The GMC Sierra Hybrid Truck can reduce fuel consumption by more than 12 per cent in stop-and-start driving, which is why they’re such a good fit for Whistler-Blackcomb.
Whistler-Blackcomb purchased four of the trucks after test driving one of the vehicles last summer, making the announcement at this week’s Pacific International Auto Show in Vancouver.
The V8 engines are virtually the same as in regular GMC Sierras and offer the same performance. The vehicles are also too big to be driven by the battery packs, even at slow speeds, unlike other smaller hybrids.
The fuel savings are achieved by replacing the starter motor and alternator with a compact electric motor and torque converter that uses batteries to start and engage the engine. As a result there’s no idle – when you stop driving, whether it’s at a stop sign, or hopping out of the truck for something, the engine stops running. The engine only starts again when the driver presses the accelerator, and the switch is instantaneous. The batteries are also topped up during braking.
"The emissions reductions from GM’s hybrid trucks mark another step in the right direction as we strive for environmental excellence," said Rob McSkimming, the vice president of business development for Whistler-Blackcomb.
