GM's Mild Hybrid Pickup

General Motors is currently manufacturing its Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups with "mild" hybrid powerplants, the first such mild hybrids on American roads. While not as high-profile or as dramatic as their full hybrid counterparts, these mild hybrid pickups are significant in that they're bringing advanced hybrid electric powerplant technology to the workforce.

These pickups use a simpler and less expensive hybrid system than the full hybrid designs found in Honda and Toyota models. It includes a 14kW motor wrapped around the torque converter, a 42-volt system with lead-acid batteries, and a modified 4L60E transmission. The hybrid system turns the engine off at idle, integrates deceleration fuel cutoff, and uses regenerative braking to achieve 10 to 12% fuel economy improvement.

Because they're generating onboard electrical power, these pickups also offer handy outlets for plugging in tools while working in the field, a handy item for contractors and others.