out soon is the Chevrolet Equinox hybrid - a mild hybrid SUV which mainly runs on gasoline assisted by its electric motors when needed. It is expected to result in 10 to 15% more fuel savings compared to the standard Equinox SUV.

Latest of the Chevy hybrid car series is the Chevy Volt which is still a concept car but is expected to change the way people travel in the future. It is expected to drastically reduce environmentally dangerous emissions as well as the world's dependence on fossil fuels.

Two Models of Chevy Volt

There are currently only two models of the Chevy Volt in the world. And you will need to have $5 million if you wanted one. The car's release depends on GM's progress of the new E-flex electric propulsion technology that uses an electric traction motor backed by a large lithium battery pack to power the car.

Most hybrid vehicles in the market today use a battery and an internal combustion engine to supply power to the car. E-flex electric propulsion technology will source power solely from the car's batteries which can be plugged to an ordinary household outlet or to the car's internal combustion engine.

The Chevy Volt will have a top speed of 120 mph and a 1.0-liter, V-3 engine which will be used to charge and supply power to the lithium-ion battery pack. In turn, the battery pack will supply power to the electric motor.

Hitting the Road by 2010

The Chevy Volt will be aimed at urban commuters who travel everyday from and to work plans. GM plans to roll it out in 2010 and when released, it can plug to a standard 110 volt outlet and can take you driving 40 miles on pure electric energy.

The small gas engine will not set the car in motion, as most hybrid cars in the market do today, but will recharge the battery so the car can run farther than the 40 mile limit. This 40 mile limit was calculated based on U.S. Department of Transportation data that show 78% of commuters drive 40 miles or less to and from work.
About the Author

Visit Green-Hybrid-Cars.com for useful information and resources about Chevy hybrid cars, hybrid Honda cars and 2007 Camry hybrid.