For release: Aug. 1, 2007
GENERAL MOTORS EXPANDS PORTFOLIO OF FUEL-SAVING SOLUTIONS WITH THE WORLD DEBUT OF 2-MODE HYBRID SUVS
2008 Lineup Features Five Hybrids and 12 E85 Ethanol Biofuel-capable Models; Work Continues on Extended-range Electric Vehicles and Fuel Cell Technology
DETROIT – For 2008, a key priority for General Motors is to bring a variety of advanced technology vehicles to market that reduce the industry’s reliance on petroleum and petroleum imports, decrease carbon emissions, and offer consumers fuel-efficient choices. To that end, the 2008 model year features the world debut of Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon full-size SUVs equipped with GM’s 2-Mode hybrid system. They join three other hybrid vehicles and 12 E85 ethanol FlexFuel car and truck models in GM’s lineup.
“ We are moving quickly to transform the auto industry by introducing propulsion and fuel alternatives that will allow us to displace petroleum and diversify our energy sources,” said Tom Stephens, GM Group Vice President, GM Powertrain & Quality. “We can’t depend solely on petroleum to power vehicles. Consumers are looking for alternatives as gas prices remain at historically high levels.”
In addition to improving the traditional internal combustion engine with advanced, fuel-saving technologies such as Active Fuel Management, variable valve timing and direct-injection technology and complementing these technologies with more efficient six-speed transmissions, GM has committed to producing electrically driven vehicles that help diversify energy sources, reduce emissions and improve efficiency. Along with hybrids, they include extended-range plug-in electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and, ultimately, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
“We’re developing and implementing technologies on our cars and trucks that will make trips to the gas station fewer and farther in between, as well as lessen their footprint on the environment,” said Beth Lowery, GM vice president, Environment, Energy and Safety Policy. “Our goal is to offer a range of technologies that provide customers with solutions that fit their driving habits and their budgets.”
GM also is a major proponent of growing the infrastructure for alternative biofuels such as E85 ethanol, and it strongly supports research that will bring ethanol from non-food sources into the marketplace. GM has more than 2 million E85-capable vehicles on the road, more than any other automaker.
GM also is the first automobile manufacturer to join the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), a group of global companies and non-government organizations committed to reversing the growth of greenhouse gas emissions and addressing climate change through advanced technology on an economy-wide, market driven basis.
Five hybrid models for 2008
GM’s 2008 lineup includes five hybrid vehicles, including the new Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, the world’s first hybrid full-size SUVs. The 2-Mode hybrid system will be mated with Active Fuel Management cylinder deactivation technology to provide at least a 25-percent improvement in fuel economy (based on unadjusted composite fuel economy) to vehicles that already are the most fuel-efficient in their segment. The technology, co-developed with BMW and DaimlerChrysler, is based on the GM 2-Mode diesel electric hybrid system successfully used on transit buses across North America since 2003.
GM will offer three other hybrid vehicles for ’08, including the Saturn Vue Green Line compact SUV, and the Saturn Aura Green Line and the Chevrolet Malibu hybrid sedans. These affordable hybrid vehicles are equipped with the GM Hybrid system, which reduces fuel consumption via sophisticated controls and a unique electric motor/generator mated to a 2.4L Ecotec VVT four-cylinder engine and Hydra-Matic 4T45 four-speed transmission.
In 2008 Saturn will unveil the 2009 Vue Green Line that uses GM’s new front-wheel-drive 2-Mode hybrid system, expected to achieve up to a 45-percent improvement in composite fuel economy compared to the non-hybrid Vue. GM also has future plans to produce a Vue Green Line plug-in hybrid, and is working hard with suppliers to make the necessary battery technology available. This vehicle has the potential to achieve up to double the fuel economy of any current SUV.
Renewable biofuels
Producing E85 flexible fuel vehicles is a key element of GM’s broader strategy to reduce vehicle emissions and dependency on petroleum. GM has committed to produce more than 400,000 E85 vehicles annually in addition to doubling its production of vehicles capable of running on renewable fuels by 2010. Furthermore, GM is prepared to make fully half of its annual vehicle production biofuel-capable by 2012 – provided there is ample availability and distribution of E85. Today, GM has more than 2 million E85 flexible fuel vehicles on the road in all 50 states.
