The combination of an electric engine and electric motor working in tandem allows for some impressive fuel economy figures in modern cars. Many types of vehicle – from compact economy cars like the Toyota Corolla, to supercars like the Lamborghini Revuelto – make use of a hybrid powertrain.The electric motor takes away part of the burden of a gasoline engine, allowing it to work less and conserve more fuel, while also filling in the power gaps of the gasoline engine. This system is tried and tested, which is what led to its wide adoption in the auto industry.Naturally, this wasn’t always the case, especially in the early 2000s, when automakers just began to introduce production models using this drivetrain.The most successful example was the Toyota Prius, which showed the world that using a hybrid system can be reliable and, more importantly, sell well. This is because the Prius executed the concept very well, achieving better economy figures than most conventional gasoline cars.These Automakers Have The Worst Fuel EconomyToyota The same cannot be said for GM’s first attempt in the category with the 2005-2007 Silverado Hybrid, which, when compared to the Prius, was a pathetic attempt at the concept. The Car ChevroletGM launched the Silverado/Sierra hybrid in 2004 and sold it for the 2005 model year. It was both GM’s first hybrid and the first mass-market hybrid truck. Unlike a Prius, which uses a parallel hybrid system that utilizes the electric motor and gasoline engine to power the car equally, GM opted for what would be considered a mild hybrid system by today's standards.The main engine of the Silverado Hybrid was a 5.3L GM Vortec V8, which was connected to a measly 42-volt battery. In the Silverado Hybrid, the battery wasn’t even used to assist the gasoline engine when accelerating, but instead improved fuel economy by shutting off and starting the engine in traffic.Think of it as a modern auto start/stop feature you’d use in traffic. Since the battery wasn’t even directly connected to the gasoline engine, it produced the exact same power figures: 295 hp and 335 lb-ft.The addition of the 42-volt battery did improve fuel economy over the standard Silverado, but only by about 1–2 MPG across the model range.The Silverado Hybrid had a combined rating of 16 MPG for the 4WD version and 17 MPG for the RWD version, while standard Silverado models were rated at 15 MPG. This is an improvement of about 10 percent. Needless to say, the advertised fuel saving of the hybrid system was negligible, especially when compared to economy improvements of modern hybrids.This small improvement didn’t come for free either, as choosing the hybrid option back in 2006 would have added about $2,500 to the price of the truck, also about a 10 percent increase.Chevrolet Towing was also rather limited to 7,400 lbs or 7,700 lbs depending on whether you opted for the rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive model. Meanwhile, most conventional Silverado models were rated upwards of 8,000 lbs.On the plus side, the 42-volt battery gave the Silverado hybrid access to a total of four household-style outlets in the bed and cabin, which can power devices of up to 120 volts, certainly a forward-thinking feature in 2005, and one that was actually pretty useful, especially on the job site. Successor ChevroletThe first-gen Silverado hybrid lasted until 2007 when the GMT800 platform was discontinued. GM would make a much more valiant effort with the next-generation platform, which featured two electric motors that were powered and connected to the main powertrain, a hybrid system that more closely resembled the Prius.Gasoline Silverado's of the time had a combined rating between 14 MPG to 18 MPG depending on the engine, body and drivetrain configuration. Meanwhile, the hybrid variants of the Silverado were rated between 20 MPG to 22 MPG, depending on the year and drivetrain. These are actually significant fuel efficiency improvements, especially compared to the base model, and are very good figures for a full-size V8-powered truck.In comparison to the GMT800, the GMT900 saw an improvement of as much as 50 percent, a far better effort that made the hybrid a compelling choice in the Silverado lineup. Power was also decent as the 2013 SIlverado hybrid had a 6.0L V8 making 332 hp and 367 lb-ft, meaning these economy figures could be achieved even when using a larger engine.Unfortunately, the downside of the Silverado hybrid was cost, as the powertrain typically added around $7,000 to the final cost when compared to a similarly equipped gasoline Silverado. The fuel savings don’t outweigh the massive initial cost bump, as the EPA calculated fuel savings to only be about $550 per year, meaning only after 13 years of ownership would you see the advertised savings reach your pocket.Chevrolet The final killing blow to the SIlverado hybrid was towing capacity as it was limited to 5,900 lbs when compared to over 9,000 lbs in regular gasoline models, meaning this truck severely limited the Silverado hybrid's trucking capabilities.The combination of cost and diminished performance resulted in the Silverado hybrid being canceled after 2013, as the vehicle was far too compromised, and buyers simply overlooked the option. Why it failed FordLooking at the Silverado’s competition from Ford, it's clear why the Silverado Hybrid failed. In the F150, Ford offered a 3.5L V6 engine which produced around 365 hp, and which could tow between 8,000 lbs to over 11,000 lbs depending on how it was equipped.While fuel economy figures lagged behind the Silverado hybrid, it was still rated at 19 MPG, not a significant decrease. Price was also on its side as V6 F150s didn’t fetch such a premium, and instead were more comparable to regular gasoline Silverados.In truth, the Silverado Hybrid took a far too complicated approach to a solution that already existed on the market: V6 full-size trucks which most automakers offered. By opting for an entry-level version of a full-size truck that featured a more frugal six-cylinder engine, buyers could save thousands off the initial purchase price compared to a Silverado hybrid.The real benefit of these V6 trucks is that they weren’t constrained by towing capacity either, as they could easily outperform the 5,900 lbs capacity of the Silverado hybrid, a figure more comparable, or even bested by a midsize truck.In this market segment, the Silverado hybrid simply didn’t make sense, offering less value for money and less performance than pretty much anything else on the market. There are simply better options in all departments, either smaller trucks or big trucks with smaller engines. For the same money as the Silverado hybrid, buyers could have bought a much better-equipped full-size truck.On the second-hand market, Silverado hybrids from both generations typically go for the same price as other models, with the biggest variables to the price being condition and mileage. This makes the second-generation Silverado hybrid a compelling option, specifically if you don’t need to haul very heavy loads. You still benefit from the fuel savings, but don’t have to suffer the massive premium that came from opting for the more efficient option.