lets make a single post with our wish list of how I would build this hybrid.

here are mine in no particular order:
1. take out the resonator and put in extra batteries, i'm not overly concerned with a few hundred pounds!

2. set the max speed on elec. to 35 instead of 30, I live in the west where there is less congestion!

3. on my Audi S4 it has a feature I love. Push the lock button on the key remote and it will close all the windows, sunroof and then lock and arm the anti theft. This is a REALLY nice feature!

4. Put a roof rack on them if not a regular one then a Thule track system, I don't want to buy a trailer to haul my kayaks! (the thule track is very aerodynamic as it is very low profile and all of the mount attachments can be removed for aeroficiency.) (yep I coined a new word!)

5. cleanup the air intake and make it more efficient I realize that its designed as a silencer but I don't think it s a big deal noise factor wise.

6. MAKE (STRONGLY SUGGEST) dealers have a sales SPECIALIST that knows the hybrid system inside out. I really believe this will help to sell the car. For me it was a choice made as I wanted to have the best of both worlds and lets face it its an interim step in the evolution of cars, that being said it is a great way to go to not sacrifice space and comfort. I average 19.5 in 80% town driving. I can live with that!

 

Jet I can take a couple of these.

3) Programming.

4) The new Denali and all Escalades have roof racks. The Thule rides well. See my photos of the black Escalade at Jackson Hole and my driveway last summer. I got just over 20 mpg running speed limit plus 4.

5) As for the induction system, the vehicle has to pass a government drive by noise level test. For some development time I'm sure they could do better.

6) I started in dealerships. The sales people only know what is in the small pamphlets in the show room kiosk. The "specialist" you seek is much more of an individual dealership owner/service manager controlled issue. In the late 70s our local GMC store owner blew out a block wall and added 2 special hoists just to get a motorhome specialist to come to our town. Then GM cancelled the motorhome.

 

they are all easily obtainable options.(improvements)
I don't know what the dealer answer is as I knew more about it than the dealer did, but there has got to be some kind of dealer enthusiasm motivator out there to get more of these on the road

 

I talked to the owner of the local dealer today. He said he hasn't had a Tahoe Hybrid to sell in over a year. Chevy isn't advertising them and most of the sales are going through the fleets. He thinks it is a tragedy, but it is just the unfortunate fact of the political/economic situation right now. Great vehicle, drives better than the ICE version, not a steep price-tag, but there isn't a grass-roots movement at this price-level.

 

Hillbilly,

Regarding point 3) can I have my dealer program my Tahoe to close the windows from the remote?

Thanks

 

Regarding 1) The resonator is gone on 2011 models currently in production. Replaced by a valve flap. The new EPA label is 20/23. The city only went down from the previous 21 mpg on 2WD because the cert testing procedures got more stiff for 2011, a lesser version of what happened between 2007 and 2008 when the same car saw it's EPA label go down by about 15%. Despite that the highway label still went up.

Regarding extra batteries; keep in mind the hybrid system is designed as just that; a system. Increasing capability in one area without a commensurate increase in other parts of the system won't give you the improvement you want. Increasing battery capability without increasing the traction motor size to use the extra capability or regen capability to refill the increased capacity just means you are still going operate in the same SOC region, but using less of your battery, and carrying around extra weight. Going for extra battery capacity only makes sense if you make the vehicle a plug-in, and then you can run a charge-deplete strategy. You can argue the merits of a plug-in option, but given that it is a standard hybrid, all you're going to do by adding battery capacity is add weight/cost with little benefit. Even if it were a plug-in then you would still have to beef up the power inverter capacity to handle the extra current/voltage. The current system is sized pretty well to maximize capability, with good durability, and keep the hybrid cost premium to a minimum.

6. Only so much the OEM can do. They have to provide complete and logical service documentation, and then provide good tech support for those tough cases. Dealers who want to sell and service Two-modes have to buy a kit of specialized equipment and have a minimum number of techs go through certification and training. It's still a complex system, but the ones who have committed to it are getting more experience the longer the Two-Mode system is out there. With the number of dealers reduced, the theory is the remaining ones will be more profitable and have more a budget for upgrade training, have enough Tech2 for everyone to use, etc.

I doubt your roof rack is hurting you much just by itself.

 

Rob,

Good to see you back in this forum
Any input regarding point 3: programming the remote to close windows?

Thanks
Guss

 

Thanks, Guss. Yeah, it's been a busy summer...sorry you're still not getting the mileage on your drive cycle, but look at it this way: The fact the truck is running fine in the presence of variable fuel quality is a good thing. Better to lose some spark advance than to have clogged plugs/injectors, misfiring, wrecked catalysts, etc.

About number 3, it's not a powertrain thing, but there's a guy I can ask about features like that.

 

Thanks KC,

Looking forward to hearing from you

 

I would love to see all the 2011 an on software/firmware improvements available to the current original loyal Hybrid owners yes even if GM had top charge us.