A little over ten days ago, GM's Bob Lutz told us that the Chevy Volt would not be ready for media drives until July. While that announcement was slightly newsworthy because it signaled a small delay/shifting of the timeline. Whatever. The news that the lithium-ion-powered mules would still be on track to be driven at all was a good sign. Lutz has now confirmed to Reuters that those rides are still scheduled for July but then announced a delay of a different kind.

Two companies, Continental Automotive Systems and Compact Power Inc., are supplying test batteries for the Volt. GM had been hoping to name a supplier for the production Volt's batteries in the first half of 2008, but that announcement will now come later in the year. Lutz told Reuters that, "We need a better handle on who has the technological capability we need and who is going to have the production capability." And all the Volt fans held their breath a bit longer.

[Source: Reuters]

Click the Silverado hybrid for a high-res gallery

Now that General Motors has launched production of their full-sized SUVs with the Two-Mode hybrid system, it's time to spread the wealth. Along with the Cadillac Escalade hybrid that we saw a few days ago, the full-sized Silverado pickup truck is also getting the hybrid treatment. Like it's enclosed, eight-seat cousin, the pickup will get a forty percent boost in city mileage with a twenty-five percent bump overall.

The beauty of the two-mode system in these applications is that gives a substantial boost in fuel efficiency without sacrificing the fundamental functionality of the vehicle. The two-wheel-drive Silverado hybrid can still tow 6,100 lbs thanks to the 6.0L V-8. The hybrid system allows increased use of the cylinder deactivation so that the engine runs on four cylinders under light load, with the electric drive providing power for acceleration when needed. Also like the SUV versions, the pickup has been tuned to operate with less noise under all conditions so that the difference between all-electric and engine drive modes is not as jarring. Depending on the battery state of charge, the truck can run over a mile on electricity alone at speeds up to 30 mph. The Silverado hybrid goes into production in second half of 2008. Details after the jump.

Related:

• GM discontinues the parallel hybrid Silverado and Sierra trucks

[Source: General Motors]

We thought a week or so ago that GM's new hybrid SUVs would start around $45,000. That information came from a GM spokesman, who said the hybrid version would cost about the same price as the conventional 5.3L model with similar equipment. A price like that would have meant virtually no price premium for the hybrid. Following that post, GM's website confirmed the news, and showed the costs of the Chevy Tahoe 4-Door two-wheel drive hybrid ($47,915), the Tahoe four-wheel drive ($50,720), and the GMC Yukon two-wheel drive hybrid ($48,370).

Whoops.

The Detroit News reports that GM will reveal the "real prices of hybrids" next week, and the numbers will be higher. How high? No one is saying, but GM spokesman Terry Rhadigan said this week that the website prices "weren't right when they were up there and we're not sure how they got up there." Looks like the hybrid premium is alive and well at GM. Stay tuned.

[Source: David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau]

Autoblog's Chris Tutor has spent some time with the new 2008 Chevy Malibu and his impression is wonderfully favorable. As AutoblogGreen readers know, this sedan also comes in a hybrid version, but it's not much of an eco-car. The hybrid Malibu uses a the same belt-alternator-starter mild hybrid system with a a nickel metal hydride battery that is used in the Saturn Aura and the Saturn Vue mated to a 2.4L EcoTec four cylinder. Chris spent a little bit of time with the hybrid version, and found it drove pretty much the same as the standard version. He thinks it'll be mostly people who "want to look more green than their neighbors" who will fork over the extra $1,800 for the slight increase in MPG. The standard version gets 22/30 city/highway mpg and the hybrid 24/32. Hop on over to Autoblog for the full review of the 2008 Chevy Malibu and lots of pics.

According to Ed Peper (pronounced "Peeper") General Manager of Chevrolet Division of GM, Chevy is on quite a roll. Outside the US, the brand is growing by double digits in many markets, and the Chevy line is holding its own against competition in the US. While it is true that GM and Chevy are talking green every chance they get, one finds it hard to forget history. GM and Chevy are synonymous with the high energy lifestyle we are trying to wean ourselves from. GM invested in and out of the EV-1, preferring to destroy what cars they built rather than leave them in the hands of their users as evidence that, indeed, they once existed at all.

Continues after the jump.

[Source: International Motor Press Association]