Mar 10, 2008 1:30 pm US/Pacific
GM Fuels Our Interest With A New Hybrid Battery
Barbara Kessler
General Motors announced today that it will be using a new, improved advanced
lithium-ion battery for its
hybrid models
starting in 2010 in North America – a move that could raise the fuel economy of
those hybrid cars and trucks using the system by up to 20 percent, depending on
the engine and vehicle use.
Translation: A $50 tank fill up could become a $40 tank for consumers, while
the Earth's atmosphere gets a break too.
The next generation "GM Hybrid System" will be used in a wide range of global
powertrains, including naturally aspirated engines, new
high-efficiency turbocharged engines, bio-fuel engines and diesels. It will
reduce emissions and increase fuel efficiency by turning off the engine while
the car is idling; providing sporadic electric-only power; enhancing engine
efficiency via the electric motor; extending fuel cutoff during deceleration and
using regenerative braking to recapture more energy, according to the GM news
release.
Those techniques were largely pioneered by Toyota with its top-selling Prius
hybrid car, but are becoming the staples of hybrid technology. GM has greatly
increased its investment in such green endeavors, promising to offer hybrid
models in North America by the end of 2008.
GM announced the new technology at the 78th International Geneva Motor Show,
with GM Chairman Rick Wagoner declaring that the improvements will "have a real
impact in reducing oil consumption, oil imports, and CO2 emissions" while also
remaining affordable. Indeed, the current GM hybrid system, debuted in 2006, is
used in the Saturn Vue Green Line SUV, which GM boasts is the lowest price
hybrid SUV on the market with a $25,995 retail price tag.
The Saturn SUV gets about 25 mpg in the city and 32 on the highway, according
to EPA estimates.
GM's new hybrid battery (produced by Hitachi Vehicle Energy Ltd.) is being
tested in a smaller car, a prototype SAAB 9-X BioPower Hybrid, which is
projected to get 48 mpg on average.
Detroit-based GM, the world's largest automaker, employs about 266,000 people
around the globe.
(Copyright © 2009 | Distributed by Noofangle Media)
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