New Fuel Vehicles

In an effort to spread the use of hybrid technology to a broader range of mass-produced vehicles, GM plans to upgrade its current mild hybrid system. With this as the backdrop, the company’s unveiled the new and improved hybrid system for the first time, in the Saab 9-X BioPower hybrid concept at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, as production starts in 2010. According to GM, this improved technology would use lithium ion batteries which can produce three times the power of the present nickel metal hydride battery pack. All this improvement will result in a 15 to 20% increase in fuel economy and efficiency in comparison to similar gas-powered vehicle. According to GM Chairman Rick Wagoner “This new system is another important step in our broad-based strategy to reduce vehicle fuel consumption and emissions.” Living up to the company’s long standing commitment for increasing fuel emissions and efficiency, the new system is expected to be ready for production in North America by 2010 with global markets following soon thereafter.

As was evident from the Saab 9-X BioPower hybrid concept, the new system would be based on similar belt alternator starter hybrid technology which is presently available in several other hybrid concepts like Saturn Vue Green Line, the Saturn Aura Green Line and the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid. The new improved hybrid system would be able to cater to a broader range of GM models both in the US and other global markets. It is aimed and geared to be compatible with diesel and bio-fuel engines as well as newly-developed turbo-charged power plants.

In terms of market share and penetration, the hybrids from GM account for less than 1% of the total hybrid market. GM’s priority is to make advanced technologies affordable enough to drive high-volume applications. This was clear from the emphatic remarks from Wagoner, who believes that only then can the technology made a real impact on reducing oil consumption, oil imports and carbon dioxide emissions. The company expects the volume turnover to touch 100,000 units per year, once the system is rolled out, though it was unclear as to which of GM’s vehicles would benefit from this new system. over and above using mightier motors and batteries, GM’s new and improved hybrid system would permit short electric-only propulsions, extend fuel cut off during deceleration of the vehicle and expand regenerative braking to capitalize on more energy.