[HoosierRon]

In the AutoblogGreen Garage: 2008 Chevy Tahoe Two-Mode Hybrid

It became apparent that hybrids (and EVs) don't mix well with cold temperatures and the nickel metal hydride battery under the second row seat of the Tahoe. Anyone who has left a phone, camera or laptop in a car overnight during winter knows that cold batteries don't like to share any spare electrons they might have. When the Tahoe was cold, even without turning on seat heaters, defoggers or other power draining accessories, the Tahoe simply would not auto stop, or run in EV mode. Later in the day when the battery had warmed up, the behavior was very different. Coming to a stop or coasting at speeds up to 35mph, the engine would shut down and keeping a light foot on the gas pedal would allow battery-only driving for a mile or more.