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2008 Geneva Auto Show: GM's Beefed-Up Next-Generation Hybrid System
GENEVA — General Motors on Tuesday unveiled a beefed-up mild hybrid powertrain which it describes as "an affordable hybrid option that will be nearly three times more powerful than the one currently found on the Saturn Vue Green Line, the Saturn Aura Green Line and the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid." The automaker said the high-volume system, which can be used with diesels and turbocharged engines, will debut in North America in 2010, followed by a global rollout.
The technology is showcased in the Saab 9-X BioHybrid concept. GM said the Saab concept has a "projected fuel consumption of 48 mpg when running on gasoline over the combined cycle." Writing in the GM FastLane blog on Tuesday, Tom Stephens, group vice president of GM Powertrain, characterized the upgraded hybrid system as "a strong new addition to our portfolio of hybrid technologies.
"As in the current GM hybrid system, it is belt-alternator-starter hybrid technology," Stephens said. "The GM hybrid system is and will remain the most affordable of our hybrid options. We're showing the next-gen hybrid system in Geneva with a Saab 9-X BioPower Hybrid concept vehicle, equipped with a turbocharged 1.4-liter engine with FlexFuel capability.
"While we have no current plans to build that concept, we do anticipate offering the next-gen hybrid system with a wide range of engines and vehicles, and a six-speed automatic transmission in some applications."
The new system is based on a lighter but more powerful lithium-ion battery than the nickel metal hydride one that GM uses today. GM's current mild hybrid powertrain is an option in the Saturn Vue and Aura and the Chevrolet Malibu. The automaker said it expects the second-generation system to have an annual volume exceeding 100,000 hybrids once it becomes available. The new system, which builds on the automaker's current technology, is expected to help GM lower costs by increasing volume. The current mild hybrid system adds a $2,000 premium.
GM said "overall fuel economy improvements for cars and trucks using the system are expected to be up to 20 percent, depending on the engine and vehicle application," with the new system.
One important aspect of the next-generation hybrid system is its stop-start capability, which shuts down the engine when the vehicle is stationary and then restarts it quickly. GM says the new system helps improve fuel efficiency and cuts emissions also by extending fuel cutoff during deceleration and extending regenerative braking to recapture more energy.
What this means to you: Your future GM hybrid will get a performance jolt, thanks to the next-generation hybrid system. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
The technology is showcased in the Saab 9-X BioHybrid concept. GM said the Saab concept has a "projected fuel consumption of 48 mpg when running on gasoline over the combined cycle." Writing in the GM FastLane blog on Tuesday, Tom Stephens, group vice president of GM Powertrain, characterized the upgraded hybrid system as "a strong new addition to our portfolio of hybrid technologies.
"As in the current GM hybrid system, it is belt-alternator-starter hybrid technology," Stephens said. "The GM hybrid system is and will remain the most affordable of our hybrid options. We're showing the next-gen hybrid system in Geneva with a Saab 9-X BioPower Hybrid concept vehicle, equipped with a turbocharged 1.4-liter engine with FlexFuel capability.
"While we have no current plans to build that concept, we do anticipate offering the next-gen hybrid system with a wide range of engines and vehicles, and a six-speed automatic transmission in some applications."
The new system is based on a lighter but more powerful lithium-ion battery than the nickel metal hydride one that GM uses today. GM's current mild hybrid powertrain is an option in the Saturn Vue and Aura and the Chevrolet Malibu. The automaker said it expects the second-generation system to have an annual volume exceeding 100,000 hybrids once it becomes available. The new system, which builds on the automaker's current technology, is expected to help GM lower costs by increasing volume. The current mild hybrid system adds a $2,000 premium.
GM said "overall fuel economy improvements for cars and trucks using the system are expected to be up to 20 percent, depending on the engine and vehicle application," with the new system.
One important aspect of the next-generation hybrid system is its stop-start capability, which shuts down the engine when the vehicle is stationary and then restarts it quickly. GM says the new system helps improve fuel efficiency and cuts emissions also by extending fuel cutoff during deceleration and extending regenerative braking to recapture more energy.
What this means to you: Your future GM hybrid will get a performance jolt, thanks to the next-generation hybrid system. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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