To help expand the availability of E85 ethanol in the U.S., GM has announced partnerships in 13 states to locate more than 235 new E85 ethanol fueling pumps at stations in these areas. GM will continue to work on establishing more partnerships to open even more stations.
In addition to corn-based ethanol, GM also supports research into the development of non-food sources of ethanol, such as cellulosic ethanol, which would utilize crop and lumber industry waste and expand the availability of ethanol.
For the 2008 model year, GM offers the following E85 FlexFuel vehicles:
Chevrolet – Avalanche, Express, Impala, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, Uplander
GMC – Savana, Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL
Pontiac – Montana SV6 ( Canada only)
Hydrogen fuel cell technology
GM believes hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle technology could make a major contribution to solving the energy and environmental challenges facing the automobile industry. GM’s goal is to design and validate a fuel cell propulsion system by 2010 that is competitive with current combustion systems on durability and performance, and that ultimately can be built at scale affordably. In May,GM completed the longest fuel cell vehicle demonstration drive in history with the 300-mile drive of the Chevrolet Sequel.
GM is a leader in fuel cell technology and has demonstrated fuel cell vehicles around the world in places such as Washington, D.C., Tokyo, Berlin, Shanghai and Korea. This fall in the U.S., GM will kick off Project Driveway, the largest market test of fuel cell vehicles in the world. Project Driveway involves the loan of 100 Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell vehicles to everyday drivers, celebrities and other decision-makers to gauge interest, consumer reaction and vehicle performance.
E-Flex system
GM believes there is tremendous global potential in extended-range electric vehicles, and it has introduced two variants of the Chevrolet Volt concept electric vehicle featuring GM’s E-Flex system. The E-Flex system was first shown in January at the North American International Auto Show as the plug-in battery electric propulsion system for the Chevrolet Volt concept. A plug-in fuel cell variant of the E-Flex system was shown at the Shanghai Auto Show in April. And in June, GM awarded two contracts for advanced development of the lithium-ion batteries needed to make the Volt a viable production vehicle.
The “E” in E-Flex stands for electric drive; the “Flex” represents the architecture’s adaptability to be configured in several vehicle packages operating on various sources of electricity from energy carriers such as hydrogen, gasoline, E85 ethanol, bio-diesel and diesel. Configured as a pure fuel cell, the E-Flex system reduces the size of the lithium-ion energy batteries and eliminates the internal combustion engine.
The Chevrolet Volt concept is being designed to use zero gasoline for the first 40 miles and produces zero emissions. For the majority of daily commutes, the Chevrolet Volt concept could nearly eliminate going to the gas station.
New fuel economy estimates for 2008
GM has consistently led the industry in offering more models that achieve 30 mpg or more in highway driving, and it is committed to retaining its fuel economy leadership for the 2008 model year. For 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency revised the methodology for estimating new vehicle fuel economy with calculations that more accurately account for contemporary driving styles and driving conditions.
Changes to the calculations take into account higher speed limits, faster acceleration rates, increased use of air conditioning, more highway traffic, colder outdoor temperatures and longer commutes. All automakers’ vehicles are subject to the revised calculations. In general, new fuel economy label values for all vehicles will be about 10 percent lower.
Given these changes, GM will provide fuel economy estimates for new 2008 models once EPA testing for each new model is complete. These estimates will be available shortly before the vehicles go on sale.
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Contact:
Kelly Cusinato
GM Environmental and Energy Communications
Phone: 313-665-8126
E-mail: kelly.cusinato@gm.com
Brian Corbett
Manager, GM Hybrid Communications
Office: 248-857-0323
Mobile : 586-612-6569
E-mail: brian.corbett@gm.com
Robert Peterson
GM Advanced Technology Communications (fuel cells, E-Flex system, Chevrolet Volt concept)
Office: 248-857-4214
Mobile : 313-402-6326
E-mail: robert.d.peterson@gm.com